Drug and Alcohol Rehabs Blog

Marijuana Potency Causing More than Abuse

A recent report from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University detailed some alarming statistics regarding marijuana abuse among teens.

Some of the trends noted were that there was an increase of more than 135% in the number of drug-related emergency room visits for marijuana among 12-17 yr olds from 1995 to 2002. There was also nearly a 500% increase in the number of admissions to addiction treatment centers listing marijuana as the primary problem from 1992 to 2006.

One of the reasons for this can be said to be pop culture glamorization of the drug, but CASA noted that the increase in potency of marijuana as been by 175 percent from 1992 to 2006.

With millions of people abusing and becoming addicted to drugs of all kinds, including marijuana, the need for successful drug rehab centers has never been more clear.

Defining “Holistic” Drug Rehab

In a health-conscious society, the term “holistic” has become more of a fad in many cases than an actual treatment. In the drug rehab field, holistic has been found to have two separate definitions or applications. While most people believe it to be based more on natural remedies, some addiction treatment centers have claimed they offer a holistic approach but still prescribe drugs to addicts, which negates their efforts.

They are able to skirt around the issue by saying they treat the mind, body and spirit (another definition of holistic), yet the drug replacement therapy treatments they use actually include giving toxins to the brain and body and not actually rehabilitating the individual.

There are some very successful holistic drug rehabilitation centers available today, but be careful when looking for one to make sure they really provide a natural method.

North Carolina Drug Rehab

North Carolina has a population of about 9 million people and growing. It has emerged as a new financial region and is also the home of NASCAR, while the beautiful landscape includes mountains and coastline – it’s no wonder why people continue to flock there.

However, over 200,000 people in the state reported drug abuse or dependence in the last year, with only about 25,000 people actually receiving drug rehab services in North Carolina. Finding a long-term rehab program in the state can be difficult, especially one that is effective, as there are only 58 facilities that offer more than 30 days. Of these facilities, the majority of them have very high relapse rates due to the treatment methods they use.

There is hope though. There are successful southeast drug rehabs available. Contact drug and alcohol rehabs today to find a program that works.

Alternative Detox Methods

As we have advocated for many years, the most thorough and effective type of complete detoxification is a biophysical detox. However, there are many instances where someone cannot withdraw from the drugs they are on without experiencing very heavy symptoms.

In such cases it may be necessary for a medically-assisted detox first. Sometimes these detox programs can be very cost-prohibitive and even prevent someone from being able to afford a long-term rehab program afterward.

There are services that will work with your doctor to provide an at-home detox program to prepare you for entering a treatment center.

Anna Nicole – Killed by Doctors’ Prescription Drugs?

A new article just release by the Associated Press (AP) reports that documents unsealed in the investigation into Anna Nicole Smith’s death showed that a pharmacist refused to fill the prescriptions ordered by her psychiatrist and internist and warned them that it was “pharmaceutical suicide.”

The allegations are that the doctors wrote prescriptions a few days after the death of her son, which included “two sedatives, 300 tablets of methadone, a muscle relaxer, an anti-inflammatory drug and four bottles of a strong painkiller.”

How could anyone in their right mind give that many drugs to someone – especially a doctor? Any layperson could tell that such a mixture would be highly toxic. Then again, these doctors were also reportedly accused of having sexual contact with their patient as well, which isn’t surprising for a psychiatrist.

Many Americans dealing with prescription drug addiction started out with the pills being given to them by doctors. Patients must become more educated about what they’re putting into their bodies. Obviously this was a bit of a different situation since she was in a state of extreme anguish and distress, but drugging someone into oblivion – and ultimately death – won’t solve the problems they are faced with. Even if she had survived the barrage of pills, Anna Nicole would have needed an effective detox and drug rehab center.

Does Insurance Pay for Drug Rehab?

Many people have the assumption that their health insurance will pay for drug rehab centers.  This isn’t always the case, as there are many different variables that fall into the equation.

First, it depends on the individual’s policy and whether or not there are any substance abuse benefits.  Then there is the question of if it covers only in-network treatment programs or has out-of-network coverage as well.  Sometimes the percentage of coverage is lower for the latter because insurance companies have agreements with providers to charge less so they will cover more.

Many policies may cover detox and outpatient only but not residential treatment, but for those that do there are often either yearly or lifetime maximum benefits, and of course deductibles and co-pays.

The problem is that most insurance companies are part of publicly-traded companies with financial responsibilities to their shareholders, so their game is to collect as much money as possible and pay out as little as possible so they can earn a profit.  We have seen many people with substance abuse benefits get their claims denied, but if you stick with it and re-submit and get the proper documentation then you can get reimbursement for the expenses, or possibly there is a rehabilitation facility that will do that for you.

One of the things you have to weigh out is whether or not taking more financial responsibility now will save you in the long-run.  Too many people choose drug and alcohol rehabs based on insurance coverage despite the programs’ lack of results.  In many cases it is much better to find the best program for your situation and then try to maximize your coverage and return on the back-end.

For more information or questions about finding the right program, contact us today by calling 1-877-421-9659.

Medications Increase Cost of Health Care, Rehabs

As our society becomes more and more inundated with advertisements for new drugs we see a larger percentage of the population taking these prescriptions.  As a result, prescription drug abuse has spread like wildfire and health care costs have skyrocketed to the point were millions hard-working American families cannot afford insurance for themselves.

Brand-name prescription drugs for the top-selling medications in the United States can cost as much as several hundred dollars per month.  Liberal and irresponsible prescribing practices by millions of physicians have landed tens of millions of people on drugs that they don’t even need.  In addition to that, the side effects associated with many of these drugs can create additional symptoms, for wich the recommended treatment is yet another drug.  It’s a vicious circle that makes the consumers out to be the losers because either they pay too much, go on government health assistance or have no coverage at all.  None of these are ideal situations.

This practice has of course bled over into the field of drug addiction treatment, which has not only been left do deal with many of the dependency problems created by some of these prescriptions in the first place, but has also lost funding support because insurance companies would rather continue paying for prescriptions than paying for successful rehabilitation.

If we want to really create change within our national health care, then the start has to be the dismantling of the pay-to-play relationship between the Federal government and the pharmaceutical industry.  Regulations must be put in on clinical trials, lobbying efforts, marketing plans and prescribing practices.  Not only will this lower the cost of health care to make it more affordable for Americans, but it will also make a healthier America with tens of millions of people not taking potentially harfmul drugs that they don’t need.

Prescriptions Result in Greater Need for Rehabilitation

Celebrity deaths attributed to prescriptions are just one indication of how our current social climate is infested with these drugs.  All you have to do is turn on the television or open a popular magazine and you will find plenty of advertisements for one drug or another promising a better life.

Do these prescriptions really make life better though?

The evidence of our decaying social fabric can be traced back to various prescription drugs and there harmful effects, withdrawal symptoms and other side effects.  Many of the most popular drugs have a very high potential for abuse and dependency, yet they’re given out almost like candy and are easily obtained.

The most commonly abused prescription drugs include painkillers such as methadone, Oxycontin, Vicodin, Lortab, Percocet, and many others.  These opiate narcotics can be similar to heroin. In both 2006 and 2007, an estimated 5.2 million people in America aged 12 or older were current non-medical users of prescription pain relievers, while the total number of current heroin users fell to about 153,000, showing how much of an impact these deadly prescriptions have had on the country and how many require addiction treatment.

Another category is prescription stimulants.  These are drugs like Ritalin, Adderall and Dexedrine.  Chemically similar to amphetamine and methamphetamine, resptively, they have a very high abuse potential, yet millions of children and adults are prescribed these drugs every year. In 2007, the estimated number of past month non-medical users of stimulants aged 12 or older, 1.1 million, but this does not include the millions more who were prescribed these drugs but are now dependent upon them.

Benzodiazepines (benzos) such as Xanax, Valium and Klonopin have also become very highly abused and they also have extremely dangerous withdrawal effects.

These drugs are also not just being consumed by young people at parties or from their parents’ medicine cabinet.  They are being sold on the street, over the internet and without adequate prescription drug monitoring programs they are being given out by unsuspecting doctors and pharmacists across the country.  They are also being used by young and old alike.  In fact, the number of drug users aged 50-59 have nearly doubled in the last five years.

In addition, there are many dangerous side effects from drugs such as antidepressants and antipsychotics.  The increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior is now well documented and warnings have been issued, but the money from all of these prescriptions (thanks to the biggest lobbying effort in the country) fuels a massive drug-making machine to the tunes of billions of dollars.  The marketing campaigns have convinced doctors and patients alike that prescriptions are largely okay, when there are much more effective ways of dealing with physical and mental difficulties in life that are nutritionally-based.

Another area that shows some of the most insidious betrayal is in the field of drug and alcohol rehabilitation and treatment.  These prescriptions have found their way into supposed rehab facilities, giving more drugs to already addicted individuals as a form of treatment, yet their very nature means they’re just switching chemical dependencies.  A long-term rehab program is going to be more successful if it is drug-free.

For people caught in the trap of prescription drug addiction and other substance abuse, there is help available.  There area rehabilitation programs that actually work and are drug-free.  Call 1-877-421-9659 today.

Changing the Think on Drug Rehabs

Over the last half century, since alcoholism and other drug addiction was labeled as a disease by the American Medical Association (AMA), treatment success rates have continued to decrease.  The reason for this is because these doctors are literally brainwashed by pharmaceutical companies and sales representatives into thinking that giving drugs to people is going to solve their problems, when common sense would clearly indicate that giving more drugs to addicts is insanity and not treatment.

We have helped many thousands of people over the years find quality drug and alcohol rehab programs, and the ones that continue to produce the best results for permanent recovery are those that do not put people on drugs.  Unfortunately, these are actually harder and harder to find because of the infiltration of “medicalized” and “dual diagnosis treatment” approaches.

Our society needs to change its think on drug rehabs.  People should demand that our tax dollars only go to support programs that can demonstrate success.  Addicts and family members should be able to expect that the outcome of treatment will be sobriety, not a continuation of treatment for a lifetime.

There are programs that work, and we can help you find them.  We recommend long-term drug rehabs that don’t use replacement drugs and expect permanent recovery.  Contact us today for more information or to get help for yourself or a loved one in need. 1-877-421-9659.

The Need for California Drug Rehabs for Meth Addiction

According to the DEA, methamphetamine is the primary drug threat in California. Mexican organizations continue to dominate the production and distribution of high-quality meth, while a secondary trafficking group, composed primarily of Caucasians, operates small, unsophisticated laboratories. Clandestine laboratories can be found in any location: high density residential neighborhoods, sparsely populated rural areas, remote desert locations in the southern portions of California, and the forested areas in northern California.

In recent years, there has been a decrease in the number of meth labs seized in California and an increase in the number of meth labs just south of the border in Mexico. Rural areas in the Central Valley are the source of much of the meth produced in California and seized elsewhere. Within California itself, Hispanics and Caucasians are the almost exclusive consumers of meth. Purity levels of meth have ranged from a low of ten percent to a high of 100 percent purity. As the supply of pseudoephedrine from Canada has diminished after successful law enforcement operations, there has been a noticeable increase in pseudoephedrine and ephedrine seized that originated from China. Restrictions on pseudoephedrine importation into Mexico, balance-of-power issues among rival Mexican cartels, and increased enforcement efforts by the current Mexican government have all significantly impacted methamphetamine manufacturing and the smuggling of finished product into the Los Angeles area.

The most effective type of California drug rehab centers are those that use the biophysical treatment method.  Contact us today for more information or to get help for a loved one in California fighting meth addiction.