How do you choose a facility when there are so many drug
treatment centers to chose from? Well, we believe it’s effective to
begin with one which has what few drug treatment centers have – the
recognition that you are a unique person and inherently desire unique
treatment. Sunset Malibu is exactly that kind of service, and
commits itself to walking you through every step of the way with
respect and the willingness to listen to your innermost needs. This
is the manner with which we achieve great success rates with our
clients. We invite you to experience an addiction recovery program like no other.

By establishing a limited enrollment, Sunset Malibu is one of the
few drug treatment centers in the world providing such detailed
attention to every person who seeks solace and recovery within our
doors. From your first day to your last, we will accompany you on your
journey and make certain that the lingering effects of the experience
causes no disruption in your day-to-day activities when you resume life
in the comfort of your own home. You will take with you only positive
tools to enhance your life and to maintain confidence. Few other drug
treatment centers can make that kind of guarantee.

With careful planning, based upon input from you, the Sunset Malibu staff
of well-regarded medical professionals expand your horizons with
additional massage therapy, fitness and yoga instruction, advisers, and
even our own chef to get you back on track. Available 24 hours day,
you can rest assured that all of your needs will be met, only in the
manner best suited for you. We remain one of the most impressive drug
treatment centers in the global community, because our attention
focuses on the most important aspect of treatment - You. Call today
for World Class care. 800-332-9202

Addiction treatment is, in no uncertain terms, the treatment of addiction. Of course, of course: that much should be obvious, right? A no-brainer. A foregone conclusion. But look at the statement again. Think about it, mull it over, let it take root in your head. Addiction treatment is the treatment of addiction. What does it mean, exactly? What’s the buried truth—the deeper truth—there between the words? Pay special attention to the last part of the sentence: the treatment of addiction. Not of addicts—of addiction. Small as it may seem, that distinction—of addiction versus of addicts—is of critical importance to the recovery process.

Addiction is a disease. Period. It’s not “like” a disease; it’s not “almost” a disease. It is a disease, same as AIDS or cancer or any other more “conventional” ailment for which millions of American patients receive treatment. An addict is not an addict because he or she has some gross personal flaw—not anymore than a diabetic is a diabetic because of his or her lack of ethical character. Addicts, like diabetics, are sick. Clinically sick. Scientifically sick. Sick in a way that needs healing. Sick in a way, most importantly, that can and must be treated.

And so we’re back to square one: Addiction treatment is the treatment of addiction. Not addicts. Addiction. Addiction treatment aims to cure the patient, to combat the disease—addiction—which has made him or her sick in the first place. Addiction treatment does not pass judgment. It does not stigmatize, does not cast blame upon the individuals who receive it. Addiction treatment, simply put, aims to fix what’s wrong. Beyond that, all other considerations—moral, social, spiritual—are irrelevant.

But how, then, is that fixing accomplished? How does addiction treatment actually work? Individuals weighing the merits of recovery programs—either for themselves or for someone they love—often have questions about the most essential elements of the treatment process: conceptual methodology, structural organization, practical effectiveness. In order to make an informed, intelligent treatment decision, the potential patient—or his or her caretaker—must address each one of these areas in turn.

From a methodological standpoint, addiction treatment seeks to meet the specific needs of every individual patient; just as no two addicts are exactly alike, so should no two treatment programs be exactly the same. With that in mind, addiction treatment is geared towards treating the whole patient, not just his or her addiction. In practical terms, this means addressing a wide range of problems: medical, emotional, psychological, social, vocational, and legal. Addiction treatment is also defined by its inherently responsive, adaptable nature; as the needs of the patient change, the parameters of his or her treatment program must adapt in kind.

Broadly speaking, those parameters include two primary modes of treatment: behavioral and medical. Behavioral treatment aims to resolve the psychological underpinnings of an addict’s disease, both by exploring the roots of the addiction itself and by identifying the behaviors and thought processes that help sustain it. Behavioral treatment can include psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, and individual and group counseling. Medical treatment, by comparison, helps patients stabilize their lives—and stay off of illicit drugs—by providing chemical substitutes for addictive substances. Medical treatment techniques—like methadone maintenance programs for recovering heroin users, or nicotine patches for cigarette smokers—are effective insofar as they can ease the cravings associated with repetitive long-term drug use. In general, addiction treatment incorporates both behavioral and medical therapies in the healing process.

With respect to structural organization, addiction treatment is conventionally divided into a number of distinct phases, all of which function as complements to and outgrowths of one another. Addiction treatment typically begins with a one- or two-week detox program, which cleanses a patient’s system of all remaining drug residuals. From there, treatment transitions into primary care, wherein an individual continues to fight the physical ailments of post-addiction while developing the emotional and social skills necessary for functional sobriety. That process, which usually lasts for at least a month, often continues in extended care programs, which build on the gains made during primary care in a more advanced environment. For many patients, the recovery process continues in halfway houses, 3/4-way houses, and sober living houses, all of which build towards the ultimate goal of self-supervised independent living. Studies have indicated that addiction treatment is most effective when patients spend at least three months in their recovery programs, though longer stays—of six months or a year, for example—have been shown to demonstrably enhance an individual’s chances for long-term success.

And, finally, a word on that success. For most potential patients, this is the most important consideration: Will addiction treatment work? Will it fix what’s wrong with me? The short answer is a resounding yes. Though no program is perfect, addiction treatment is generally every bit as effective as treatment of other chronic diseases, like diabetes or asthma. A number of studies have shown that drug treatment reduces drug use by up to 60 percent, and leads to a significant decline in criminal activity both during and after a patient’s time in a recovery program. Treatment has also been shown to reduce the rate of HIV infection for intravenous drug users and increase an individual’s prospects for employment by as much as 40 percent. Granted, specific treatment outcomes depend on the particular circumstances of individual patients, and there is no guarantee that any one treatment program will be successful. That said, though, addiction treatment very certainly does give a patient reason to hope—which, when weighed against the alternative, would seem at the very least to be a chance worth taking.

Because of the variety of addictive drugs, treatment methods vary. Before a patient can receive treatment for their addiction, evaluation by a health care physician is necessary to determine the level of addiction. Long-term addictions generally require extensive treatment, which can last several weeks or months. On the other hand, persons with a mild addiction or those who suffer from a relapse may be able to complete treatment within a few weeks.

Many factors contribute to a drug or alcohol problem. Moreover, addictions affect people of all ages and social economic backgrounds. Some addictive disorders are more difficult to treat. The patient may refuse to acknowledge their problem, and turn down any sort of intervention. Since some drug and alcohol abusers also suffer from a mental health disorder, treating the addiction is complicated. Before the patient can successfully recover from the dependency, they must first deal with the underlying issues that cause addictive behavior.

A few drug and alcohol abusers attempt to stop on their own. While many will make several efforts to stop without treatment, the success rate is very low. Addicts may be able to achieve temporary abstinence, which involves going a few days or weeks without alcohol or narcotics. However, any kind of pressure or anxiety can cause cravings for the drug to resurface. Without the support of an alcohol or drug prevention center, a relapse is inevitable. Addiction treatment centers provide the best results. Not only will a patient undergo a complete detoxification, which involves the removal of all traces of the substance, they will also receive ongoing support.

Completing a rehab program is just the beginning. A large percentage of past drug and alcohol abusers experience a setback, or feel the urge to use again. By means of a support group or 12-step program, past abusers receive the strength to resist these urges. Furthermore, addiction treatment centers have a provision that allows patients to continue treatment on an outpatient basis.

Upon entering a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center, patients progress at varying rates. On average, patients receive treatment for at least 90 days. Treatment is on an inpatient and outpatient basis. An addict may reside at a rehabilitation treatment center for several weeks. Following detoxification and weeks of counseling sessions, physicians may determine that a patient is strong enough to leave the center and continue treatment on an outpatient basis. Outpatient care involves the patient returning to the rehab center for therapy sessions or group sessions three or four times a week. Treatment may be longer for long-term addicts – perhaps up to 12 months. Additionally, full recovery may necessitate numerous visits to a treatment center.

There are many reasons why a person chooses to take drugs in the beginning. At first, they may be trying to avoid emotional or physical pain they are going through, which may work in the beginning stages of drug use. Drugs provide the user with a temporary escape from their reality, but over time, drugs will only serve to make their situation much worse. They will eventually get to the point where they are no longer able to able to control their impulses, and the drugs will take over every aspect of their lives. In this situation, a rehabilitation center is crucial in saving their lives.

Once a person has gone from being a drug user to becoming a drug addict, they no longer are in control of their actions. The addiction will cause them to behave in such a way that they will continue their cycle of destruction, even in the face of losing everything that they hold dear. Drug addiction can interfere with their normal way of life, and disrupt their homes, their jobs, and eventually lead to dire consequences to society as a whole. Drugs can even put the abuser at a higher risk of illness, thereby endangering their very lives.

Drug rehabilitation can alter the path they are on, and save their lives. Because drug addiction is so complex, treatment is not simple but it may be their last chance. Due to the nature of drug abuse, intervention by family and friends is often the first step to recovery. Drug addicts live in their own reality, and often times, they must be hit in the face with the damage they are causing to themselves and to those around them. If intervention is done properly, it can force the addict to face the reality of the situation they are in and make the rehabilitation process easier for them to agree to. Keep in mind that if you do choose this option, it is helpful to have a professional involved in the process. They have the experience in this area that is necessary to ensure a successful intervention.

When speaking about rehabilitation, it is important to understand that drug abuse is classified as a chronic condition. This means that long-term abstinence can sometimes require sustained and repeated treatment. Rehabilitation centers are by no means a quick fix. Rather, they are the best way to help get an addict on the road to recovery, which will eventually lead to a drug-free life. That being said, drug rehabilitation centers can and do work. In the three decades they have been around, it has been found that more people get off of and stay off of drugs in large part because of drug rehabilitation centers.

One of the important things that the past three decade has taught us is that in order for drug rehabilitation to be successful, there needs to be a variety of approaches to treat drug addiction. It isn’t a one size fits all situation. The type of rehab that will work depends on the type of drug being abused, the personality and background of the abuser and the support the addict has outside of the treatment facility. To this end, there are many different drug rehabilitation centers out there that offer a myriad of approaches to drug addiction problems.

Not all drug treatment programs are the same. They differ in staff qualification, credential, cost and effectiveness. Before you make a decision as to which program is right for you, you must ask questions. You will want a drug rehabilitation center that offers a wide range of treatment programs in order to endure they will meet your individual needs. Along with differing methods of treating drug abuse, there are also different types of rehabilitation centers to choose from.

Some of a drug addicts options when choosing a rehabilitation center include inpatient treatment facilities, residential treatment facilities and outpatient/or short-stay treatment facilities. The difference between a residential rehabilitation center and an inpatient treatment center lie in their credentials. Inpatient treatment centers are licensed hospitals, while residential treatment centers usually do not meet the same rigorous standards of medical care. However, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t highly successful in treating drug addiction. When a drug addict is seeking some type of residential or inpatient rehabilitation, their length of stay will depend on the severity and stage of their illness.

There are also outpatient or day treatment facilities to choose from. The patient doesn’t reside in the treatment facility, but they do go to intense treatment almost everyday of the week for anywhere up to 8 hours a day. One of the deciding factors when choosing a rehabilitation center may be the costs involved. Before you make a decision about where to go, you need to know how much your insurance will pay, what is included with the price you are quoted by the facility and what is considered fee-for-service. Although rehabilitation may get pricey, it is worth every penny because it can save the addicts life. Family plays a big role in rehabilitation, which only makes sense because drug addiction is effecting there lives as well as the addicts.

They type of involvement family members will have in the recovery process depends on the treatment facility the addict decides to go to. Some encourage many visits and family counseling, while others prefer less family interaction, at least for the time period that the addict is in the treatment facility. But, whichever way a rehabilitation center goes with regards to family, they all agree family involvement is vital to the ongoing recovery process. This is especially true when discussing aftercare.

Many treatment centers offer some type of aftercare program. However, some may only provide it at their center, which can make it difficult for the recovering addict to get to on a consistent basis. A good treatment center includes good aftercare because they understand how vital it is to the long-term prognoses of the addict.

Drug treatment and rehabilitation are not easy, but they are of the utmost importance when helping an addict get off the drug and return to a normal and productive life. The long range goal of any rehabilitation center is not only to get the addict off the drug, but also to ensure that they remain abstinent for their life time.

To many recovering addicts, sobriety will remain a constant challenge.
Even with changes to their lifestyle and new relationships, many will
find the lifelong path of sobriety a challenge. The act of abstaining
from anything that gives us pleasure or relaxes us, is a tough challenge
for anyone. This is the lesson contained in the saying used by A.A.
members “one day at a time”. Sobriety can only be effectively
maintained through constant vigilance and discipline.

Due to the psychological issues surrounding sobriety, professional
support and reinforcement through private drug rehab or group therapy is
recommended, if not essential. Enrollment in a drug treatment center
is a vital step in the achievement of sobriety.
Detoxification removes the chemical traces from the system and frees the
body from the physical ball and chain of addiction and prepares the
mind. Therapy for the mental dependency covers the psychological and
behavioral issues surrounding addiction.

The objective of long-term sobriety is not as easy to maintain as it may
seem, especially in the case of alcohol or prescription drug abuse and over the
counter drugs, which are readily available and easy to obtain. The
support of of other individuals with experience in dealing with the many
external issues of recovery and sobriety, is vital to the effort. In the
case of other narcotics, a shift in lifestyle, friendships, and the support of a quality drug treatment center
are also a
crucial part of maintaining one’s sobriety.

Recovery houses can often be an addict’s only road to sobriety. It often seems that returning to a sober lifestyle can be next to impossible in the world in which we live. Recovery houses make that job more attainable than many of the methods out there.

Due to the amenities offered to recovering addicts in a recovery house setting, attaining a sober way of life can become an easier task. Recovery houses usually offer a myriad of paths to sobriety. One can find private on-campus living, the frequent use of the 12 step program, and regiments of personal responsibilities when dwelling in a sober living home. The purpose of most recovery houses is to offer such things to maintain the focus and stability of recovering patients. The 12 step program, being one of the most popular ways of achieving a sober lifestyle, is often a staple in the recovery house setting, and with good reason. Its proven track record speaks for itself.

There are more holistic approaches being used in more of today’s recovery houses. These days recovering addicts can find yoga instructors, Chinese medicine experts, massage therapists, and vegan chefs to name a few of the amenities found in today’s recovery houses. Depending on where one seeks treatment, benefits like Reiki healers, hypnotherapists, Shiatsu masseuses, and acupuncturists can also be at their disposal as well.

Here at Sunset Malibu, we provide a wide variety of resources and links in an effort to give back to the recovery community. You can find everything from links to sober living houses to articles on prescription medicine. Take a moment and look around our extensive collection of addiction resources.

The wildfire-like spread of pornographic sites on the Internet, combined
with the large amount of X-rated material already available has some
experts on sex and addiction concerned, that an increasing number of
unsuspecting people will become victims of a rapidly growing obsession,
porn addiction. Porn addiction is characterized as a behavioral
condition resulting from the abuse or overuse of pornography. Like other
addictions, porn addiction can ruin lives and relationships. While many
people may be able to use porn without developing an addiction, some
could be in peril of developing a serious porn addiction.

‘Porn addiction’ is not classified by medical doctors as a disease, porn
addiction is defined as a psychological dependence, or addiction to
pornography, characterized by obsessive viewing, reading, and
fantasizing about pornography to the point of causing impairment to
one’s life. Some backers of this hypothesis suggest that porn addicts
should experience similar types of symptoms to those involved in
physiological addictions to drugs or alcohol, such as physical and/or
psychological problems when they attempt to quit, and desensitization to
the “substance”, creating a need for larger or stronger “doses”.

Porn addiction, like other addictions is a treatable illness. The
psychological foundations of porn addiction require behavioral and
recovery group therapy as a part of rehabilitation treatment and can
also require the administration of medications to lower the sex drive.
Marriage or relationship counseling is also a common part of the healing
process, as the damage porn addiction causes to a relationship can be
devastating and require extensive mending.

Recovery from porn addiction should involve continued participation in a
12 step or recovery type group, as well as continued avoidance or
pornographic materials, places, and situations likely to trigger a
relapse. Creating nurturing family and romantic relationships is also a
part of the recovery process for porn addiction, the building of healthy
romantic and social relationships is a strong defense against the
loneliness and objectification of porn addiction. With the proper
treatment and the learning of coping and relationship skills, porn
addiction can be overcome and a healthy romantic and personal life
reattained.

Once known as “poor man’s cocaine,” the crystalline white powder known
as speed or meth, quickly seduces those who snort, smoke or inject it
with a euphoric rush of confidence, hyperalertness and sexual arousal
that can last for hours, even days on end, and then the destruction
begins.

Meth initially became popular in rural areas in the midwest, and on the
West Coast. With alarming rapidity the epidemic of meth has found it’s
way into the mainstream on its steady march across the country. Cheaper
than most other hard drugs, the highly addictive stimulant is spreading
to people across the socioeconomic spectrum, from soccer moms in
Illinois, and computer geeks in Silicon Valley to factory workers in
Detroit and gay professionals in New York and Los Angeles.

Recently, the White House drug policy office, realizing the potential
disaster on the horizon, has set a goal to cut meth use by 15 percent
over the next three years and increase seizures of meth labs by 25
percent. The abuse of meth, mistakenly thought to only be a minor
problem, has now become an issue on a national level.

With more than 12 million Americans having tried methamphetamine, and
1.5 million admitting to being regular users (according to federal
estimates) meth abuse is quickly spreading. The production of meth is at
an all time high as well. Meth labs have been uncovered in all 50
states, with Missouri topping the list, with more than 8,000 labs seized
between 2002 and 2004. Law enforcement officials across the United
States rank methamphetamine as the No. 1 drug problem they face today.
In a survey of 500 law-enforcement agencies in 45 states by the National
Association of Counties, 58 percent said meth is by far the biggest drug
problem they face, compared with only 19 percent for cocaine, 17 percent
for pot and 3 percent for heroin.

Meth addicts are pouring into prisons and meth rehabilitation centers at an
ever-increasing rate, and a new generation of “meth babies” is choking
the foster-care system in many states. About half the counties reported
that one in five inmates are jailed because of meth-related crimes like
robberies and burglaries. Another 17 percent of counties reported that
one in two inmates are incarcerated for meth-related activity. About
1,000 of the 2,800 inmates in the Oklahoma County jail are incarcerated
for meth-related crimes, he said. Even Mormon Utah has a meth problem,
with nearly half the women in Salt Lake City’s jail testing positive for
the drug in one study.

One thing is for sure, meth abuse is America’s biggest problem, making
it Public Enemy No. 1.

Methadone is a rigorously well-tested medication that is safe and
efficacious for the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence. A
synthetic narcotic, Methadone has been used to treat opioid addiction
for over a quarter of a century. Use of heroin releases excessive
amounts of dopamine in the body and causes a need for the user to have
opiates continuously occupying the opioid receptor in the brain.
Methadone occupies and stabilizes this receptor, allowing addicts to
change their behavior and discontinue heroin use.

The use of methadone for the treatment of heroin addiction, known as MMT
or methadone maintenance treatment, furnishes the recovering addict with
comprehensive healthcare and prescription methadone for relief from the
symptoms of heroin withdrawal, reduction of opiate cravings, and for
restoring a biochemical balance to the body. Additionally, treatment for
heroin addiction requires specialized social and rehabilitation
services. Admission to a licensed detoxification/rehabilitation center
is recommended.

Taken in pill form once a day, methadone works by suppressing the
physical symptoms of narcotic withdrawal for 24 to 36 hours. Because
methadone has proven to be effective in eliminating withdrawal symptoms,
it is used on opiate addicts during the detoxification process.
Methadone treatment, however is only useful and effective for addictions
to heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs, it is not effective in the
treatment of other drugs. Methadone reduces the cravings, and negates
the high from heroin, but does not provide a euphoric rush or “high”. As
a result, methadone patients do not undergo the intense highs and lows
resulting from the fluctuation of heroin in blood levels.
Ultimately, the methadone patient becomes physically dependent to the
drug, but in exchange, is freed from the compulsive, and disruptive
behaviors of heroin addiction. Since the time of withdrawal for
methadone is longer than that of heroin, patients can be treated over a
longer period of time without the risk of harmful side effects.
Methadone treatment can be a lengthy, arduous procedure, in some cases
even lasting for years.

Methadone treatment gives patients freedom from the horrors of heroin
addiction. A study conducted by a leading authority on drug abuse and
addiction, the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that, outpatients
participating in methadone treatment, decreased their weekly heroin use
by 69%. The benefits of this decrease in use are essential for the
patients health and productivity to improve. In addition, the use of
methadone for the treatment of heroin addiction has been proven to be
beneficial not only to the patient, but society as well. Methadone
patients were no longer required to commit criminal acts to support
their habits, resulting in 52% drop in criminal activity among patients
involved in the study. Full-time employment was also increased by 24%.
In another study conducted in California in 1994, regarding the overall
benefits of methadone treatment, researchers found that the incidence of
illegal drug use, criminal activity, and hospitalization for overdoses,
were lower for methadone patients than for heroin addicts being treated
in other types of drug treatment programs.

Drug rehab California style offers a unique approach to addiction recovery. Many approaches to drug and alcohol treatment consist of three components, encompassing the mind, body and spirit of the individual. Many rehabs are client centered facilities based on respect and compassion for the addict and their addiction.

Holistic drug rehab centers have become the drug rehab California craze. In these centers each problem area is individually addressed, offering a wide range of therapeutic interventions to help each client achieve their specific goals. By combining the best of all traditional forms of therapy and treatment with the most effective holistic therapies available today, holistic rehabilitation has become the sure thing for drug rehab California style.

Treatment teams must have an understanding of not only the patient, but of the under-lying issues that are the contributing factors to addiction. Many treatment centers utilize the 12 step program in most of the drug rehab California has to offer. By treating the individual as a whole; mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually and by treating their families as well, drug rehab can truly be successful.