There are hundreds of drug treatment centers in the United States, each stating that it offers the best in treatment for an addicts particular needs. Some function on a holistic basis (a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual needs), some on a chemical needs basis, some focus more on psychological needs, and some strictly on abstinence and 12 step programs. Some are in-patient only, some out-patient only, some a combination of the two. The key to finding the drug treatment center for any addict is to find one that will build it’s treatment upon the needs of the addict, and not a set script or assembly-line method of treatment.

For an addict to be completely drug free, it is ideal that if at all possible, they enter a short or long term residential program first. This will give them the structure and medical supervision that stopping any drug use requires in a safe environment. Should they have severe symptoms of withdrawal, the staff is well trained to intervene and ease the symptoms and also trained to judge when it might be better for the interests of the addict to be moved for a short time to a hospital until the worst of the withdrawal issues and any complications resulting from withdrawal have been resolved. Needless to say, the heavier the drug use, the more important this becomes.

Then the addict and the addicts family or support group or counselor can sit down and determine which would be the best option for the addicts continued progress into recovery.

For the addict in serious need of psychological, medical, nutritional, and structural assistance, the long-term residential drug treatment center is the best choice. This offers a trained counseling and re-education staff for helping the addict identify and resolve any underlying emotional or psychological causes for the addiction, and education in how to live a drug-free life (such as avoiding triggers, environments that are associated with previous drug use, and rebuilding the self-worth and self-confidence to face the daily trials of living in the drug-available world without succumbing to temptation). This also offers rebuilding of the body through nutritional means, helping to repair the physical ravages of drug use. It offers medical staff to deal with issues of infections or diseases or physical ailments brought on or aggravated by drug usage, as well as medical treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, or any other psychological cause of the drug addiction. And it offers the structured environment an addict needs to rebuild his or her life after the chaotic spiral caused by addiction.

Short term residential drug treatment is best suited for those addicts who have plans to go back to work or back home to raise children/tend to family members. It offers the same medical staffing as the long term residential drug treatment centers, with an emphasis on abstinence and 12 step programs for support. It is, unfortunately, the justice systems idea of a “cure-all” for drug addicts”, and therefore tends to be crowded at all times.

The outpatient programs, both drug-free and drug-assisted, are more suited to those addicts who have other responsibilities, whether it be a job, schooling, or family that needs caretaking. It offers the support system an addict needs, some medical supervision while at the program, some counseling while at the program, and some re-education. It also works extremely well when combined with either long-term or short-term residential programs, further embedding the skills and tactics for remaining drug-free learned at the other facilities.

Once again, however, it should be noted. The final decision ultimately rests on the addict for which treatment they should use. Unless it is their decision, their chances of long-term success are drastically reduced.

For most addicts, the road to recovery begins with the acknowledgment that they have a problem
and are powerless to overcome it alone. With this realization, there often comes the need for a
suitable drug treatment center where they can detox, and begin the process of recovery. In rare
cases some may find success conquering this illness on their own, but for most, enrollment in a
drug treatment center is the most logical choice, and for others, like it or not, it may be
the only choice.

With the support and aid of licensed experts and the disciplined, structured environment found
at most drug treatment centers, many will find the path to recovery an easier one. Proper
diagnosis and treatment are necessary in curing any illness. Without the aid of experienced
professionals and a suitable environment, the process of drug treatment and recovery can be
dangerous. With these factors in mind, choosing the right drug treatment center becomes very important.

For those ready for to kick the habit and begin a new life, Sunset Malibu offers access to the highest
quality drug treatment center available. Our beautiful facility is located in peaceful, sunny
Malibu, California, and our friendly, professional staff is available 24 hours a day to assist you
during the drug treatment and recovery process. With all the modern amenities and services
of a typical luxury resort you will find Sunset Malibu the perfect environment to begin
the process of healing.

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.

Nobody makes a conscious decision to become addicted to drugs, but they have to make a conscious decision to get help. Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom and sometimes it takes an intervention, but whatever the reason leading up to drug rehab, it’s a new beginning.

Once the decision is made, a rehab program can be developed to fit the individual. First comes detoxification; the withdrawing from the drug’s effects. In extreme cases, this could be in a hospital via a trip to the emergency room for treatment of an overdose. Many hospitals offer inpatient detoxification, because it provides the patient with careful monitoring and medical care. By keeping the patient in a secure area, the availability of the drug or drugs of choice is eliminated.

Once the patient’s body and mind are free from the drug, counseling and a maintenance program can begin. According to the Schneider Institute for Health Policy, it’s estimated that five million drug users are in need of some type of rehab, but only about a quarter of those actually get it. However, drug rehab is getting moderately easier for some people due to the fact that most insurance companies cover expenses for drug programs.

About 43.9% of the people who sought treatment for either alcohol or drugs over the past year ended up paying for some of the costs themselves, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Out of those people, statistics showed that more women paid for treatment with insurance or public assistance programs than did men.

During a drug rehab program, the patient’s dependence is gauged so that the correct treatment can be arranged. The drug or drugs are also taken into consideration, since some are more addictive than others, and can have more lasting effects on the patient. Careful counseling is part of a rehab program, as is aftercare.

As already mentioned, inpatient programs are available, but residential and outpatient programs are also available, depending on the patient’s need. Another aspect that’s vital to success is involving the family. Because loved ones are often affected by the addiction of a family member, family counseling is an excellent option to help the patient, as well as their family, the correct support. This includes facing the fact that he or she has caused harm to their loved ones and reparations need to be made.

Even though drug rehab is a difficult and often painful experience, the longer a patient receives treatment, the more successful they’ll be. Once they have proceeded through the stages, drug detox, medical treatment, counseling and after care, it’s up to them to continue to work toward the goal of staying clean.

In the desperate urge to help addicted and alcoholic individuals regain their lives, rehabilitation centers were first created. They are as varied as the alcoholics and addicts themselves, but break down into basically two types.

1. Long-term Residential Centers-this type of treatment offers a 24 hour structure, support, and drug-free environment in a community made up of both fellow recovering addicts/alcoholics and counselors. Alcoholics and addicts stay in these programs from 30 days up to a year or more. These are also referred to as therapeutic communities. However, this does present problems to the alcoholic or addict who is also intent on continuing their job and supporting or raising a family.

2. Short-term Inpatient Centers-This type of treatment offers a 24 hour structure, with a focus on medical stabilization, abstinence and sobriety, and lifestyle changes. Staff consists primarily of medical professionals and trained counselors, and patients generally only stay a period of a few days up to one month. This was primarily for alcohol abuse treatment, until these programs expanded into drug abuse treatment as well in the 1980’s. This treatment offers most of the benefits of the Long-term Inpatient Program, while only keeping the addict or alcoholic from working or raising a family for up to a month, which makes it a good compromise between long-term inpatient programs and outpatient programs, especially when medical supervision and structure is needed for only a short time. It can easily be combined (and this is optimal for those in short-term inpatient programs) with the outpatient drug-free program for additional support, education, and maintenance of a drug and alcohol free lifestyle, in order to start recovery.

Each of these centers has a lot to offer the alcoholic or addict. Each has it’s own particular shortcomings. They may find it difficult to move on from the long-term residential center back into mainstream life. Or they may find that the short-term residential center doesn’t offer sufficient time and structure to prepare them for the move from the center to their prior lives.

The most important thing when choosing a rehab center is to find one that will work with a focus on the patient’s well-being, rather than a scripted treatment plan. Not every plan works with every patient, and the rehab center that realizes this will tailor the treatment plan, focusing on bringing as many aspects of the addict or alcoholics lost skills and abilities and mental and physical health back as possible.

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.

Alcoholics Anonymous, founded by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron,
Ohio in 1935 is known as the first twelve step program. Others would
soon follow, seeking success by applying the same basic formula outlined
in the official A.A. text to other addictions like cocaine and heroin
(Narcotics Anonymous), and to obsessive behaviors like overeating
(Overeaters Anonymous).

The twelve step program has it’s roots in religion and was begun as a
religious organization. With the evolution of A.A., and the inclusion of
an ambigous “Higher Power,” the concept of “spiritual, not religious,”
arose and seems to have derived from the desire to keep religion
separate from A.A. Historically and conceptually though, the practices
of A.A., and the Twelve Steps are Biblical in roots and nature.
The Twelve Step program is based upon the principles outlined in the
official text, “Alcoholics Anonymous” or the “Big Book” as it is known
to AA members. Written by Wilson and early members of A.A., the Twelve
Steps were essentially a rewriting of the 6 steps of the Oxford
Group(founded by Frank Buchman).

After moderate success in curing their addictions, or “illnesses,”
Wilson was asked by Dr. Smith and other members of the Akron group to
write a book about the program. Instead, Wilson returned to New York and
authored a completely different book which also included the teachings
of Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr., rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in
New York, and a leader of the Oxford Group in America. Shoemaker’s
ideas, which are found almost verbatim in the Twelve Steps, were added
to this new “Big Book”. Also added were theories about alcoholism from
Dr. William D. Silkworth, arguments for the necessity of conversion from
Dr. Carl G. Jung, and the idea of a “higher power” from Professor
William James, as well as thoughts from Anne Smith (Dr. Bob’s wife),
techniques from Richard Peabody and his Common Sense of Drinking book,
and elements of the writings “Universal Mind,” “Czar of the Universe,”
and “higher power.” The basis for the twelve steps can be found in the
Oxford Group teachings of Rowland Hazard and Ebby Thacher in late 1934
and early 1935, although neither the Oxford Group nor early A.A. in New
York or Akron used any “steps” at all.

Twelve step groups meet regularly to discuss problems and share
experiences, challenges, successes and failures, and provide support for
each other. All twelve-step programs follow a variation of the original
Twelve Step program. One of the most widely-recognized and satirized
characteristics of the twelve step program is the requirement that
members state their name and admit they are “an alcoholic”, the line
“Hi, I’m Pam and I’m an alcoholic” is a catchphrase now widely
identified with the twelve step program and support groups such as A.A.
And others. The main belief of A.A. members is that recovery requires
them to admit they have a problem, and to give themselves up and put
their faith in God, or a “Higher Power”.Additionally, The only
requirement for membership to A.A., “is the desire to stop drinking”.

There are many paths to sober living nowadays. In southern California sober living is possible through a myriad of avenues. Most people recovering from addiction find themselves looking for more than just one way to achieve sobriety. Too many times recovering addicts in other cities find subpar assistance. In southern California, there things seem to be getting better.

As times change, the ways of the past make way for the future. The antiquated methods of attaining sobriety have now relinquished the reigns to more effective means of gaining clarity. Someone seeking a southern California sober living lifestyle would find that treatment has not only become more tenacious in its scientific manner, but it has gained a spiritual side too.

Drug and alcohol rehabilitation could possibly be better in California than in any other place in the world. A patients journey could involve the application of treatment staples like the 12 step programs, group therapy sessions, and/or dual diagnosis meetings. Aside from the old school ways, one could find the bevy of holistic methods that California has to offer much more amiable. Southern California sober living seems more attainable with the help of acupuncturists, spiritual healers, and highly trained massage therapists. It doesn’t hurt to live in a place like southern California, a place that seems to attract more yoga instructors, chefs, and all around spiritually aware folk more than anywhere else on earth. Southern California sober living seems to be the best sober living there is.

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.