According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression is the most common diagnosis among adults in the United States today. It is estimated that one out of three depressed people suffer from some form of addiction or substance abuse problem. In addition to the above, there appears to be a common tendency among those suffering from depression to abuse drugs or alcohol as a means of coping with their symptoms. Many of these people end up with an addiction to those substances.
Dual diagnosis can create a very complex situation for both the professional, as well as, the individual. One of the obstacles they face is while the person may feel depressed, there are many drugs, including alcohol that create symptoms similar in nature to depression. The "million dollar" question is, which came first, the depressive disorder or the addiction/alcoholism causing it?
Although there appears to be a clear link between depression and addiction or drug/alcohol use, it is not clear that one necessarily precedes the other. Many times though, the depressive disorder appears first and the person begins to use drugs or alcohol as a means to better cope with the symptoms. This type of self-medication generally leads to addiction or alcoholism with the person in need of drug rehab or alcoholism treatment. Regardless of which issue develops first, they must be treated co-currently in rehab for the person to fully recover.
The most important thing is to work with a physician who fully understands drug addiction, alcoholism and is associated with an accredited addiction treatment center.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Drug Rehab or Addiction Treatment - What Is the Difference?
Recently a topic of conversation centered on whether there is a difference between a drug rehab and an addiction treatment center. As surprised as people were at the question, it made all of us realize those individuals without knowledge of the addiction treatment business or who have not been in addiction treatment themselves, might be easily confused.
There really is no difference between the two as far as the terminology. When a person mentions drug rehab, they are really referring to a drug rehabilitation program, which is the same as an addiction treatment program, alcohol treatment program or chemical dependency program. All of the above are designed to treat drug addiction and alcoholism, with the only difference resting in the actual services provided, population treated and the philosophy of the program.
Differences in Addiction Treatment Services
While they all generally have residential treatment services in common, it does not mean that each has been licensed to provide detox (detoxification services), partial hospitalization or outpatient treatment. The type of services a drug rehab or addiction treatment center provides is strictly up to the owner and operator and each service must be licensed by the state where the center is located. It suffices to say that the greater the continuum of care, the more likely the center is to be able to meet the patient’s needs.
To ensure one receives quality care when joining an addiction treatment program, a person should contact a drug rehab facility accredited by JCAHO (The Joint Commission of Accreditation for Health Organizations), a standard-bearer in health-care facilities, which assures the consumer that the accredited facility has achieved and continually maintains clinical and professional practices which are superior in its specialized field of treatment.
There are numerous sites about drug rehab facilities on the web and you should evaluate their credentials carefully. RecoveryConnection.org refers people to addiction treatment centers accredited by JCAHO.
There really is no difference between the two as far as the terminology. When a person mentions drug rehab, they are really referring to a drug rehabilitation program, which is the same as an addiction treatment program, alcohol treatment program or chemical dependency program. All of the above are designed to treat drug addiction and alcoholism, with the only difference resting in the actual services provided, population treated and the philosophy of the program.
Differences in Addiction Treatment Services
While they all generally have residential treatment services in common, it does not mean that each has been licensed to provide detox (detoxification services), partial hospitalization or outpatient treatment. The type of services a drug rehab or addiction treatment center provides is strictly up to the owner and operator and each service must be licensed by the state where the center is located. It suffices to say that the greater the continuum of care, the more likely the center is to be able to meet the patient’s needs.
To ensure one receives quality care when joining an addiction treatment program, a person should contact a drug rehab facility accredited by JCAHO (The Joint Commission of Accreditation for Health Organizations), a standard-bearer in health-care facilities, which assures the consumer that the accredited facility has achieved and continually maintains clinical and professional practices which are superior in its specialized field of treatment.
There are numerous sites about drug rehab facilities on the web and you should evaluate their credentials carefully. RecoveryConnection.org refers people to addiction treatment centers accredited by JCAHO.
Drug Addiction and Alcoholism: Willpower or a Disease of the Brain?
A core concept evolving over the past decade is that drug addiction and alcoholism is a disease of the brain that develops over time as a result of drug abuse and alcohol abuse. While many drug rehabs and addiction treatment centers have long accepted the 12 step approach to recovery and believe in the "disease concept", there still exists conflict regarding the origin of the disease itself.
When a person is suffering from drug addiction or alcoholism, we understand they experience an uncontrollable craving for drugs and alcohol. This craving generally results in the seeking and use of drugs and alcohol which usually interferes with the individual’s functioning within the family and society itself. In most cases, an illness such as this usually requires treatment in a drug rehab, addiction treatment center or alcohol treatment center.
In addition to the above, we also recognize the systems within the brain through which drugs modify perception, mood, memory, and emotional states. Furthermore, the habitual use of drugs and alcohol changes brain structure and brain function to the extent that these changes continue to exist even after the person is well into recovery.
We do not yet understand all of the actual functions, but research demonstrates that those long-lasting brain changes are responsible for the distortions of cognitive and emotional functioning that characterize addicts. In particular the compulsion to use drugs that is the essence of drug addiction. It is almost as if the drugs and alcohol have switched the brain’s normal circuits and rewired it self resulting in drug and alcohol use becoming the main priority for the individual.
It is clear to most of us in the field of drug addiction and alcoholism that when an individual reaches this stage that the most effective course of treatment lies in entering a drug rehab, addiction treatment center or facility for the treatment of alcoholism. To locate such a facility I urge you to contact a person that specializes in addiction or alcoholism treatment or a drug rehab in your local area.
This brain-based view of drug addiction and alcoholism has generated substantial controversy, particularly among people who adopt their point of view and leave no more for further speculation. Many people erroneously still believe that biological and behavioral explanations are alternative or competing ways to understand phenomena. Modern science has taught that it is much too simplistic to set biology in opposition to behavior or to pit willpower against brain chemistry. In fact, drug addiction and alcoholism involve inseparable biological and behavioral components. Many people also still believe that drug addiction is simply a failure of will or of strength of character This could not be further from the truth as research contradicts that position completely.
It is important to state, that the recognition that drug addiction or alcoholism is a brain disease does not mean that the addict is simply a victim. Drug addiction and alcoholism begin with the voluntary act of using drugs or alcohol and addicts and alcoholics must participate in and take responsibility for their recovery. Thus, having this brain disease does not absolve the addict of responsibility for his or her behavior, but it does explain why an addict cannot simply stop using drugs using willpower alone.
When a person is suffering from drug addiction or alcoholism, we understand they experience an uncontrollable craving for drugs and alcohol. This craving generally results in the seeking and use of drugs and alcohol which usually interferes with the individual’s functioning within the family and society itself. In most cases, an illness such as this usually requires treatment in a drug rehab, addiction treatment center or alcohol treatment center.
In addition to the above, we also recognize the systems within the brain through which drugs modify perception, mood, memory, and emotional states. Furthermore, the habitual use of drugs and alcohol changes brain structure and brain function to the extent that these changes continue to exist even after the person is well into recovery.
We do not yet understand all of the actual functions, but research demonstrates that those long-lasting brain changes are responsible for the distortions of cognitive and emotional functioning that characterize addicts. In particular the compulsion to use drugs that is the essence of drug addiction. It is almost as if the drugs and alcohol have switched the brain’s normal circuits and rewired it self resulting in drug and alcohol use becoming the main priority for the individual.
It is clear to most of us in the field of drug addiction and alcoholism that when an individual reaches this stage that the most effective course of treatment lies in entering a drug rehab, addiction treatment center or facility for the treatment of alcoholism. To locate such a facility I urge you to contact a person that specializes in addiction or alcoholism treatment or a drug rehab in your local area.
This brain-based view of drug addiction and alcoholism has generated substantial controversy, particularly among people who adopt their point of view and leave no more for further speculation. Many people erroneously still believe that biological and behavioral explanations are alternative or competing ways to understand phenomena. Modern science has taught that it is much too simplistic to set biology in opposition to behavior or to pit willpower against brain chemistry. In fact, drug addiction and alcoholism involve inseparable biological and behavioral components. Many people also still believe that drug addiction is simply a failure of will or of strength of character This could not be further from the truth as research contradicts that position completely.
It is important to state, that the recognition that drug addiction or alcoholism is a brain disease does not mean that the addict is simply a victim. Drug addiction and alcoholism begin with the voluntary act of using drugs or alcohol and addicts and alcoholics must participate in and take responsibility for their recovery. Thus, having this brain disease does not absolve the addict of responsibility for his or her behavior, but it does explain why an addict cannot simply stop using drugs using willpower alone.
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