Drug Addiction Treatment Blog

Regardless of which disorder an individual experiences first, SAMHSA emphasizes that “both disorders must be considered as primary and treated as such.” Unfortunately, according to NCS findings, of those with co-occurring disorders, only 49 percent are treated for serious mental illness, 29 percent for substance use, and a mere 19 percent for both. Putting it another way, citing other studies, of an estimated prevalence rate of 4.8 percent for co-occurring disorders, only 0.2 to 0.9 percent are getting the full range of treatment.

Those who do get dual diagnosis treatment generally wind up in the hospital. In 1996 there were 87 hospital stays per 1,000 for individuals with mental illness only and 23 hospital stays for those with substance use only. Having both disorders, however, resulted in a rate of 457 (no typo) hospitalizations per 1,000. Meanwhile, those with co-occurring disorders comprise 10 percent of the homeless population but use nearly half of all homeless emergency assistance resources.

Lack of integrated addiction treatment is the rule. Instead, patients tend to be treated sequentially (first one provider, then another) or in parallel (two separate providers concurrently) with few attempts to integrate services and with cross-trained clinicians in short supply. Conflicting treatment philosophies, separate sources of funding, different eligibility requirements, local zoning, and lack of wraparound services (such as providing transportation to a facility on the other side of town) frustrates even the best-intentioned.

SAMHSA favors an integrated approach, ranging from consultations between separate providers to a single treatment setting, depending on the severity of one or both disorders. A series of 1998 studies comparing integrated treatment with non-integrated treatment found better progress toward substance use and alcohol use recovery in the integrated treatment group, including less hospitalizations. Other studies have found integrated treatment to be cost effective

If you are looking for an effective dual diagnosis treatment program try www.lakeviewhealth.com or call 1-800-511-9225 a national helpline for dual diagnosis.

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What is Cocaine?
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. Cocaine was been labeled the drug of the 1980s and ’90s, because of its extensive popularity and use during this period. However, it is not a new drug. In fact, it is one of the oldest known drugs. The pure chemical, cocaine hydrochloride, has been an abused substance for more than 100 years, and coca leaves, the source, have been ingested for thousands of years.

Pure cocaine was first extracted from the leaf of the Erythroxylon coca bush, which grows primarily in Peru and Bolivia, in the mid-19th century. In the early 1900s, it became the main stimulant drug used in most of the tonics/elixirs that were developed to treat a wide variety of illnesses. Today, it is a Schedule II drug, meaning that it has high potential for abuse, but can be administered by a doctor for legitimate medical uses, such as a local anesthetic for some eye, ear, and throat surgeries.

There are basically two chemical forms of cocaine: the hydrochloride salt and the “freebase.” The hydrochloride salt, or powdered form of cocaine, dissolves in water and, when abused, can be taken intravenously (by vein) or intranasally (in the nose). Freebase refers to a compound that has not been neutralized by an acid to make the hydrochloride salt. The freebase form of cocaine is smokable.

Cocaine is generally sold on the street as a fine, white, crystalline powder, known as “coke,” “C,” “snow,” “flake,” or “blow.” Street dealers generally dilute it with such inert substances as cornstarch, talcum powder, and/or sugar, or with such active drugs as procaine (a chemically-related local anesthetic) or with such other stimulants as amphetamines.

What is Crack Cocaine?
Crack is the street name given to the freebase form of cocaine that has been processed from the powdered cocaine hydrochloride form to a smokable substance. The term “crack” refers to the crackling sound heard when the mixture is smoked. A heavily abused substance, crack is processed with ammonia or baking soda and water, and heated to remove the hydrochloride.

Because crack is smoked, the user experiences a high in less than 10 seconds. This rather immediate and euphoric effect is one of the reasons that crack became enormously popular in the mid 1980s. Another reason is that crack is inexpensive both to produce and to buy.

The costs of treating the abuse and addiction of all forms of coke continue to rise yearly. Funded treatment programs are being scaled back, while private pay drug treatment centers and detox can be extremely expensive.

A national referral helpline has been set up to assist you in locating a drug rehab for cocaine addiction treatment in your area call 1-800-511-9225 or go to www.recoveryconnection.org.

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THE twin scourges of crystal meth and ecstasy abuse dominate the drug addiction problems being faced by nations in the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, two new reports said.

Nearly half the countries in the region now rank crystal meth as the primary drug of concern, while the rest consider ecstasy their biggest threat.

Most of the 13 nations studied in a new report by the Australian National Council on Drugs ( ANCD ) also report growing abuse of both drugs.

“We should not underestimate the threat that illegal drugs use and supply poses to the wider Asia-Pacific region’s stability and the potential impact of this situation on Australia,” said ANCD chairman Dr John Herron.

A second report, by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, documents growing concerns about the more potent forms of crystal methamphetamine that have recently appeared on Australian streets.

With their appearance has come a steady rise in problem indicators, including crystal methamphetamine-induced psychosis, says the UN report, which with the ANCD report will be released at Australia’s first conference on amphetamines in Sydney tomorrow.

Between 1999/2000 and 2004/2005 there has been a 56 per cent rise in the number of drug rehab and hospital admissions in Australia for abuse of psycho-stimulants, said the UN report.

“These psychosis cases often present with violent aggressive behaviour and are placing a considerable strain on emergency hospital resources.”

The UN report also reports a noticeable increase in ecstasy use in Australia over the past decade, with abuse slightly higher in the past year than for crystal meth.

“While the trend in crystal meth addiction is stable, the trend for ecstasy is increasing,” the report said.

Abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants ( ATS ) is now estimated to affect some 25 million people worldwide, with more than 60 per cent of abusers in East Asia and Southeast Asia.

The dramatic growth in abuse is due to the availability and accessibility of precursor chemicals, sophisticated trafficking networks and a large, mostly young, vulnerable population, said the UN report.

The ANCD report also shows that amphetamines are making substantial inroads into youth cultures in many Asia-Pacific countries.

Among its more alarming findings are that Indonesia is now a transit point for drugs as well as a destination and source of narcotics.

It said 80 per cent of HIV infections in Indonesia are linked to injecting drug use, 25,000 new drug users are appearing in Thailand every year, and the amphetamine “ice” is now the main drug in the Philippines.

The ANCD report calls for Australia to strengthen its regional role in drug issues and pump more money into developing research and treatment in the region.

If you are looking for a drug rehab to treat crystal meth addiction, go to www.lakeviewhealth.com or call 800-511-9225, a national addiction treatment referral helpline.

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Dear Keeping Clean After Drug Rehab,

When your significant other (SO) comes home from drug rehab, the best thing you can do is be supportive. Of course, the difficulty lies in defining “supportive.” And, you definitely need to figure out how you’re going to be supportive before your SO leaves the drug rehab center. It may even be helpful if you outline what you will and will not do when he first comes home. Set your boundaries, and then stick with them.

You need to be strong; let him know that he cannot take advantage of you, and that he needs to learn how to take care of himself while being responsible for his actions (these are all issues common to situations like yours). However, you can be there to listen to his problems, fears, and plans for getting through this tough time — all while doing what you can to reduce social and environmental stressors.

One big way you can be supportive is by not drinking, smoking pot, or doing any other drugs — even if you are able to do these things in moderation. You can offer to take him to post-drug rehab meetings. You may even want to go to join a support group, such as Al-Anon, yourself. It’s good to hear what others who have been through a similar experience have to say. That way, you won’t feel so alone and you can gain insight.

The first few weeks and months will probably be the hardest. Your SO will most likely go through periods of depression as he faces the pain of dealing with years (?) of an drug addiction. He may be angry with you at times, or try to manipulate you to do more than your fair share of the work. Be strong and be ready for this. Let your SO know that you love him and want him to be better, but that that’s up to him. Know, also, that you are not at “fault” if he goes back to drugs or drug rehab.

Alice wishes you the best for getting through this tough time.

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