Alcohol Addiction Rehab After Relapse

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Dr. H Alan Lagrone

People who have undergone treatment for alcohol addiction are, unfortunately, very likely to fail at their first attempt. According to statistics, around 90 percent of alcoholics who have undergone treatment for their addiction will relapse at least once during the following four years.

It is not only people who have suffered from alcohol addiction who are likely to relapse, it is also true to say that anyone who has attended a rehabilitation center for addiction to drugs or some type of mental health disorder, are also at risk of relapse. Many people may believe that they are leaving the rehab center for good after their first visit, only to be straight back again within the first few months or years.

In order for people suffering from alcohol addiction to live the rest of their lives in recovery, it is important that they are involved in a viable plan to help avoid any type of relapse. Relapse is, perhaps, more common in alcohol addiction due to the lifestyles and habits of friends, loved ones and other relations. Alcohol forms a very large part of social networks these days and, in order to avoid relapse, anyone who has suffered from alcohol addiction will need a lot of support both in the beginning and in the future. Just one drink can be enough to re-start the downward spiral of alcoholism over again. Every single person in the recovering addict’s life, however, can help to avoid this.

Relapse prevention plans are complex and must be individually designed to suit each person.  It is imperative that each plan has many different components, but most include:

  • Individual therapy sessions.
  • Group therapy sessions.
  • Awareness of the effect alcohol has on not only the individual concerned, but also everyone around them.
  • Understanding of strategies regarding alcohol avoidance and how to escape from dangerous situations
  • Awareness of how to block intrusive thoughts about alcohol addiction from the mind
  • Strategies to manage the inevitable emotional stress which accompanies rehab from any type of addiction

It’s important for the person (and their family and loved ones) to realize that with alcohol addiction, relapse does not actually occur at the moment the addict takes another sip of an alcoholic drink. By that time it has already occurred in the mind of the person suffering from alcohol addiction. A subtle change of intentions or attitudes is the danger point which triggers the relapse behavior. Learning how to notice these changes can help to avoid the situation. If the individual involved, plus their family and friends, know how to recognize these changes then they are in a much stronger position to prevent the relapse and continue the addict’s road to ongoing recovery.

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What Happens After the Addiction Treatment Center? Santé Center Offers Transitional Living Programs

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Dr. H Alan Lagrone

After any program at an addiction treatment center there is still much support needed to ensure that patients maintain their new, healthier lifestyle and don’t slip back into their old ways. Fighting a drug, or any other type of addiction, requires a lifelong commitment and the weeks immediately after leaving the addiction treatment center are often a very difficult period of adjustment. This is why the amenities like the Transitional Living Program offered by Santé Center are so vital in helping patients win the fight against drug addiction.

The Transitional Living Program at Santé Center offers living support for those who have undergone treatment at the addiction treatment center–not for just drug addiction but also eating disorders, alcohol, gambling, sex addiction, gaming and other mental health issues. It is available for people who need help to be integrated slowly back into the community – providing a safe, chemical free environment with trained therapists on hand for continuing group therapy meetings, counseling, and everything else needed to rebuild their lives and re-enter society with the appropriate and necessary life skills.

The Santé addiction treatment center is off-campus, yet within walking distance of many facilities, so patients can slowly and safely re-enter the community. There are opportunities for both employment and volunteer positions.  Bus lines, and the University of North Texas are within walking distance for people who are seriously committed to starting life over and making the most of their new opportunities.

The Transitional Living Program at Santé Center makes the often difficult transitional period between leaving an addiction treatment center and a clean, healthy lifestyle a much easier journey with continuing support from not only professionals but also peers. True friendships can flourish in this type of environment where everyone helps and watches out for each other—a definite step in the right direction.

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Drug Addiction Treatment: Addiction is Not a Choice

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Dr. H Alan Lagrone

Millions of Americans are in need of drug addiction treatment, yet they either don’t know how to get it or won’t admit that they need it.

For years, drug addicts have been stigmatized as being weak, social outcasts with moral defects – drug addicts have been treated as criminals–sent to prison, having felt the strong arm of the law. Now, many scientists have the evidence to show that addiction is not a choice at all – drug addiction is a serious disease. It is not something which happens through choice. All drug addicts deserve to have the right type of drug addiction treatment instead of being looked down upon by society as being morally weak and lacking in self control. Drug addiction is not something to be ashamed of, or an ancillary problem that can be brushed under the carpet, it is something which needs to be tackled with professional counseling and medical care.

The war against drugs has been going on for many decades now, and guess what? Drugs are still winning, hands down.  More than 350 Americans die every single day as the direct result of drug addiction. There are literally millions of struggling Americans in desperate need of drug addiction treatment–the right type of drug addiction treatment.

Bringing this problem very much to the forefront is David Sheff, the celebrated author of Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy, who witnessed firsthand the devastation which drug addiction can cause after his eldest son Nic, an intelligent, outgoing, happy child, became drawn into the downward spiral of addiction.  He joined Lawrence O’Donnell on The Last Word to show America that drug addicts are being “helped” in an entirely wrong way.  Drug addicts deserve drug addiction treatment from the medical profession, just as any other type of illness or disease. Locking drug addicts in prison and throwing away the key has not helped – it is actually counterintuitive.

Drug Addiction Help with Sante CenterDrug addiction treatment should be available to all who need it, just like the medical treatment available for diabetes, hypertension, and other common conditions. Individualized treatment can help address co-occurring conditions and find the root cause of addictions, allowing addicts to overcome and start living their lives drug free.

Drug addiction is not a sign of weakness and moral failing, and it is not a sign of lower intelligence.  Drug addiction is a disease, a very serious disease which affects millions of Americans.  But, it is a treatable disease.  The battle against drugs can be won with the right addiction treatment.  If you know someone struggling with addiction, please get them the help they need.  Research addiction treatment centers that offer care and compassion and bring healing to those who are hurting.

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Is Addiction Treatment Changing?

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Dr. H Alan Lagrone

Thankfully, drug addiction treatment is changing, and it’s about time. Only a few decades ago drug addicts were considered to be somehow morally flawed. Bizarre addiction treatment involving prisons, locking “the weak and the fallen” into asylums and hours of prayer under the guidance of the church were used, without success.  Drug addicts were largely ignored by the medical profession and were, therefore, treated by “experts” with no medical training or expertise at all. Drug addiction treatment was not developed within mainstream medicine, a problem which has grave repercussions to this day. The medical profession has, however, opened its eyes to the problems that addicts face and made some amazing headway in regards to treatment.

Thankfully, these days it is understood that rather than being some sort of moral weakness, drug addiction is a brain disorder which can be treated by the use of counseling, sometimes in conjunction with medication. It is estimated that more than 20 million Americans suffer addiction, a mental health disorder that places them in desperate need of addiction treatment.  In fact, more Americans now die from drug overdoses than from traffic accidents – a startling and horrifying statistic.

It is vital that patients who are in need of addiction treatment find a reputable center which offers the latest cutting edge treatment. Drug addiction treatment is not “one size fits all” and the most successful centers treat each individual case in the manner it should be treated – individually. It was once believed that after completing detox a patient would be cured. Fortunately, today, the best drug addiction centers realize that this is not the case and that there is always a danger of the patient slipping back into their old ways. The centers which offer a comprehensive counseling and therapy program, plus aftercare, and relapse prevention programs can offer a well rounded addiction treatment program with the very best results.

When searching for a drug addiction treatment center make sure that you choose one that:

  • Has a variety of addiction treatments available including therapy and counseling.
  • Offers holistic treatment for patients which deals with all types of problems, not just the immediate problems of the drug addiction.
  • Has adequate aftercare programs in place to ensure that once the individual is on the right path they have all of the help they need to stay on track.
  • Understands that although medication can be used to help fight withdrawal symptoms this is just the tip of the iceberg and will not be the impetus to change future drug use–behavioral therapy and counseling is needed for this.

Drug addiction treatment certainly is changing, and if you know one of the 20 million Americans who need this type of treatment, then make sure they find the very latest type of help available.

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Santé Center offers Pre-Doctoral Internships

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Dr. H Alan Lagrone

There are a number of pre-doctoral internships available at Santé Center which offer fantastic opportunities for doctoral students aiming to become fully licensed psychologists.

Santé Center for Healing is based in Argyle, Texas, located on a rural hilltop. Their 16 acre campus offers an unrivalled opportunity for doctoral students to follow their chosen profession at a highly-skilled center, which has been helping adults who are struggling with substance abuse and addictive behaviors since 1996. Santé Center for Healing welcomes clients with not just alcohol and drug addiction, but also other addiction problems such as behavioral addictions, eating disorders, gambling and gaming addiction, sexual compulsivity, and relationship addiction issues.

Santé Center for Healing offers many different types of treatment programs – each addressing complex issues which need to be individually assessed. Treatment for any type of addiction is certainly not “one size fits all,” and each individual client must be specifically evaluated for a comprehensive plan to work towards health and healing. This type of understanding is just a small part of the experience offered during a Santé Center’s pre-doctoral internships.

There are many different types of treatment on offer at the Santé Center including:

  • Medical detoxification
  • Individual and group therapy sessions – both therapists and psychiatrists
  • Specific treatment plans for each individual client
  • Skill building groups
  • Music therapy
  • Equine therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Aftercare planning with an emphasis on the prevention of relapse

Interns always work under the supervision of the professional staff at Santé Center, receiving insight into both the clinical aspects of treatment and also counseling work – a very important area of drug addiction rehab that is sometimes overlooked.

A doctoral student who wishes to follow this type of profession is encouraged to apply at Santé Center for Healing.  For more information, contact Sylva Frock, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist at (940) 466-7222.

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When to Seek Drug Addiction Rehab

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Dr. H Alan Lagrone

It is difficult to find the “right time” for drug addiction rehab.  Patient acknowledgement of a problem is the first step towards successful treatment, but the admission of a need for help is not easy.  Patients need motivation to seek help and enter drug addiction rehab, and it takes skill to stick to the recovery process and work through any future relapses.

One of the many problems with drug addiction is that it is very complex. The journey towards addiction, generally, starts with a person voluntarily taking drugs, then often, the drug takes over the person’s life before he or she would like to admit. Addicts typically feel ashamed, so they may deny that there is any sort of drug addiction problem.  Additionally, addicts commonly view their entrance into a drug addiction rehab center as an action synonymous with failure. This is one of the fundamental reasons why many people are unsuccessful in seeking help for their drug addiction.  Shame, in conjunction with denial, lead addicts down a destructive path.

In order to experience successful treatment for drug addiction, an addict must be ready to accept that there is a problem, but that does not necessarily mean that they cannot be helped towards that decision by family and loved ones. Some people realize their need to enter drug addiction rehab and voluntarily enter an addiction treatment center. “Glee” star Cory Monteith recently entered drug addiction rehab voluntarily, and rather than feeling ashamed of his decision, his friends and loved ones (including fellow “Glee” star and real life girlfriend Lea Michele) have announced that they are proud and grateful that he has voluntarily chosen to seek help with his drug addiction problems. Unlike Cory, however, it is estimated that around eight percent of the population of the United States, over the age of 12 years, need drug addiction rehab for problems with either alcohol or drug abuse, but they never receive the appropriate treatment.

Helping a Loved One Seek Drug Addiction Rehab

It is difficult to watch a loved one crumble before your eyes, yet feel unable to help them. The truth about drug addiction is that it is never too late to get help, however, the sooner the treatment starts the better the prognosis and the easier it will be. It is important for everyone involved to realize that there is a long and rocky path ahead. A chronic disease like drug addiction is often combined with other psychological or mental health issues. Relapse is very possible but should never be considered failure. Drug addiction should be viewed as the beginning of an addict’s journey, a journey that will last for the rest of their lives.

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Santé Centers’ Addiction Treatment Center

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Dr. H Alan Lagrone

Santé Center for Healing has been helping people live healthier lives since it was founded in 1996. The addiction treatment center at Santé is staffed by experienced clinicians who are dedicated to providing cutting-edge care to professionals, or any individual who needs help in overcoming addictive behaviors. Santé Center was founded with the goal of administering effective, dignified care to those struggling with a variety of addiction disorders. Santé Center for Healing’s addiction treatment center practices a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment for addicts and those recovering addicts that need help in relapse prevention.

Located in a peaceful setting that promotes healing, Santé Center provides confidential treatment programs in a safe atmosphere. The seclusion and beauty of the grounds at Santé Center helps patients to focus on the challenges of recovery. The addiction treatment center at Santé is concentrated on the overall health and well-being of the patients. There are walking trails, workout facilities and a swimming pool on site to give patients healthy activities that are geared towards promoting healthy lifestyle choices, which can be continued once a patient’s stay at Santé is complete. Maintaining a balance of health and mind is an important part of the healing process, and the therapy offered at Santé Center involves educating patients on how to make those imperative life choices.

The most important priority at Santé Center for Healing is giving patients state-of-the-art, well rounded, integrated care to help them become free from addiction. Everything at Santé is geared toward making the addiction treatment center a warm, positive place in which a patient can achieve the most effective results. The Center’s addiction treatment program offers aftercare and relapse prevention for patients, because care does not end once the initial treatment has been completed. Santé Center will provide help with the ongoing skills and support needed to direct patients onto a positive track for the long term.

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Seeking Effective Drug Addiction Treatment

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Dr. H Alan Lagrone

The decision to participate in a drug addiction treatment program is a significant one. The realization that there is a problem, and the critical steps to make real changes and get help, are very important. As a patient starts the process of healing, it is crucial to consider the exact treatment program to use. There are many different treatment programs, so research and investigation are key to finding the type of drug addiction treatment that will be most effective in each personal situation. Those suffering from an addiction and their families should investigate different programs and treatments to determine which methods are in use and make decisions regarding evidence based care. Evidence based care incorporates the use of the most current, scientific approaches to drug addiction treatment to achieve the highest rate of success.

The most effective drug addiction treatment programs offer balanced care that utilizes a variety of scientific methods to meet individual needs. Addicts looking for treatment that can lead to long-term sobriety need to be sure that the facility or program they choose does not use outdated methods. Newer, innovative approaches, combined with informed clinical care, are able to help addicts recover at a higher level and maintain freedom from addiction. The most effective drug addiction treatments are those that cater to the specific issues of each patient to help them make the changes necessary to restore their health.

To be truly effective, drug addiction treatment needs to address any underlying or associated conditions. Many of those with an addiction also suffer from conditions like depression or anxiety disorders that contribute to the overall problem. If these root causes are not dealt with, an addict is in danger of relapse. Comprehensive care will take into account all aspects of the patient’s condition, working to achieve the most beneficial outcome. The goal should not be geared toward short term recovery, but lasting changes that deal with the full scope of the addiction.

It is necessary to communicate and ask questions when deciding on a drug addiction treatment program. Patients should confirm that therapies are tailored to each individual case and offer a range of care that uses current clinical techniques. Family members can assist by researching the different programs, cataloging what each of the facilities have to offer, and outlining practices used. An addict who needs help should get the most useful therapy and treatment available. The most practical way to find the best option for treatment is to do as much research as possible before starting.

Making a smart, informed choice when selecting a drug addiction treatment program can help an addict have a better chance of gaining the skills and knowledge needed to make those changes a permanent part of their everyday life.

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Addiction Treatment with Compassion: Santé Center for Healing

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Dr. H Alan Lagrone

Addiction treatment is handled differently at Santé Center for Healing. Known for treating patients and clients with dignity and respect, while providing cutting edge recovery programs that work, Santé Center is a leader in helping addicts, and recovering addicts, overcome their addictions and lead a healthy lifestyle. The center’s addiction treatment programs all focus on maintaining recovery and achieving prevention through education. At Santé Center for Healing, each patient is given individual care that is tailored to their personal needs and situation. The staff and therapists employ individual recovery plans utilizing innovative techniques to help each client find the path to recovery.

Santé Center offers both inpatient and outpatient services for addiction treatment geared toward a variety of addictions. The environment at the Santé Center’s addiction treatment facility is designed to be a safe, pleasant place for patients and their families to achieve balance and well being in their lives. Santé is a smoke-free addiction center, enabling patients to practice the values of good health and freedom from addictions. Santé Center for Healing is dedicated to providing the right treatments and therapies to achieve the best results, giving alumni the power to live their lives free of addictive behaviors. A combination of traditional and innovative approaches help the clients at Santé Center for Healing find the solutions that will work to make their lives better. Santé Center is open to anyone in need of addiction treatment and specializes in addressing the corresponding issues that often accompany an addictive disorder.

Santé Center is a leader in treating addiction disorders with comprehensive care provided by experienced professionals. Addiction treatment involves a broad spectrum of therapies, highlighting the skills and education needed to make important changes for a healthier, happier life. Santé Center for Healing is committed to giving treatment that works, with the integrity that makes all the difference.

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Recognizing Sexual Addiction Disorder

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Dr. H Alan Lagrone

Sexual addiction disorder is a serious condition that can have a profound negative effect on relationships and families. Further complications arise because a sexual addiction disorder can be hard to recognize. Patients suffering from sexual addiction are often ashamed and fearful of exposure, so it is rare that treatment is sought before lasting effects are realized. Sexual addicts are typically unaware that their compulsive behaviors and thoughts are tied into other mental health issues. Sexual addiction disorder can be linked to depression and anxiety, and addicts usually exhibit difficulty relating to others in personal relationships. The mechanics of sexual addiction are similar to other addictions in that the addict feels the need to repeat the behavior or activity frequently in order to experience the desired feeling or emotion. This compulsive behavior continues and becomes stronger over time, causing negative consequences that will have an impact on all parts of their lives.

For patients to be diagnosed with a sexual addiction disorder, they must exhibit frequency in repeating compulsive patterns of behavior. These behaviors become the addiction and those suffering from sexual addiction are unable to stop, even if they realize their behavior is hindering their life. Those with a sexual addiction will use sex to relieve stress and deal with anxiety. Their sexual behaviors will affect their ability to lead a normal life, causing problems within both work and personal relationships. Patients who experience sexual addictions have a difficult time maintaining healthy sexual relationships and often live their lives in the shadow of shame, loneliness, and self deceit. Addictive sexual behaviors may include engaging in unsafe sex, excessive masturbation, multiple sex partners or affairs, and increased use of pornography. Severe sexual addiction can often lead to unlawful behaviors, including prostitution, that increase the chance of getting infected with a sexually transmitted disease. Sexual addiction disorder puts an addict in danger of risking their own lives and the lives of those around them.

Although addicts may realize there are consequences to their behavior, they are unable to stop on their own and will need professional help to overcome the addiction and underlying causes. Professional therapists can work with addicts and their families to rebuild relationships and give everyone involved the emotional tools needed to make positive changes. When a sexual behavior starts to take over and control someone’s life to the point of causing damage, it qualifies as a sexual addiction disorder.

Therapy (both personal and group) can help curb negative behaviors and empower addicts to understand the reasons behind their tendencies. From there, a counselor specializing in sexual addiction disorder can give patients the tools they need to alter and change the way they think about sexual behavior. Treatment for sexual addiction disorder most often encompasses counseling and education for the addict, addressing feelings of low self-esteem and anxiety. An addiction treatment center can help addicts and their families understand and overcome sexual addiction.

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