| Most recovering addicts - or "ex-addicts" as some | | | | approach, that being, providing treatment based on |
| choose to term it - prefer to keep their personal | | | | the belief that addiction IS or IS NOT a "disease." It |
| struggles with addiction as quiet as possible when | | | | is most commonly agreed that addiction - whatever |
| dealing with the general public. In the interest of | | | | type it may be - is in fact a disease which is |
| drawing an important example, however, I will | | | | progressive and potentially fatal if not treated. Those |
| disclose one key element pertaining to my own | | | | that operate by this belief will nearly always |
| previous struggles with substance abuse. Looking | | | | incorporate the 12 step philosophy to varying levels |
| back from when I first reached the point in my | | | | (i.e., Alcoholics Anonymous). |
| addiction that required admission to rehab, to my | | | | Over the past 20 years or so there has been a |
| very last treatment center not too terribly long ago, | | | | growing trend of treatment options that do not |
| one consistency boldly stands out. As the years and | | | | operate under the Disease Model and boldly stand by |
| numerous trips to rehab went by, the level of posh | | | | the belief that addiction is a curable malady. These |
| & luxury progressively diminished. From private | | | | programs infuse a variety of components into their |
| accommodations and 5-star cuisine to skid row | | | | services such as; holistic treatments, vitamin & |
| shelters and army cots in a gymnasium-type setting, | | | | nutritional complexes, yoga, spirituality, physical |
| my affluent upbringing and formal education became | | | | exercise, specific therapeutic approaches, individual |
| nothing more than a distant memory. | | | | therapy, etc. Each facility is different and will be able |
| Today, I have the fortune of not only living a life | | | | to offer substantially more information based on the |
| beyond my wildest dreams, but the experience of | | | | specifics of their approach than I will. Many higher-end |
| having had numerous opportunities to work in various | | | | Disease Model facilities will also utilize some of the |
| formal and informal addiction treatment settings, all of | | | | above components in addition to 12 step education |
| which have played an integral role into who I am | | | | and meeting attendance. |
| today. Over the years I have been approached by | | | | In the case of luxury and higher end treatment |
| many friends and family members of addicts that | | | | centers, the key element to consider is what role |
| often pose the same question which is, and I | | | | does the luxury factor play into the core purpose of |
| paraphrase; "what type of treatment program works | | | | the program? One key difference in higher end |
| best?" And before I go any further let's just get one | | | | treatment is the ability to fully customize a client's |
| thing very clear. The reasons as to why I did not | | | | treatment plan with much greater flexibility based on |
| remain sober following my initial trips to the nicer | | | | his/her individual needs. There also tends to be a |
| rehabs had absolutely nothing to do with the quality | | | | stronger focus on individualized therapy and the ability |
| of care. My reasons for going in the first place were | | | | to cater to any other co-occurring issues such as |
| based upon nothing more than to get back in my | | | | grief & trauma, PTSD (post traumatic stress |
| family's good graces, or to get the girl back, or to | | | | disorder), bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, etc. |
| get the job back, or anything else along those | | | | Most mid-range facilities will treat co-occurring |
| self-serving lines. I had no intention and no desire to | | | | disorders as well but will often times not have an |
| apply myself whatsoever toward a life of sobriety | | | | actual psychiatrist on staff and contract out this type |
| and hence, the long, arduous & painful road of active | | | | of service on a case by case basis. |
| addiction lay ahead. | | | | The range of treatment options in the middle of the |
| There are many variations of treatment, most of | | | | cost curve are extremely broad; more so than in any |
| which will integrate a variety of elements which are | | | | other segment! Their modalities vary, and their ability |
| often referred to as the treatment "modality." | | | | to take insurance and provide financing options will |
| Among the more common modalities out there are; | | | | vary as well. Many treatment centers in this realm will |
| 12 Step, Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Therapy, | | | | not take a singular approach to treatment, that is, |
| Holistic, Faith-Based, Work Therapy and others. The | | | | they may operate under a disease model and take |
| growing trend in recent years has been to | | | | their clients to AA meetings in the evenings while also |
| incorporate a multi-disciplinary approach in which the | | | | providing various holistic and unique therapeutic |
| facility will utilize certain elements of each treatment | | | | approaches during the day which are completely |
| type in order to come up with their own modality | | | | separate from the 12 step regimen. Most of these |
| and often market it as resulting in a higher level of | | | | programs will have group therapy as well as individual |
| success. The question then becomes, "what is their | | | | sessions, however, the focus may vary depending on |
| definition of success?" | | | | the foundation of their approach to recovery. Some |
| Looking first at those treatment centers which are | | | | will also take a religious approach called "faith-based" |
| state, county and charity funded, they essentially | | | | treatment which is utilized within the program |
| offer what they offer and that's about it. If you like | | | | structure to varying degrees and is most often |
| it then great and if you don't like it then leave, | | | | based on Christian philosophies. |
| because there are likely 30 people standing in line | | | | There has also been a dramatic rise in adolescent |
| behind you whom are desperate to get your bed. | | | | treatment as in lieu of the growing numbers of |
| These are the types of programs that will usually | | | | addicted teens. These types of programs operate |
| provide an extremely "core-purpose" environment | | | | under very stringent guidelines and are faced with |
| which, often begins with getting the addict off the | | | | regulations and protocols that extend beyond adult |
| streets and into a rigorous structure that involves | | | | treatment environments. Some of these are actually |
| group therapy, 12-step panels and meetings, work | | | | in a wilderness setting that offer a broad focus on |
| therapy in order to help the facility cover its costs, | | | | navigating through life by means of literally forcing |
| social-model structure that involves residents working | | | | the client to navigate through rugged terrain on |
| with and overseeing each other's day to day | | | | various levels. The mentality behind this is that as |
| behaviors & actions, etc. These types of programs | | | | addicts, we learn best through our own personal |
| are also commonly offered by churches and religious | | | | experiences, struggles and triumphs. Adolescents |
| non-profits which provide a religious "faith-based" | | | | facilities are also mandated to provide formal |
| format in conjunction with the other elements | | | | education to the client based on state laws. For |
| previously mentioned. In most cases the majority of | | | | instance, if a 10th grader is forced into treatment |
| the residents living at publicly funded facilities are | | | | due to addiction it does not necessarily mean that |
| either indigent or just coming out of jails and prisons | | | | their schooling must be placed on hold. While some |
| and are mandated to the facility as a condition of | | | | are more elegant than others, the one common |
| their parole. | | | | denominator is that there must be an emphasis on |
| There is no evidence suggesting that the above | | | | growing up and taking responsibility for our own |
| treatment facilities are less effective, however, than | | | | actions. |
| span of treatment options available are definitely | | | | Across the board, regardless of what type of |
| narrower. My personal experience with publicly funded | | | | treatment setting we're talking about, there are |
| treatment is that most of the clients have been | | | | several common denominators. First, intermingling of |
| struggling with addiction for many years and already | | | | clients on a romantic level is highly frowned upon and |
| have a good base of knowledge pertaining to | | | | in many cases may result in expulsion from the |
| recovery. Also, it is much more common to see a bit | | | | program. Second, honesty is foremost. We're all |
| of a rougher client mentality in such facilities as | | | | human and we all make mistakes and bad decisions |
| opposed to those focusing on private-pay clients due | | | | from time to time, but those with the ability to be |
| to their history of incarceration, gang life or living on | | | | honest and forthright have a much higher likelihood of |
| the streets & shelters. In most cases however, the | | | | remaining sober. The chances of being removed from |
| staff is extremely diligent in their efforts to change | | | | the program are much higher in cases when a client |
| these behaviors and not allow things like "prison talk" | | | | lies rather than in those in which he/she did |
| and gang-type clothing. | | | | something wrong but had the courage to remain |
| For those with health insurance and/or the means to | | | | honest, regardless of the anticipated consequence. |
| pay out of pocket there is a world of options! | | | | Third, respecting fellow patients and staff alike is |
| Among those are; luxury rehabs, holistic rehabs, non | | | | required. Addiction treatment is a bubble, a separation |
| 12-step treatment, adolescent treatment, | | | | from real life enabling addicts to re-learn and enact |
| multi-disciplinary facilities, intensive outpatient settings, | | | | many elements that outwardly may not seem to |
| faith-based treatment, eating disorders centers, | | | | have any direct correlation to sobriety, but they do. |
| wilderness-type facilities, hospital-type facilities, | | | | The element of respect and decency plays an |
| medical & rapid detox locations, and others. One of | | | | integral role in sobriety as well as life in general, and if |
| the primary differences is whether or not the facility | | | | the patient refuses to adhere to these principles and |
| operates by what is termed the "Disease Model" | | | | act accordingly then problems will always arise. |