| With all the media coverage about celebrities | | | | drug addicts, and especially alcoholics, on |
| "returning" for more drug rehab, some of them for | | | | addiction-blocking drugs such as naltrexone. This drug |
| the third or fourth time, many people are getting the | | | | prevents the brain's receptors from responding to |
| idea that rehab doesn't really work. Some people are | | | | opiate drugs and alcohol, and actually works for a |
| beginning to think that public funding for drug rehab | | | | while to reduce the craving for the substance. |
| programs is a waste of tax dollars. The fact is, | | | | Sounds good, right? The problem is, naltrexone |
| lifelong recovery from alcohol and drug addiction is | | | | blocks all pleasure responses. Life just turns gray and |
| almost a certainty when drug rehab is done right. | | | | isn't really worth living. And worse, it can increase the |
| The public's lack of trust in drug rehab programs is | | | | possibility of an opiate overdose, which can be fatal. |
| leading to some dangerously bad ideas, such as | | | | In any of these kinds of situations, we are simply |
| putting people addicted to alcohol or drugs on some | | | | trading one drug (and often a new addiction) for |
| other drug, or worse, legalizing drugs. These are not | | | | another. This makes the pharmaceutical companies |
| solutions, they are problems masquerading as | | | | happy, but it does not achieve any kind of |
| solutions. The call for legalization of drugs is the most | | | | rehabilitation for the addicted persons. So why are |
| compelling evidence that drug rehab is basically a | | | | we not putting unfortunate drug-dependent people |
| hit-or-miss failure in many, if not most, settings. This | | | | through drug rehab programs? The answer is clear - |
| is total surrender, a complete capitulation to the | | | | many programs have abysmal success rates. They |
| power of drugs. It says, "Okay, drugs. You win. | | | | don't have all the elements in place that can make |
| Come on in and rule our lives because there's nothing | | | | drug rehab successful. |
| we can do about you." | | | | The drug rehab program you choose should |
| Putting heroin addicts on methadone is another | | | | empower you, so that you accomplish life long |
| testament to the failure of most approaches to | | | | freedom from drug use. It should take you through |
| rehab. Methadone "replacement therapy" is | | | | detox and withdrawal and ensure that you repair the |
| entrenched across the country and around the world. | | | | damage drugs have done to your life. It puts you |
| Addicts remain addicted to a "legal" drug instead of | | | | back in control and functioning in society again - |
| an illegal one. The idea of getting free of drugs has | | | | enjoying good family relationships, holding down a job |
| simply been abandoned. The thought process that | | | | and living a successful drug-free life. |
| leads to this non-solution is, "Drug rehab probably | | | | All drug rehab programs are not created equal. There |
| won't work, and it's going to be too much trouble to | | | | are drug rehab centers that successfully address all |
| try to save this person anyway. At least they won't | | | | the issues. If you or someone you care about needs |
| share contaminated needles and they might get | | | | help with alcohol or drug addiction, contact a drug |
| some of their life back. Of course, they're addicted | | | | rehab program counselor who knows what works |
| to this drug now, but what else can we do about it?" | | | | and can help you find a successful drug rehab |
| Another example of "replacement therapy" is putting | | | | program. |