How to Choose a Drug Rehab or Alcohol Rehab Program

Drug addiction is defined as "the compulsive use of psychoactive drugs, to the point where the user has no effective choice but to continue use." Drug addiction is a complex illness and effective treatment of this disorder is not found in every drug rehab or alcohol rehab in America.When a person is suffering from drug abuse, alcohol abuse, drug addiction or alcohol addiction, a drug rehab or alcohol rehab program is the best choice to end the suffering. There are many reasons why a person would need to attend a drug rehab program. Some might be: the inability to control drinking or drug use, deteriorating relationships, criminal offenses, and problematic behavior at work. A quality drug rehab program, through therapy and education, help the individual to recover and become a productive member of society.

Now, let?s think about drug rehab and alcohol rehab programs and what images you see? Chances are, your perception does not cover the entire spectrum of drug addiction treatment centers. Since there are several different types of drug rehab programs available ranging from inpatient addiction treatment, outpatient addiction treatment, residential addiction treatment, short-term, and long-term addiction treatment, it makes sense to learn what?s out there and how to choose the best drug or alcohol rehab.. It is best to involve an addiction treatment professional at this point to help point the way. It is said that the best drug rehab programs are those that are structured to an individuals needs. This means taking into consideration the individual?s race, age, culture, gay, lesbian, bisexual, gender, employment, past drug history, criminal behavior and history of physical or sexual abuse. In most drug rehab programs, regardless of their differences, they have one major goal: try to get the individual back to a drug-free lifestyle. Often times this requires more than one addiction treatment attempt and sometimes multiple attempts within a drug addiction treatment center. Do not be discouraged.

If you require assistance in locating a quality drug rehab or alcohol rehab in your area go to www.recoveryconnection.org or call the national addiction treatment helpline at 1-800-511-9225.

Jonathan Huttner is a principal with Lakeview Health Systems, a drug rehab specializing in the treatment of addiction, alcoholism and dual diagnosis. Lakeview also offers Freedom Rings, a component for the gay, lesbian population.

Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Rehab

Alcoholism and Alcohol Rehab Alcoholism is a serious disease and the problem is growing. The National Council On Alcoholism And Drug Dependence statistics reveal that approximately 18 million Americans suffer from alcohol abuse. Each year more than 100,000 Americans die from alcohol related deaths and alcohol is a factor in nearly half of all traffic fatalities. Over half of the men and women in the United States report that one or more of their family members have an alcohol abuse problem.

According to the National Institute On Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism, alcoholism is a disease that has four main components:
. Craving - An overwhelming need to drink
. Loss of Control - An inability to put the drink down
. Physical Dependence - After a period of heavy drinking withdrawal symptoms occur such as nausea, shaking, and anxiety
. Tolerance - Needing greater amounts of alcohol to obtain a "high" Alcohol Abuse Complications

The complications to the body from alcohol abuse may include damage to the brain and central nervous system, liver disorders, gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular problems, diabetes complications, sexual and menstrual dysfunction, birth defects, neurological complications and increased risk of cancer.

There is no cure for alcoholism. Even if an alcoholic has long-term sobriety, he or she remains susceptible to relapse. To guard against a relapse, an alcoholic must avoid drinking alcohol. There is treatment for the disease and a chance to build a healthier lifestyle. Addiction treatment generally depends on the severity of alcoholism and alcohol abuse. It may include the following:

. Detox and withdrawal-a process of safely removing alcohol from the body lasting from a period of days to weeks.
. Assessment and treatment for medical problems related to physical damage from the disease
. Drug addiction treatment-some medications are used to reduce the craving for alcohol or to produce severe physical reactions such as nausea and vomiting if one drinks while on the medication. Drug treatment does not cure alcoholism nor will they remove the desire to drink.
. Individual/Group Counseling-There are effective methods of counseling that help the alcoholic to identify feelings that trigger the urge to drink and alternatives to manage those feelings.

Checking in to a drug rehab or alcohol rehab program is an excellent method of treatment for alcohol abuse. There are many types of addiction treatment or alcohol treatment programs.Some offer alcohol detox and inpatient addiction treatment and others offer shorter-term residencies, sober living or outpatient counseling. When researching drug rehabs, ask what addiction treatment services they offer.If you are looking for an alcohol treatment program, alcohol rehab program or drug rehab program you can call 1-800-511-9225, a national alcohol treatment program helpline.

Jonathan Huttner is a principal with lakeview HealthySystems, an alcohol rehab and addiction treatment program, with a specialty in dual diagnosis.

 

Objective Of Drug Rehab, Alcohol Rehab and Dual Diagnosis Programs

The main objective of drug rehab programs is to free you from the bondage of drug abuse and alcoholism. These programs help you to discover newer ways to live without the use of drugs and/or alcohol. Different drug rehab, alcohol rehab and dual diagnosis programs offer various types of addiction recovery programs to treat the disease. Here is some information that may help you for selecting the right drug rehab program or dual diagnosis treatment center.

Consult a good addiction treatment specialist for finding a suitable dual diagnosis program or alcohol rehab. Doctors and drug rehab specialists will study your case and conduct certain tests on you to find out a suitable drug rehab program for you. Every individual has a unique history to the disease. Hence, the drug rehab program or alcohol rehab program must be tailor-made to suit your case.

Generally, the drug rehab programs and alcohol rehab programs include services such as inpatient detox, residential treatment, medication, diet, exercise, counseling, and community activity.

Depending upon your case, doctors will recommend the services that need to be included in the alcohol rehab program designed for you. The doctors would advise you to join either the "outpatient addiction treatment program" or the "residential inpatient treatment program" depending on your intensity of dependency. Here are some details about both the options.

Outpatient Drug Rehab or Alcohol Rehab Program

If you do not have a long history of alcoholism or drug abuse, an outpatient addiction recovery treatment program might be the correct option. You might need counseling and guidance as a part of your treatment.

Outpatient addiction recovery programs are a suitable option for the treatment of the disease at its early stage. This program is recommended for those individuals, whose occupational and family environments are intact and for those who demonstrate a high degree of commitment to quit alcohol. This program provides adequate support service for your day-to-day life. Inpatient Drug Rehab, Alcohol Rehab or Dual Diagnosis Program

If you have experienced a long period of drug abuse or alcohol abuse, doctors might recommend a inpatient alcohol rehab program or inpatient drug rehab program The inpatient drug rehab and alcohol rehab program provides 24-hour support and it is highly effective. If you need help locating a drug rehab or alcohol rehab program you can go to www.recoveryconnection.org or call the national alcohol abuse helpline at 1-800-511-9225. If you are looking for a gay alcohol rehab program, go to www.gay-rehab.com.

Jonathan Huttner is an owner of Lakeview Health Systems which specializes in the treatment of drug addiction, alcohol addiction and dual diagnosis

What Exactly is a Rehab Program?

I have had some really good friends that were addicted to drugs and the drugs caused major problems in their lives. All of these friends eventually hit bottom and decided that they needed to seek help to fix the problems they were having with drugs. Many of them knew that they needed to go into some sort of drug rehab program, but they were all very nervous about what a rehab program actually was. All drug rehab programs are similar, but some of the programs try to combat the problem of drug addiction in different ways. Next time someone asks you what is a rehab program, then you can tell them these things so that they can better understand what they are getting themselves into. The main points to look at in a drug rehab program are the different programs that the rehab program offers, if the rehab program is medically based, and if the rehab program offers continuing care after leaving the facility.

Most rehab programs offer a variety of programs that allow the patient to get help in a way that works for them. Some of these different programs include inpatient, outpatient, and short-stay options. A rehab program should offer an option that they believe will give a person the best chance to recover from their drug addiction. Rehab programs are sometimes medical institutions and sometimes they are more faith-based places that try to heal a person without medicine. Both of these types of rehab programs have their strengths, but the medical facilities are usually more restrictive and can sometimes be harder on the individual. Rehab programs will also usually offer some type of continuing care for their patients, because drug addiction is not something that can be fixed immediately. Drug addiction is a life-long struggle that must be fought with everyday. A rehab program with a good continuing care facility can help a person not only get sober, but stay sober the rest of their life.

Visit the Texas Residential Treatment Center to learn about their 12 Step Recovery Program

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Services are Ineffective for the GLBT Population in a Drug Rehab

Most drug rehab services, including alcohol treatment programs, are geared towards serving a white, heterosexual, male, client. Unless great effort has been put into awareness training, developing knowledge about the experiences and circumstances of minority groups, and the establishment of programs to deal with the special needs of different groups of oppressed people, services will simply perpetuate institutional discrimination.

Gay Alcohol Treatment Programs Not Adequate

U.S. researchers Lohrenz et al (1978) found that 37% of homosexuals experienced discrimination from alcohol treatment program staff while Fifield, De Crescenzo & Latham (1975) discovered that 75% of homosexuals who are recovering from alcoholism believe that mainstream drug rehab and alcohol rehab program are not geared to treating homosexuals and do not provide an accepting and supportive environment. Because of discrimination homosexuals are less likely to attend an alcohol treatment program and drug addiction treatment program unless, that is, they are 'passing.' In this case, if the clinician does not bring up the subject, one of the major causes of their problems will be ignored. Rofes (1989) says: By ignoring the special problems that a lesbian alcoholic, for example, presents, an alcohol treatment program will be doing a service to no one. Their alcoholism treatment of the individual will be less than adequate and may tend to intensify the woman's feelings of isolation and 'difference.' Only by bringing the issue into the open and addressing the woman's lesbianism as an aspect of her life which she needs to feel positively about, will the program be truly effective.

Avoiding Coming Out

Shernoff & Finnegan (1991) discuss the case of a lesbian who is hiding her sexuality, then stress: It is the responsibility of each alcoholism treatment counselor to take the lead in this area the same way alcohol treatment counselors routinely question early family history, dynamics of shame, denial and spirituality. By omitting questions about sexual orientation, or the more subtle questions about sexual or affectional feelings or fantasies for a person of the same sex, the counselor is not obtaining information about all the possible contributing factors for achieving and maintaining sobriety. While Hellman et al (1989) note: Therapists may fear causing anxiety by asking patients about sexual orientation because of discomfort with the subject. However, this questioning can be essential in helping to overcome the secrecy and denial that are hall marks of the struggle with both alcoholism and homosexuality. Of course, if a worker is ignorant about homosexuality s/he is likely to make the situation worse:

Problems Faced In Gay Alcohol Treatment Programs

American surveys, referred to by Hellman et al (1989), reveal a list of complaints about mainstream provision ranging from

? heterosexual bias in alcoholism treatment and evaluation (including either focusing primarily on sexual orientation when inappropriate or ignoring important factors linked with sexuality)

? ignorance about lesbian/gay issues and discomfort at approaching matters of sexuality

? ignorance about the inter-relation of homosexuality and alcohol abuse

. Neisen & Sandall (1990) worked at a program designed to offer alcohol treatment to chemically dependent lesbians and gays. They list their clients' experiences of non-gay drug rehab or non gay alcohol rehab, which include:

difficulty in being open about their sexual orientation due to fear of staff/client harassment,? staff telling them it wasn't acceptable to discuss sexual orientation

some were forced to disclose their sexual orientation

as soon as their sexuality was known, some were discharged

some said that after disclosure the alcohol treatment they received was different due to an atmosphere of condemnation

some feared that if their sexual orientation was known about this would receive more emphasis than their chemical dependency

some addiction treatment programs were not happy having their partner attend a family program.

Citing Morales & Graves (1983) and Hellman, Stanton, Lee, Tytun and Vachon (1989), O'Hanlan (1996) notes:

? the majority of detox and drug rehabilitation and alcohol rehab programs were insensitive to issues of sexual orientation and did not, generally, encourage its disclosure

? homophobia limits the success of recovery and alcohol treatment for lesbian substance abusers (Hall, 1990; de Monteflores, 1986)

? failure to acknowledge sexual orientation makes relapse more likely (Cabaj, 1992)

? lesbians were more likely to attend alcohol treatment program services which address lesbian social issues and provide lesbian counsellors (Hall,1986, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994; Morales & Graves, 1983).

Family Treatment In Gay Alcohol Treatment Programs

Inclusion of families in addiction treatment and alcohol rehab program is now an acceptable way of supporting those coming off alcohol dependency (Nardi, 1982; Shernoff & Finnegan, 1991). This would be problematic for the homosexual client, partly because many will have been rejected by their families and those families who do not reject their offspring rarely want to discuss anything connected with homosexuality. Yet it is the ignorance and lack of acceptance of families which is one of the main reasons why homosexuals are vulnerable to alcohol abuse and drug abuse. Alcoholism treatment does work!

A gay alcohol treatment program, drug rehab or gay friendly dual diagnosis treatment program, can be found at a web site located at www.lakeviewhealth.com or you can call the dual diagnosis national helpline at 1-800-511-9225 to locate a dual diagnosis treatment program in your local area.

Jonathan Huttner is a principal with Lakeview Health Systems, which treats drug addiction and alcohol addiction in a gay friendly environment. Lakeview also operates a nationally recognized dual diagnosis treatment program.

 

Drug Addiction Rehab Programs Effectiveness

Drug addiction rehab is a generic phrase, which refers to drug rehabilitation, and presupposes a medical treatment for the dependency of legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, even nicotine or any other psychoactive substance.

If you are longing or craving to use again and again a drug, then it doesn't matter if the substance behind that drug is legal or illegal, what you need is a drug addiction rehab. It means that you have a drug addiction, so you must take it seriously and get immediate treatment in a rehab clinic and as long as it is required because it takes time and strength. There are many ways in which you can achieve a drug addiction rehab: rehab clinics, sober houses, care centers, local support groups etc. Your body is affected by this drug addiction at two levels: physical and psychological.

If you don't check yourself into rehab to get over this addiction as soon as you admitted to have one, this addiction tends to become chronic. It means that you can fall again and again into the abyss and finally you might never return. This may happen even after a long and efficient treatment. During the rehab program you won't just take medication, what you are suppose to do is learn to cope with your disorder at your best. Thus you might not loose the competition against your temptation and waste your drug addiction rehab.

Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment

The treatment is focused on two phases: that of physical healing through detoxification or withdrawal therapy and a psychological support which prevents relapse. The approach of the professionals depends on the substance which provoked the addiction and the particular side effects. Pharmacotherapies proved to be very efficient in drug addiction rehab for at least three purposes: the effective treatment of rehabilitation, the maintenance (usually used for a longer time) and the interruption of the physical as well as psychological dependence. There are three ways of approaching a medical treatment during a drug addiction rehab connected to the symptoms of the patients and the side effects (on the Central Nervous System-CNS, and not only):

- CNS depressants ? minor to severe side effects, affecting blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and even threatening life;
- CNS stimulants ? depression, suicidal thoughts, paranoia, psychosis;
- Opioids ? minor to severe side effects (rapid pulse, high blood pressure, pains, tremors, vomiting, diarrhea etc); a most recently approved drug in U.S. that cures heroine addiction is buprenorphine (a milder opioid).

The detoxification is both completed and followed by the psychological treatment which is also an important stage of drug addiction rehab. It means counseling, therapy sessions accomplished through individual, group or family meetings.

Access some of the best drug rehab treatment resources, together with drug rehab programs and free drug rehab options on our website.

Gay Drug Rehab and Sex Addiction

Gay Sex Addiction and Its Symptoms

Gay sex addiction or sex addiction can best be described as a persistent and progressive pattern of sexual behaviors continually acted out despite negative consequences. Some of the behaviors that may reflect sex addiction or compulsive sexual behavior are:

• prostitution
• attendance at strip clubs or book stores
• masturbation
• sexual aversion
• pornography
• phone sex
• cyber sex
• multiple partners
• unsafe sex

Consequences of Gay Sex Addiction

Those suffering from drug addiction and alcoholism can become lost in sexual preoccupation which can result in emotional distance from loved ones. The result can mean the ending of a friendship or a relationship with a partner. From an emotional perspective, stress, and anxiety are certainly common place as the person suffering from gay sex addiction constantly has a fear of being found out. For those that haven?t ?come out? with regards to their sexuality, the fear is twofold. In addition to the stress, shame and guilt are right behind as the individual constantly finds themselves compromising values and beliefs they held true. Physically, diseases can be spread quickly as those suffering from sex addiction tend to not practice safe sex. Impulsive thinking generally leads to decisions that can end in the spread of HIV, herpes, genital warts and other STD?s.

In describing the consequences associated with gay sex addiction many people tend to forget the legal, financial and spiritual aspects of the disease. Many of the activities associated with sex addiction are against the law such as obscene phone calls, prostitution, incest, rape, exhibitionism or sexual harassment. Sex addiction has been the result of job loss, professional licensure and worse. Financially, those suffering from sex addiction spend large sums of money on prostitutes, cyber sex, phone sex and affairs with multiple partners. The cost of legal fees is not lost on those having to deal with divorce or arrest. Sex addiction can be a very costly affair. The spiritual consequences of sex addiction are usually found in the areas of self pity, shame, guilt and lonliness.

Sex Addiction, Drug Addiction and Drug Rehab

It is not unusual for gays or lesbians suffering from sex addiction to turn to drugs or alcohol as a means to cope with the feelings and lifestyle that accompanies this lifestyle. Drug addiction and alcohol addiction is not uncommon for someone to experience who is a sex addict. When it comes to addiction treatment or drug rehab, it is extremely important for recovery that the gay drug rehab or drug rehab that is chosen has a sex addiction component. The staff needs to be trained in how to treat sex addiction, as well as, the triggers in a drug rehab that is not all about sex addiction treatment. Most drug rehab programs that admit people for the treatment of drug addiction often miss identifying and treating the sex addict. Be careful in selecting your drug rehab and sex addiction treatment program.

If you are looking for a gay friendly drug rehab able to treat sex addiction you can go to www.gay-rehab.com or call 1-800-511-9225, which is a national drug rehab referral helpline.

Jonathan Huttner is a principal in a gay friendly drug rehab and alcohol rehab called Lakeview's Freedom Rings.

Gay Men, Gay Addiction Treatment, Gay Drug Rehab and the Healthcare Provider

While people are living longer and longer as years go by, there are issues specific to the gay population that may be of particular concern. While not every issue mentioned in this article may apply to you as a gay man, the better educated a person is, the better off they are.

Safe sex practices among the gay community

Most of us know that men who have sex with other men are at an increased risk of HIV infection, but the effectiveness of safe sex in reducing the rate of HIV infection is one of the gay community?s great success stories. Unfortunately, the last few years have seen the return of many unsafe sex practices. Many attribute these unsafe sex practices to the growth of crystal meth abuse. The decision making process while under the influence of crystal meth is quite impaired creating high risk sex practices. While the medical field continues to develop effective HIV treatments, there is no substitute for preventing infection. Safe sex is proven to reduce the risk of receiving or transmitting HIV.

Gay drug addiction and gay alcohol addiction

Gay men use drugs and alcohol at a higher rate and suffer from drug addiction and alcohol addiction more than the general population. It has been determined that gay men suffer from drug addiction at a higher rate than heterosexuals due to the challenges they face on a daily basis and growing up. In general, their drug addiction is focused around drugs such as amyl nitrate ("poppers"), to ecstasy, and crystal meth-amphetamines. The long term and short term effects of these drugs can be found at www.recoveryconnection.com, a drug addiction resource directory.

Mental health, dual diagnosis left untreated can ruin your life.

Mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety appear to affect gay men at a higher rate than in the general population. The likelihood of depression or anxiety may be greater, and the problem may be more severe for those men who remain in the closet, do not have adequate social supports, suffer from internalized homophobia and refuse to seek help. Adolescents and young adults may be at particularly high risk of suicide because due to their reluctance to express their feelings. Culturally sensitive gay mental health services, gay drug rehab programs or gay alcohol rehab programs may motivate gay men to seek addiction treatment before their lives spin too far out of control. Gay men who suffer from drug addiction, alcohol addiction, as well as, a mental health disorder are referred to as having a dual diagnosis. It is not unusual for a gay man suffering from depression to turn to crystal meth as a means of gathering energy or the person suffering from anxiety to begin abusing tranquilizers to regain some sense of calm.

Immunization from Hepatitus is extremely important

Gay men are at an increased risk of sexually transmitted infection with the viruses that cause the serious condition of the liver known as hepatitis. These infections can be potentially fatal, and can lead long-term issues such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Fortunately, immunizations are available to prevent two of the three most serious viruses. Universal immunization for Hepatitis A Virus and Hepatitis B Virus is recommended for all gay men. Safe sex is effective at reducing the risk of viral hepatitis, and is currently the only means of prevention for the very serious Hepatitis C Virus. In many cases, Hepatitus C is contracted through the use of shared needles. This generally takes place with drug addiction such as heroin addiction, crystal meth addiction or any other injectable drug.

Gay men and sexually transmitted diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) occur in sexually active gay men at a high rate. This includes STD infections for which effective treatment is available (syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, pubic lice, and others), and for which no cure is available (HIV, Hepatitis A, B, or C virus, etc.). There is absolutely no doubt that safe sex reduces the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, and prevention of these infections through safe sex is key. Unfortunately drug addiction, specifically crystal meth addiction, has played a key role in the escalation of STD?s. While under the influence of crystal meth or any drug addiction for that matter, values regarding safe sex are often compromised. If you happen to be suffering from drug addiction, find yourself treatment in an effective and quality drug rehab or addiction treatment center.

Alcoholism, alcohol abuse in the gay community

Although more recent studies have improved our understanding of gay alcohol abuse, it is still thought that gay men have higher rates of alcoholism and alcohol abuse than straight men. One drink daily may not adversely affect health, however alcohol-related illnesses can occur with low levels of consumption. Gay alcohol rehab services are imperative to motivate gay men and help them overcome the challenges gay men face in seeking alcohol rehab programs. Gay alcohol rehab programs or gay friendly alcohol programs are designed specifically to address the needs of gay men and women. Gay alcohol treatment programs can make all the difference in the prevention of gay drug addiction and gay alcoholism.

Anal Papilloma among gay men

Of all the sexually transmitted infections gay men are at risk for, human papilloma virus ?which cause anal and genital warts ? is often thought to be little more than an unsightly inconvenience. However, these infections may play a role in the increased rates of anal cancers in gay men. Some health professionals now recommend routine screening with anal Pap Smears, similar to the test done for women to detect early cancers. Safe sex should be emphasized. Treatments for HPV do exist, but recurrences of the warts are very common, and the rate at which the infection can be spread between partners is very high.

If you are looking for a gay friendly drug rehab or alcohol rehab you can call 1-800-511-9225, which is a national drug addiction helpline.

Jonathan Huttner is a principal in a gay friendly drug rehab and gay friendly alcohol rehab called Lakeview. The gay drug rehab component is referred to as Freedom Rings.

A Drug Rehab Program Makes Recovery Easier

Recovery from drug addiction can be very challenging and because of this, a drug rehab program provides someone the best chance at recovery. Admission to a drug rehab can and will provide a person the opportunity to break their denial and begin to figure out why they have continued to use drugs and alcohol despite negative consequences. It is almost impossible for someone to overcome their drug addiction or alcohol addiction is they remain in denial of their problem.

A drug rehab program employs a clinical staff whose responsibility it is to teach the person various tools they can use to learn to better manage their emotions. Two of these emotions anger and depression are two of the contributing factors to drug abuse, alcohol abuse and drug addiction. It only stands to reason that when an individual can better mange those feelings, their chances of recovery and avoiding relapse are that much better.

In addition to learning how to better manage ones feelings, a stay in drug rehab or alcohol rehab will assist the person to grow spiritually and physically. Any quality drug rehab will provide the person with healthy, nutritional meals to offset the poor nutritional values they adopted during their drug addiction and alcohol addiction. Generally a healthy eating plan is developed for each patient in the drug rehab that will assist them in their recovery.

From a spiritual perspective, during everyone?s drug addiction or alcohol addiction principals were compromised, values were thrown to the wind and you have come to the point where if you had spiritual beliefs prior to your drug addiction, they were gone now. Most addiction treatment or drug rehab programs help each person address their spiritual void. This is accomplished in a variety of ways and each drug rehab is different. The point is, healing one?s spiritual life, also takes place in drug rehab.

As we mentioned the physical aspect of recovery, I would be remis if I didn't take a moment to talk about drug detox or alcohol detox. This is a crucial time in any stay in drug rehab. Detox is when you discontinue your drug abuse or alcohol abuse in a medically monitored setting. The drug rehab generally has medications dispensed to mange any withdrawal symptoms you may experience. Detox in any drug rehab is not easy, but a person can be made to feel comfortable.It is important that any detox unit have 24 hour nursing and is licensed in the state in which it operates and carries with it an accreditation from the Joint Accreditation of Healthcare Orginizations. This means that the drug rehab and detox is operating by the highest standards this industry has to offer.

The terms drug rehab and alcohol rehab are essentially the same thing. The addiction treatment services are the same, detox services are the same, the only difference is the words drug rehab and alcohol rehab.

Jonathan Huttner is with Lakeview Health Systems, a drug and alcohol rehab operating in Jacksonville, Florida.

How to Choose a Drug Rehabilitation Center

According to Wikipedia.org, drug addiction is defined as "the compulsive use of psychoactive drugs, to the point where the user has no effective choice but to continue use." Since drug addiction is a complex illness, it has so many dimensions and disturbs so many aspects of an individual's life, dealing with this ailment is anything but simple.

When a person is at a ‘no control’ stage, drug rehabs must help the person discontinue use of drugs and maintain a drug-free lifestyle, while gaining productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society. There are many reasons why a person would need to attend a drug rehabilitation program. Some of them are: the inability to control drinking or drug use, cutting themselves off from their friends and family, criminal offenses, and problematic behavior at work. At such facilities, through therapy and education, the individual is helped to gain their former self. They are then able to become part of the society.

Now, let’s think about drug rehab centers and what images do you conjure? Resort-like facility or a strict hospital-like setting? Chances are, your perception does not cover the entire spectrum of drug treatment centers. Since there are several different types of drug rehabilitation programs available ranging from inpatient, outpatient, residential, short-term, and long-term, it helps to learn what’s out there and how to choose one. Here are a few:

First of all, gauge the situation by considering the following factors in the life of the individual who needs the drug treatment:

1. Age of individual

2. Insurance options

3. Type of drug used

4. History of criminal offenses if any

5. Friends and family support

6. Number of times the individual needed the treatment

7. Is the individual psychologically addicted and will they require complete behavioral alterations?

8. Will they have withdrawal symptoms?

After accessing the individual, you need to ask questions similar to the following to your physician, counselor and especially the drug treatment programs.

1. What types of medications are used in the treatment?

2. Which types of vitamins and/or natural treatments are used?

3. What is the counselor-to-patient ratio?

4. How do they medically manage withdrawal symptoms?

5. Test or assess infectious illnesses such as TB, HIV, Hepatitis etc.

6. Also, how long is the treatment program?

7. Are families involved?

8. What is the cost?

These and similar questions can help you find out more about the different drug treatment centers.

How do you access if the individual will need residential treatment programs? Residential treatments are geared toward those who have been addicted for a long time. These are usually longer programs and try to educate individuals to live in a drug-free community.

It is said that the best rehab programs are those that are structured to an individuals needs. This needs taking into consideration the individual’s race, age, culture, gender, employment, past drug history, criminal behavior and history of physical or sexual abuse. In choosing the drug treatment program, observe individuals within the drug program and notice their seriousness. It has been know that those who may have only tried a few drugs get more excited about trying other drugs when around serious drug users.

In most all drug rehab centers, regardless of their differences, they have one major goal: try to get the individual back to a drug-free lifestyle. Often times this requires more than one drug treatment and sometimes multiple attempts within a drug treatment center. Do not be discouraged. Do your part in researching and hopefully you will be able to find a drug rehabilitation center that will fulfill your requirements.

Danah Yousuf is a freelance writer and a full-time mom. Her work and poems have been published in periodicals overseas and has written extensively for women and children.

The 8 Biggest Rehabbing Mistakes - Part 2

In the second part of The 8 Biggest Rehabbing mistakes we look at three more areas that can swallow up your profits in no time.

BIG MISTAKE #6: YOU PAY TOO MUCH WHEN YOU BUY

You make your profit when you buy. Pure and simple! I will always tell my coaching clients at my workshops that this is the most valuable advice that they will ever receive from me. The added value from the renovation is the icing on the cake.

Always research your market well and ensure that the potential selling price is achievable when all costs and profit margins are taken into consideration. Never, ever let yourself be ruled by your emotions when buying. You must always allow for buying, selling and closing costs. Where possible, your purchase price must be sufficiently below market value to at least allow for these costs. Even better, the price should be low enough to allow for closing costs plus rehabbing costs.

The following formula will allow you to assess the real purchase cost of a particular home that you may have in mind.

Starting with the final selling price, work backwards and deduct selling costs, profit margin, renovation costs and buying costs. This final figure is how much you should be prepared to pay.

BIG MISTAKE #7: FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND YOUR TARGET MARKET

How often have you walked into a home and been totally horrified by the d?cor? Yet this is another common mistake made by renovators. They let their emotions get in the way and decide what is good for them is good for everyone else.

There are two principles that I apply when renovating. The first is the K.I.S.S. theory: Keep It Simple Stupid!

The second is to focus on the 'WOW' factor. It is no coincidence that a home sells quicker and for a higher price when it possesses strong buyer appeal. You're here to make money, not win a home decorating award. Give the market what it wants, not what you think it wants!

BIG MISTAKE #8: SPENDING TOO MUCH ON THE REHAB

The great temptation of renovating is to do too much. Whilst the 'WOW' factor is critical, you MUST keep your emotions out of the equation and strictly adhere to your budget.

Nothing goes exactly to plan when renovating, so don't panic if you exceed your budget by small amounts. Allow for a buffer to cover any surprises (usually 10 to 15 per cent). I certainly fell into the 'do too much' trap during my early projects.

Always have your costs estimated accurately prior to purchasing a property. Later on I will talk about contract of sale conditions. One such condition is to purchase subject to having a builder inspect the property. This will enable you to discover any unforeseen surprises. I encourage you to renegotiate the price should the inspection uncover any major defects - or better still, walk away.

My budget parameters are 10 per cent of the purchase price for houses. This can be stretched to 15 per cent if it means that a great profit can be made. These are personal preferences that have worked for me. They are in no way set in concrete and readers should exercise their own judgment. There is no right or wrong way in this business.

The percentages that I allow are in keeping with my primary objective of obtaining the biggest bang for your buck in the shortest possible time and with the minimum amount of money possible.

Conclusion: Understand that things can and do go wrong in this business. Now that you are aware of the pitfalls, you will be better prepared from the outset. All it takes is a little planning and there is no reason why you can't join the thousands of Americans who are quietly making huge fortunes from their Fixer-Upper business.

Sal Vannutini is a successful real estate investor and author of the best selling "Fixer-Upper Fortunes". Free e-book and 6 Part mini-course reveals how to make a fortune in real estate. Visit: http://www.fastfixerupperprofits.com

Cardiac Rehabilitation

One of the leading causes of death in the U.S. and around the world is heart disease. It?s been called the ?traitor disease? due to its lack of warning signals. Most people who suffer from cardiac events are caught unaware. Unlike other kinds of serious disease, cardiac disease does not show any obvious symptoms at first. That?s why so many people are caught by surprise and do not have time to make preparations.

Cardiac rehabilitation helps people deal with the after-effects of heart disease. It?s a medical program that tries to bring patients to recovery in the minimum amount of time, and regain the level of health (mental and physical) that they had before they were struck by the disease. It also strives to maintain, or better yet, improve, the present condition of the patient?s heart and stave off further events of cardiac arrest.

The program of cardiac rehabilitation includes a number of things.

* Counseling for the patient, helping him or her understand the effects of the condition and to assist with managing the rehabilitation process.

* Introducing a program of physical exercise.

* Aiding the patient with some lifestyle changes. The program tries to reduce some of the risk factors that can contribute to heart disease, such as: high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, inactivity, and smoking.

* Offering vocational help to enable the patient to return to work, or find work. Overall, to help patients lead a normal life once more.

* Telling patients the truth about their health condition, and explaining any limitations they might have.

* Providing the patient with emotional support.

As a program, cardiac rehabilitation can be very helpful to people that have suffered from a recent heart attack, congestive heart failure, pacemaker implants, coronary artery bypass, or those who experience chest pains as the result of clogged arteries. For the most part, cardiac rehabilitation involves a physical exercise program. At the same time, however, it is shaped to the needs of specific patients and their particular health conditions. The exercises conducted might be closely monitored, or not, depending on the kind of heart problem and whether or not other diseases are present as well.

If administered properly, a good program of cardiac rehabilitation will significantly help the recovery of patients, and make it faster. It will also improve their functioning and the general quality of their life. All of this is contingent upon the cooperation of the patient, however, to ensure that risk factors are minimized. By engaging in cardiac rehabilitation, a patient can gain a new sense of well-being and develop a positive outlook.

Sarah Thomas provides articles on health matters. You can find more of her work at the site rehabilitationtoday.com and allergy-engine.com.

Drug and Alcoholic Rehabilitation Center in Mumbai, India

Drug and alcohol addiction is big problem in recent years to the world population. Everyday we are getting effected by young bright child to get addicted and ruin the family.

It not only devalued the moral of the society but also creating criminal, jobless to the young dynamic youth. In Mumbai numbers of addiction case is reported in police station. We can watch TV, radio news are flooded with such activities. There is one NGO name Living free foundation in Mumbai.

Their mission is to deliver quality rehabilitation and extended acute medical care in a manner both respectful and reflective. Through high professional standards of rehabilitation and medicine, multi disciplinary teams ensure that patient's complex health care needs are addressed. Living Free Foundation strives for continuous quality improvement by supporting and developing services and programs sensitive to the needs of patients.

To help other drug addicts who have been hooked on drugs and to give them a better life. To help them to come out of this vicious cycle through this foundation. We believe in changing the attitude of the addicts. Once he starts accepting his responsebilities the healing process is easier. Then the families are also brought in for extra counseling. He adds , a stay here should rid him of all his cravings and make him a more positive person. He wants these drug addicts to lead a normal life after rehabilitation. It should be a new begining .

Helping other addicts gives Mr. Dutta tremendous satisfaction and hope. It is an immediate remedy for drug addicts who need professional help, to help them to come to term with reality. We help them to find a purpose in life and relocate them and to help parents and their family to reconcile the problem. After their discharge from rehabilitation center the ex-addicts tries to piece their life together for a new begining, and some even find marital bliss. Some of the guys from center have gone out and helped another addicts clean out their acts. The toughest lesson handed to these ex-addicts are often the product of experience

I wish them success in noble mission.

What Is a Gay Friendly Alcohol Rehab?

I almost started laughing at the question as to what a gay friendly alcohol rehab was. What did an alcohol rehab have to do to be gay friendly. Did the alcohol rehab have to have special interior decorating, bright color and style? We know better, but ti was not always like that.

Historically, most alcohol rehab programs were designed to treat the disease of addiction and alcoholism, regardless of sexual orientation. As time passed and addiction treatment professionals gained additional experience in addiction treatment, specialty programs began to spring up all over the country. There was an alcohol rehab program for men, an alcohol rehab for women, an alcohol rehab program for Christain's, but it appeared that most of the alcohol rehab programs expected the gay population to "just fit in".

While this alcohol treatment program approach worked for some, many gay, lesbian and bisexual's felt out of place, scared and discriminated against, making effective addiction treatment almost impossible. In order to treat the gay population effectively, one of two things had to happen; either design an all gay alcohol rehab or an alcohol rehab termed a gay friendly alcohol rehab.

While an all gay alcohol rehab is self explanatory, what did an alcohol rehab program need to do to be gay friendly and provide effective alcoholism treatment. The answer had a complex solution as the typical alcohol rehab approach needed to change a bit. First, the entire addiction treatment staff needed to be educated and sensitized to the needs of the gay individual. They needed to be taught about their lifestyle, homophobia, heterosexism, coming out and the host of issues the gay community faces. Each staff needed to be assessed as to their homophobic attitudes and educated accordingly.

Secondly, a group specific to gay addiction treatment issues needed to be developed, with a therapist trained in the areas specific to the gay population. This alcoholism treatment group would meet several times a day in conjunction with all the other addiction treatment services offered in the alcohol rehab.

Lastly, for a gay friendly alcohol rehab to be effective in the treatment of alcoholism or drug addiction, it must have a comprehensive family recovery component. THis family recovery component needs to be much more than a family session once a week. There needs to be at least a four day period of time that the entire family is together at the alcohol rehab with the family therapist to resolve any outstanding issues within the family system. Issues within a gay family unit can be complex and hard to understand, so time at the alcohol rehab is needed. For the patient, meeting within the gay friendly alcohol rehab can provide them support as they come face to face with some of the shame they have carried for years.

If you are looking for a gay friendly alcohol rehab or gay friendly drug rehab you can call 1-800-511-9225 a national alcohol rehab helpline or go to www.gay-rehab.com.

Jonathan Huttner is a principal with Lakeview Health Systems which operates a gay friendly drug/alcohol rehab.

Cardio Rehab

I now know that the walking I used to do sure was doing something, as I look different now.So if you think that a walk every day of the week isn?t much,well I?m here to tell you at least for me,it was doing a good job. Walking helped me lose 66 lbs. over 2 years.(1.5 miles a day,every day) I really don?t know what to expect with these classes (cardiac rehab) and lessons on nutrition,stress,medications and risk factors to name a few topics they will be discussing.

Having a heart attack at the age of 51 was not in the plan I had for my life.

However I am bringing something very important with me today to my first rehab class and to all future classes.

?What is it you ask??

You can?t put it in your hand but it is in your heart and mind.

I will be wearing my positive attitude, carrying my goals and covering myself in the great feelings my friends and family have sent my way.

Off I go on the next path to a full recovery.

I am so happy and grateful for the wonderful life I have and the chance to continue my journey.

I know that with 6 children there is a lot of living to do.

My husband is having surgery this December so there is another excellent reason to be on the road to a full recovery.

I will be needed to help him. After26 years together we just know how important it is to support each other.

I'm sure that there are many people out there who know what I mean.

For those of you just starting out in a new relationship, remember that Support works for both of you ,in good times and in bad just like it was said in most of our vows and promises to one another.

Heart Attacks are not as scary as I once thought .You just have to do your homework and help yourself.

"For 40 years, 7 months, 4 days and 3.9 hours I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks - especially after my heart attack on August 12th, 5:00am EST 2006. As a result of my suffering, I decided I would go on a crusade to reveal the most powerful, most effective and most successful system for living an Anxiety and Panic Free Life." - Lorraine Roach, Founder AnxietyEnded.com Visit: http://www.anxietyended.com to discover what 99.2% of ALL anxiety and panic sufferers do wrong, and how to make sure YOU avoid it.

More Cardiac Rehab

Did 25 minutes on the stationary bike, 5 minutes on the mini trampoline and 20 minutes on the tread mill.

Wow! I didn?t know I could do that much after my Heart Attack. I never did that before?.

It shows you how motivated I am to get my body and heart back to a better fitness state than ever before.

I have to wear a monitor for the whole proceeding but it is good to know that I am being watched for any signs of trouble.

I can already feel my attitude is confident and the Panic Attacks partially from Stress are not coming or are less severe.

Getting out of the house and being with other people who have their own heart stories I believe is a large factor in the reduction of all those things I suffered with in the past.

When I get scared I can talk to one of them, or the registered nurse and I feel connected to the group.

Isolation at a time when you are dealing with life altering experiences is the worst thing for us as humans.

I believe we are a social people and need to reach out to others. It is a skill really?.

Most of us are givers and don?t know how to be receivers.

Since my heart attack I have learned to accept help, I talk to my children more about meaningful topics and I ask their opinion.

I think the lesson in all this has been to open up our relationship, be more tolerant and certainly more grateful and reflective.

You get to think about things when your at rehab doing the work. So that?s another benefit of going.

My mind is changing along with my body and ?it is all good?.

"For 40 years, 7 months, 4 days and 3.9 hours I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks - especially after my heart attack on August 12th, 5:00am EST 2006. As a result of my suffering, I decided I would go on a crusade to reveal the most powerful, most effective and most successful system for living an Anxiety and Panic Free Life." - Lorraine Roach, Founder AnxietyEnded.com Visit: http://www.anxietyended.com to discover what 99.2% of ALL anxiety and panic sufferers do wrong, and how to make sure YOU avoid it.

Cardiac Rehab: It's A Start! Ready- Set- Go....

I now know that the walking I used to do sure was doing something, as I look different now.So if you think that a walk every day of the week isn't much,well I'm here to tell you at least for me,it was doing a good job. Walking helped me lose 66 lbs. over 2 years.(1.5 miles a day,every day) I really don't know what to expect with these classes (cardiac rehab) and lessons on nutrition,stress,medications and risk factors to name a few topics they will be discussing.

Having a heart attack at the age of 51 was not in the plan I had for my life.

However I am bringing something very important with me today to my first rehab class and to all future classes.

"What is it you ask?"

You can't put it in your hand but it is in your heart and mind.

I will be wearing my positive attitude, carrying my goals and covering myself in the great feelings my friends and family have sent my way.

Off I go on the next path to a full recovery.

I am so happy and grateful for the wonderful life I have and the chance to continue my journey.

I know that with 6 children there is a lot of living to do.

My husband is having surgery this December so there is another excellent reason to be on the road to a full recovery.

I will be needed to help him. After26 years together we just know how important it is to support each other.

I'm sure that there are many people out there who know what I mean.

For those of you just starting out in a new relationship, remember that Support works for both of you ,in good times and in bad just like it was said in most of our vows and promises to one another.

Heart Attacks are not as scary as I once thought .You just have to do your homework and help yourself.

For 40 years, 7 months, 4 days and 3.9 hours I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks, especially after my heart attack on Aug 12th,5:00amEST 2006. As a result of my suffering, I decided I would go on a crusade to reveal the most powerful,most effective and most successful system for living an Anxiety and Panic Free Life"- Lorraine Roach,Founder- AnxietyEnded.com Visit http://www.anxietyended.com

Cardiac Rehab: Better Than Before

Did 25 minutes on the stationary bike,5 minutes on the mini trampoline and 20 minutes on the tread mill.

Wow !!! I didn't know I could do that much after my Heart Attack. I never did that before....

It shows you how motivated I am to get my body and heart back to a better fitness state than ever before.

I have to wear a monitor for the whole proceeding but it is good to know that I am being watched for any signs of trouble.

I can already feel my attitude is confident and the Panic Attacks partially from Stress are not coming or are less severe.

Getting out of the house and being with other people who have their own heart stories I believe is a large factor in the reduction of all those things I suffered with in the past.

When I get scared I can talk to one of them ,or the registered nurse and I feel connected to the group.

Isolation at a time when you are dealing with life altering experiences is the worst thing for us as humans.

I believe we are a social people and need to reach out to others. It is a skill really....

Most of us are givers and don't know how to be receivers.

Since my heart attack I have learned to accept help,I talk to my children more about meaningful topics and I ask their opinion.

I think the lesson in all this has been to open up our relationship, be more tolerant and certainly more grateful and reflective.

You get to think about things when your at rehab doing the work. So that's another benefit of going.

My mind is changing along with my body and "it is all good".

For 40 years, 7 months, 4 days and 3.9 hours I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks, especially after my heart attack on Aug 12th,5:00amEST 2006. As a result of my suffering, I decided I would go on a crusade to reveal the most powerful,most effective and most successful system for living an Anxiety and Panic Free Life"- Lorraine Roach,Founder- AnxietyEnded.com Visit http://www.anxietyended.com

A Rehabilitation "Gotcha": When 100 Days Isn't 100 Days

When her mother had a stroke Sandy didn't know the first thing about how Medicare defines benefits and "Rehabilitation Days." Because she didn't know how the system works she may have made some costly mistakes when her mother was discharged from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation.

What Sandy discovered about how Medicare counts hospital days and benefit periods was important, because it had a direct impact on how much treatment her mother would be entitled to. The potential impact of Medicare rules needed to be taken into account when Sandy made plans for her mother's care.

Edith, Sandy's mother, spent a several days in the hospital after her stroke. The therapists then recommended that Edith move to a skilled nursing facility for more therapy. Edith was improving, but she needed more rehabilitation.

Edith had a good secondary insurance policy, so Sandy wasn't worried about her mother's rehabilitation being covered. She knew Medicare would cover up to a maximum of 100 days of inpatient therapy. When the rehab center said they were ready to send Edith home, Sandy advocated tirelessly for her mother to be allowed to continue therapy. Sandy ultimately convinced the center to keep Edith several more weeks.

A little more than nine weeks after what would have been her original rehabilitation discharge date Edith had a set-back when she fell at the rehab center. She suffered a hairline fracture of her hip and went back to the hospital for a few days.

Even though this second time in the hospital was for a brand new medical problem, Edith hadn't been out of the hospital and rehab for 60 consecutive days, so her re-hospitalization was considered to be a continuation of her first stay. After this second hospital stay Edith could probably have gone directly home, but Sandy again advocated strongly for what she thought her mother needed, and Edith returned to the rehab center for more physical therapy.

She is still unstable when she walks and needs to be watched closely so she doesn't fall again. She has now used up almost all of her 100 maximum allowable rehabilitation days under Medicare. She is still in her first Hospital Benefit Period because she has not been out of the hospital or rehabilitation facility for at least 60 consecutive days.

Now some hard decisions have to be made. Edith could stay on in the skilled nursing center for another week or two to take advantage of all the therapy she can get. That might make all the difference in preventing another fall. But that would also use up all of Edith's remaining Medicare-covered rehabilitation days. Or, she could go home and begin working on the 60 days she has to remain out of a medical facility. She could try to re-set her eligibility clock at home and keep those few remaining days available, just in case.

Whatever Sandy decides for her mother, they will be taking a gamble.

Not understanding how the Medicare system really works can have serious consequences for both the patient and the family.

How Medicare Benefit Periods Work

When it comes to the hospital (Medicare Part A), Medicare works by "Benefit Periods" rather than on an annual basis like most health insurance. After a hospitalization the patient must stay out of the hospital or other Medicare facility (like a rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility) for at least 60 consecutive days in order to re-set the clock and earn eligibility for a new Medicare Benefit Period.

If the patient goes back to the hospital within 60 days of being discharged from a Medicare facility (hospital or skilled nursing/ rehabilitation), it is considered to be part of the first hospital period, even if it is for a new medical problem. This has serious consequences for allowable rehabilitation days, as we saw with Edith. The second time she came out of the hospital, rather than starting fresh with another 100 potential days, as Sandy thought, she picked up her Medicare rehabilitation days where she left off.

When she has used up all of her allotted days, any additional skilled care Edith needs outside of the hospital will have to be paid out of her own pocket until she has been out of the Medicare inpatient system for at least 60 days.

So when Sandy thought she was helping her mother by pushing to extend her stay in the rehab facility, she was using precious rehabilitation days that she could possibly have saved. Edith could have been out of the "system" for more than 60 days when she fell, and she could have had a new Benefit Period. I really fault the rehab staff for not making this clear to Sandy, but here we are.

About the Author: When she's not coaching families with elder care dilemmas Molly Shomer writes and teaches on the subject of aging parents and elder caregiving. To learn more about what you need to know before and during a crisis, and for a free planning guide, visit The Eldercare Team at www.eldercareteam.com

 

Looking for a Gay Drug Rehab or Alcohol Rehab in Florida

For years, drug rehab programs and alcohol rehab programs have been opening in Florida. Everything from detox to inpatient addiction treatment and extended or long term care are available for the general public. There have been drug rehab programs for eating disorders, sexual trauma, men and women, but very few drug rehab programs for the gay and lesbian population. Even today, there are only a handful of drug rehab programs that specialize in gay drug rehab or gay addiction treatment and a few more with specialized gay drug rehab components within the actual drug rehab. While there are many more drug rehab programs with gay a component then true gay drug rehab programs, not many of them have staff trained in issues specific to the gay population. Issues such as homophobia, internalized homophobia, coming out and sexuality often go untouched, not to mention, the sensitivity training that must take place for the other members of the staff.

Certain areas more sensitive to Gay Drug Rehab and Gay Alcohol Rehab

I think it is safe to say there are certain areas in the state of Florida that are more sensitive to the gay, lesbian community than others. Some of the areas might include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville. Each of these cities have substantial gay populations and services to match. It stands to reason that opening a drug rehab with a gay addiction treatment component or a gay drug rehab in these areas might be easier to manage due to the community support and ancillary community services

Jacksonville Florida Drug Rehab Opens Gay Addiction Treatment Component

For as long as anyone can remember, there has not been any drug rehab programs with gay drug rehab components in Jacksonville providing addiction treatment services to the gay and lesbian community. This statement is especially true when we speak of gay drug rehab programs. What is sad is that within the Orlando, St. Augustine, Jacksonville area there is a significant gay, lesbian population. We are happy to report that a drug rehab has opened a gay component within its addiction treatment program called Freedom Rings, which can be found at www.lakeviewfreedomrings.com This may be the beginning of a trend in Northeast Florida to begin paying more attention to treating drug addiction and alcoholism within the gay and lesbian community.

Jonathan Huttner is one of the principal partners for Lakeview Health Systems, http://www.lakeviewhealth.com a drug rehab specializing in the treatment of drug addiction, alcoholism and dual diagnosis.

Addiction Treatment for Gay Men and Women in a Gay Drug Rehab

I recently received a call from a man who was interested in locating a gay drug rehab. He and his partner were planning a wedding and thought it would be a good idea to get clean and sober before going any further with their lives. After a few weeks in a gay drug rehab and, they agreed that the work they accomplished benefited them as a couple and as individuals. They felt ready to begin the next chapter in their lives.

I offer this example because it is so different from what I usually see. In my intervention work I have found---whether they are lesbian, gay, or straight---that very few people in a relationship with a drug addiction or alcohol addiction seek addiction treatment prior to getting married. Most continue with their drug addiction and alcoholism in denial and hoping things will get better. Needless to say, things rarely get better as the drug addiction or alcoholism becomes more progressive.

It is difficult to move forward in any relationship when drug addiction or alcoholism are present as communication begins to break down, drug use becomes the priority and depression, anger and resentment are all common place.

What to look for in a gay drug rehab:

The most important qualities in a gay drug rehab or gay addiction treatment center are found in having a staff that is sensitive to the needs of the gay / lesbian population (non-homophobic ), a staff trained clinically in how to best address their particular needs and a comprehensive family recovery program. Due to the fact that there is so much anger and shame within the family unit a drug rehab or gay drug rehab needs needs to have a strong family component. The family therapist needs to be skilled to keep addiction treatment from dissolving into the same kind of communication the couple has at home.

The issue of whether to seek a lesbian/gay drug rehab, alcohol rehab or addiction treatment program is something for each couple to decide. There are many gay drug rehabs and drug rehabs with gay components to choose from, but it is important for you and your partner to do your homework. Ask questions of each drug rehab or gay drug rehab regarding staff credentials, licenses and the problems they are equipped to handle.

While many of the problematic dynamics that exist between lesbian and gay male couples are not significantly different from their heterosexual counterparts, the issues can be quite unique. A few of these are:

a. internal and external homophobia.
b. child custody
c. coming out
d. family issues
e. sexuality

How a gay drug rehab help:

Often, couples come to gay addiction treatment or gay drug rehab with the unspoken hope that therapy will change their partner and, when that happens, their problems will disappear. However, since the only person any of us can change is ourselves, the work drug rehab is to recognize our own addiction and take responsibility where appropriate. Some of the important goals, besides abstinence, of a gay drug rehab is to reduce shame, deal with internalized homophobia and find acceptance. Don't kid yourself, it takes time and willingness.

If you are trying to locate a gay drug rehab, gay addiction treatment program or a drug rehab with a gay drug rehab component, you can go to www.recoveryconnection.org or www.lakeviewhealth.com

Jonathan Huttner is one of the principals at Lakeview Health Systems, a program treating drug addiction, alcoholism and dual diagnosis.