Drug Rehab Orange County Addiction Treatment CA: October 2009

Halloween and Addiction Treatment

Halloween in drug rehab/addiction treatment can be a dangerous time for people addicted to drugs and alcohol. Halloween is notorious for partying. In drug rehab we call this seasonal, holiday, partying, amateur hour, because this is when "normies" attempt to drink and use drugs like alcoholics and addicts. The day after a holiday party, whether its halloween or the fourth of July, "normies" get to feel how addicts and alcoholics felt on a weekly basis. So, when the people in drug rehab begin to reminisce about the "good ol' times" when they used to be able to drink like a normal person, I tell them that Halloween is amateur night. They have been there and done that more times than normal people will do their entire lives. It's not that they can never have fun again during holiday parties, in fact they will eventually have more fun, but the 'old days' when a holiday like halloween gave them the excuse to drink and use drugs without being judged, or with judging themselves, are over. Party Holidays like halloween were the only times when alcoholics and addicts felt normal because everyone around them drank and used drugs like they did for a few days out of the year.

Labels: Halloween, Halloween and Addiction Treatment, Halloween and Drug Rehab, Holidays and Drug Treament

Co-Occurring Psychological Disorders and Drug Rehab

Addicts and Alcoholics with co-occurring disorders have a wide range of medical and social problems that must be addressed in drug rehab. In recognition of these issues, NTS drug rehab has a variety of services to address these issues. NTS offers Basic-to-Advanced Life Skills Services and Groups, nutrition, and employment assistance. The Academy at NTS, our college program, employs two full-time staff dedicated to addressing these continuing care issues.

Co-Occurring Psychological Disorders are the norm in addiction treatment. Almost all drug rehabs in the United States and abroad have focused their attention on the treatment of co-occurring disorders. Treating the dually diagnosed client is complicated, but at NTS drug rehab facilities we believe we have developed an addiction treatment model that specifically addresses co-occurring psychological diagnosis. Our therapist, psychologists and addiction treatment specialists work together to develop individualized treatment plans for every client who enters NTS.

NTS drug rehab has an extremely flexible treatment program that allows for highly individualized treatment.

Labels: Co-Occurring Psychological Disorders, Dual Diagnosis, Dual Diagnosis and Drug Rehab

Continuity of Care Between Primary Addiction Treatment and Extended Care Residential Addiction Treatment

Ensuring continuity of care:
According to the Substance Abuse Treatment Protocol produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, continuity of care implies coordination of care as clients move across different services systems (Morrissey et.al., 1997). Often our clients require long-term care over a significant period of time and sometimes from one treatment center to another. To be effective, NTS treatment holds to three feature that characterize continuity of care:
a. Consistency between primary treatment and ancillary services. To accomplish consistency between the primary referring treatment facility and ancillary services, NTS employs the following methods: Following the recommended continuing care treatment plan from the primary facility, obtaining clinical records from primary treatment facility, consulting with clients case manager, therapist, psychiatrist, etc. from primary facility, and updating the primary facility staff responsible for the client’s continuing care on a regular basis.
b. Seamlessness as clients move across levels of care (e.g., from primary inpatient treatment, to residential treatment, to transitional living, to outpatient treatment). Clients who come to NTS from primary facilities are carefully assessed to the level of care they achieved at their primary facility and we work with both the client and the referring primary facility to ensure that the client who enters NTS from a primary facility begins treatment at the same stage they left their primary facility. This is accomplished through the assessment of privileges achieved at their primary facility, completed 12-Step work at primary facility,
c. Coordination of present and past treatment episodes. NTS reviews all treatment records from previous treatments. Of particular interest and helpfulness to our clinical team is previous psychological testing conducted in primary treatment and their progress in the 12-Step program. We see a client’s success or failure at previous treatment centers as a key indication to the level of care they need at NTS.

Labels: Continuity of Care Between Primary Addiction Treatment and Residential Extended Care Addiction Treatment, Extended Care Addiction Treatment, Primary Addiction Treatment

Acute Effects of Cocaine

Many people who have never done drugs do not know what it feels like to do them, which is why many people do not understand addiction. So, here is what cocaine feels like to a person...

Acute Effects of Cocaine Use:
The half life of cocaine is 1hour. Cocaine has binding for the dopamine reuptake transporters that mainly effect the mesolimbic dopamine pathway in the brain.

After someone snorts a line of cocaine they feel a powerful burst of energy (or rush), a general sense of well-being, the sympathetic nervous system is activated. Sometimes it can cause an immediate panic attack and irregular heart beats, making someone feel like they are overdosing. Generally cocaine users who sniff that first line of cocaine will feel a numbness in the back of their throat and a dripping sensation, the kind of sensation you would get if you used a nasal inhaler to clear you sinuses.

The primary feeling, which last for only about 30 minutes after the first line of cocaine, is a feeling of excitement. The person becomes excited about everything. Excited to talk to people, excited about future possibilities, excited about life. The problem is that as soon as the peak is reached, it is all downhill from there. The excitement will dissipate. As soon as the person feels it dissipate the craving for another line will begin and they will snort another line of cocaine. This will happen over and over again at shorter and shorter intervals as the night goes on. The cocaine user will do this until he or she finally runs out of cocaine and then the real pain starts.

There is an equal and opposite reaction for everything in life. It's just physics. The same happens with the brain. The brain will rebound after the incredible high experienced from cocaine and people will experience an equally incredible low. These highs and lows experienced from the affects of cocaine initiate the addictive response.

Labels: Cocaine Abuse, Cocaine Addiction Treatment, Crack Cocaine, Effects of Cocaine Abuse

CAPIC Approval for Internships

Recently NTS was approved by CAPIC (California Psychology Internship Council) for half-time internships for graduate students (Full-Time is coming soon!) and will be accepting applications. At NTS we love having interns and provide a plethora of therapeutic experience in the drug and alcohol therapy arena. One thing we can promise you when you intern with NTS is an exciting and educational experience. NTS loves having PsyD interns and MFT interns because they have a unique freshness, curiosity, and passion for helping others that many more well experienced Psychologists and Marriage and Family Therapists may have lost along the way. NTS is planning on submitting an application to APIC in the future as well.

Labels: CAPIC Internships, Drug and Alcohol Internships, Internships Psychology, MFT Internships

Outpatient Family Addiction Treatment -Offering Family Counseling In Orange County, California

Everyone in the family of an alcoholic or addict's life feels the ramifications of drug and alcohol abuse. In addiction treatment the family is an extremely important part of the rehabilitation process. At NTS we offer weekly family programing for the families of drug addicts and alcoholics. Your family member does not have to be a client with us to participate in the weekly family program. At NTS we strive to offer the Orange County community family addiction treatment services. Our weekly family program is for the Orange County community as well as our client's family members. The NTS Monthly Family Program is for family members of our clients only, but we do make exceptions. When attendance for a particular month is low, NTS Addiction Treatment Facilities allows outsiders to participate in our more intensive family program.

Offering the Orange County, California Community low cost family addiction treatment services is something we at NTS take pride in. We want to be a community resource in Orange County for all Addiction Treatment Services, including family addiction treatment services, family counseling, family therapy, couple's counseling and therapy, and individual addiction treatment therapy. All of our psychological services and addiction treatment services are open to the Orange County community. You do not necessarily have to be in treatment with us to receive these addiction treatment services, whether for the individual of for the family of the alcoholic or addict.

For more information regarding our Orange County Community Family Addiction Treatment Services, please contact us at out main number and we will help.

Labels: Family Addiction Treatment, Family Counseling, Family Drug Rehab, Family Guidelines for Drug Rehab, Free Family Counseling, Orange County California Family Addiction Treatment Services

Stimulants and Drug and Alcohol Treatment

Stimulants are consumed by people to help them stay awake. Some drugs also produce euphoria in addition to acting as a stimulant. The most widely used drug of abuse that are stimulants are cocaine and methamphetamine.
Methylphenidate (Brand Names: Ritalin,Ritalina, Rilatine, Attenta, Metadate, Concerta, etc.) is a stimulant used to treat ADHD. Methylphenidate display agonist receptor attachment for the serotonin reuptake receptors 5HT-1a and 5HT-2b subtypes, though direct binding to the serotonin receptor was not observed. Methylphenidate can cause drug seeking behavior in addicts and alcoholics in treatment so it is not always recommended in drug and alcohol treatment. There are many new forms of the ADHD medication methylphenidate. There is a new methylphenidate patch under the brand name Daytrana that is similar to a nicotine patch with a half-life of 2-7 hours.
Using stimulants in drug and alcohol treatment is generally not recommended. Most drug and alcohol treatment facilities in the United States will not prescribe ADHD medication because of the potential for abuse. This should tell you something about the use of stimulants to treat psychological disorders.
On the rare occasion that someone is prescribed and recommended to be on ADHD medication while in drug or alcohol treatment it is heavily monitored and the person cannot have ever abused the medication or been addicted to stimulants. People who were addicted to stimulants will often seek a prescription for methylphenidate in addiction treatment. Many times drug addicts will seek Adderall which is a mixture of amphetamine salts (d and l-amphetamine).
Vyvanse is one of the newer stimulant drugs of choice among stimulant drug addicts. Vyvanse is a slow releasing d-amphetamine.
Believe it or not, Methamphetamine is still used to treat ADHD, Narcolepsy, and obesity. The brand name of methamphetamine is Desoxyn. It is considered a second line of treatment for the disorders mentioned and only used when the other medications do not work.

Labels: Addiction Treatment and ADHD, Ritalin Abuse, Stimulants

Salvia or Diviner's Sage In Drug and Alcohol Treatment

Salvia divinorum, or Diviner's Sage as it is sometimes called, is a psychoactive herb that can be purchased in many head shops where they sell cannabis paraphernalia. I liken salvia to the cheap high that people can get when they drink large amounts of cough syrup, take a hit of nitrous oxide, or huff a can of Dust Off. Salvia can induce psychedelic effects and it can be chewed or smoked. It works on the K-opioid receptor as an agonist. It actually has a low addictive potential, but this has not stopped addicts and alcoholics in drug and alcohol treatment from purchasing it and using it in addiction treatment. While in addiction treatment, many younger adults will turn to these cheap highs to escape. While Salvia is legal right now and can be purchased at any head shop, the DEA has listed salvia as a drug of concern. Many states of made it illegal.

Salvia is among the many drugs that is impossible to detect in common UA drug panels and so it often becomes the drug of choice for people in addiction treatment to get a cheap high from. When Salvia is smoked, the high lasts for only about 1 to 5 minutes. If people in addiction treatment smoke salvia or take it in any form it is considered a relapse. Many addiction treatment facilities are becoming highly aware of the potential for salvia abuse among their population.

Labels: Diviner's Sage, Sage of the Seers, Salvia and Drug Treatment

Buspar Treatment for Anxiety and Beta-Blockers - Addiction Treatment

There are many effective non-benzodiazepine options for addicts and alcoholics in drug rehab. Many drug rehabs and addiction treatment facilities will not allow their patients to be prescribed benzodiazepines for anxiety symptoms. One of the drugs many addiction treatment centers use is to treat anxiety is Buspar (Buspirone). Buspar, or Buspirone, is a psychoactive drug that works on the serotonin neurotransmitter as opposed to benzodiazepine/ GABA(a) receptor site agonists that are much more addictive. Many addiction psychiatrists and addiction medicine specialists are using beta-blockers as well to help with anxiety related symptoms. Beta Blockers are wonderful inventions that do not effect a person emotionally, that is to say that after taking a beta blocker the person does not "feel" the drug's effects. Beta blockers are great for performers and people who have stage fright. They help with stage fright symptoms such as sweaty palms, increased respiration, pounding heart, etc... These medications coupled with CBT and addiction treatment therapy can often alleviate anxiety in addiction treatment patients who are experiencing anxiety.

Labels: Beta Blockers and Anxiety, Buspar Treatment in Drug Rehab, Non-Benzodiazepine Treatment for Anxiety, Stage Fright and Addiction Treatment

Lorazepam - Ativan Addiction

Ativan, or Lorazepam, is often prescribed by doctors for anxiety. Ativan is a benzodiazepine drug that is one of the quicker acting benzodiazepine drugs. Ativan is highly addictive, in fact it is one of the most addictive drugs in the benzodiazepine family. One reason Ativan becomes such a popular drug on the streets as a drug of abuse is because Ativan is sometimes prescribed to chemotherapy patients to help with nausea and vomiting. So, Ativan has multiple uses, and therefore is easier to obtain. Many people steal the drug from chemotherapy patients. Withdrawal effects from Ativan can be felt after as little as one week of taking the drug. Withdrawal effects often trigger addiction seeking behavior. For this reason, addicts and alcoholics are usually never prescribed Ativan for anxiety related symptoms.

Labels: Anxiety Disorders, Ativan Addiction, Lorazepam Addiction, Treatment for Anxiety, Treatment for Benzos

Effective Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Orange County, California

Effective drug and alcohol treatment in Orange County, California is easy to find. Just throw a stone in any direction in Orange County and you will hit a drug rehab. Many of the addiction treatment facilities in Orange County are effective in treating drug and alcohol addiction. Some may offer more services than others, so it is important to ask the admissions person you are talking to about ancillary charges, because many drug rehabs in Orange County, and drug rehabs in the United States for that matter, will charge extra for things like one-on-one therapy,medication assessments, etc... So, while a drug rehab may quote you a low cost for treatment, once the person arrives the bills start arriving for ancillary charges from the treatment center.

At NTS we do our best to keep ancillary charges to a minimum. We will be upfront with you about any other ancillary charges that may occur while you or your loved one is in our addiction treatment center.

Labels: Effective Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Orange County, Orange County Drug and Alcohol Treatment

Effective Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Orange County, California

Effective drug and alcohol treatment in Orange County, California is easy to find. Just throw a stone in any direction in Orange County and you will hit a drug rehab. Many of the addiction treatment facilities in Orange County are effective in treating drug and alcohol addiction. Some may offer more services than others, so it is important to ask the admissions person you are talking to about ancillary charges, because many drug rehabs in Orange County, and drug rehabs in the United States for that matter, will charge extra for things like one-on-one therapy,medication assessments, etc... So, while a drug rehab may quote you a low cost for treatment, once the person arrives the bills start arriving for ancillary charges from the treatment center.

At NTS we do our best to keep ancillary charges to a minimum. We will be upfront with you about any other ancillary charges that may occur while you or your loved one is in our addiction treatment center.

Labels: Addiction Treatment in Orange County, Effective Drug and Alcohol Treatment

Pain Relief in Addiction Rehab

People who suffer from chronic pain have a difficult time in addiction treatment, because many of the drugs used to treat pain are highly addictive. Here's some information on two of the more common pain relieving drugs that are also more commonly abused.

Morphine (Narcotics):
Morphine is an opioid receptor direct agonist. Its main effect is direct binding and activation of the mu-opioid receptor in the Central Nervous System. Morphine has a higher pain relief effect than many other opioids and can cause higher euphoria, respiratory depression, and drug sedation compared to other opioids. The half-life of Morphine is 2 to 3 hours. There are many commonly prescribed drugs that contain a morphine derivative. These drugs include Methylmorphine (Codeine), Dihydromorphine (Paramorphan), Hydromorphine (Dilaudid), and Diacetylmorphine (Heroin).

Heroin (Diacetylmorphine):
Heroin is an intense drug with a half-life of only 3 to 5 minutes! Compare that to the half-life of morphine. When injected heroin produces an immediate tingling sensation and a sudden orgasmic feeling that lasts for 1 to 2 minutes. The 1 to 2 minute euphoria experience is commonly referred to the RUSH. After the RUSH of heroin people experience a state of tranquil drowsiness.
Heroin has a very narrow therapeutic ratio between Lethal Dose and an Effective Dose, which results in many accidental overdoses.

Pain Relief can be accomplished using many other drugs that are less addictive. Please call us for more information about Pain Management Treatment.

Labels: Heroin Treatment, Morphine Treatment, Narcotics Treatment, Pain Management In Addiction Treatment, Pain Relief in Addiction Rehab

Biology of Anxiety Disorders - Treating Anxiety Disorders in Drug and Alcohol Treatment

Many people that enter drug rehab have anxiety problems. Many suffer from sleep problems and others have full blown panic attacks. It is thought that anxiety disorders is the result of a malfunctioning parabrachial nucleus that coordinates signals from the amygdala, which in turn triggers fear. From a neurochemical perspective, there are low levels of GABA neurotransmitter contributing towards anxiety. GABA(a) is known for reducing over-activity in the central nervous system.

In Drug and Alcohol Treatment the treatment of anxiety disorders is tricky because many of the drugs used to treat anxiety disorders or panic disorders are highly addictive. One of the best options for treating anxiety disorders and panic disorders is a combination of relaxation/cognitive behavior therapy coupled with a non-benzodiazepine drug such as a beta-blocker and/or Bupirone.

Other more addictive drugs such as Ativan (Lorazepam) and Clonopin (Clonazepam) are difficult to use in drug treatment when the person is an addict/alcoholic. Many drug and alcohol rehab centers will not allow their clients to be on these strong drugs while in treatment.

Labels: Anxiety Disorders, Drug Treatment and Anxiety Treatment, Panic Disorders

Oxycontin/Oxycodone Addiction and Death Rises! It's Safer Driving Your Car Now!

A recent article in the news reported that prescription drug deaths have surpassed fatal car accidents as the leading cause of death in 15 States! "In Colorado and 15 other states, drugs now kill more people than auto accidents" reports Jane Akre of the National New Desk. "For decades, auto accidents have led the nation in injury-related death. They are still number one overall, but drug overdoses are beginning to pull ahead in 15 states, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)."

Read more: http://www.injuryboard.com/national-news/prescription-drug-deaths-surpass-fatal-auto-accidents-in-15-states.aspx?googleid=271936#ixzz0SoY37TQy

I have reported before in previous blogs and in my prescription pill lecture I do on occasion that drug overdoses would begin to skyrocket as a result of the prescription pill epidemic. The primary reason for the rise in accidental deaths is a drug called Oxycontin or Oxycodone. People are taking Oxycontin pills on top of other drugs, creating lethal consequences.
So what is Oxycontin?
Oxycontin or Oxycodone are opioid receptor agonists that generate similar effects as morphine. Oxycontin is the sustained release form of Oxycodone. When Oxycontin tablets are crushed and then either swallowed, injected, or inhaled (some people are trying to smoke it)as a powder after diluting the powder in a solution, the drug effect is similar to heroin.
The Prescription Pain Medications on the market today will kill more and more people as time goes by. We are just beginning to see the devastating effects prescription medications are having on people in the US.

Labels: Oxycodone Addiction, Oxycontin Addiction Treatment, Oxycontin Deaths Rise

Benzos and Barbituates - What Are They?

Benzodiazapines are considered minor tranquilizers with varying hypnotic effects, including sleep. They are often used to treat anxiety disorders, however many of these drugs are highly addictive. Benzos are indirect agonists that bind to the benzo non-competitive binding site of the GABA(a) receptor and this results in an increased receptor binding and sensitivity for the GABA(a) neurotransmitter.
I often classify clients in drug rehab as either GABA Addicts or Glutamate Addicts. People who like "downers" are the GABA addicts and people who like "uppers" are glutamate addicts.
There are short acting, intermediate acting, and long acting compounds of benzos. The longer acting ones are best for anxiety, while the shorter acting ones are often used to help people sleep. The problem with these shorter acting drugs is that they have a high potential for abuse and they have a rebound effect that actually can cause insomnia.
Some of the more popular benzos are Xanax, Niravam, and Klonipin.
Barbituates serve as an indirect agonist on the GABA(a) receptor by attaching to its corresponding barbituate binding site (non-competitive binding). Barbs are often used for their sedating effects and to help control seizures. These can be highly addictive as well and include the drugs Phenobarbitol, Amytal, Nembutal, and Seconol.
Withdrawal from any of these drugs is dangerous and should always include some sort of titration in a supervised detox.

Labels: Barbituates Drug Treatment, GABA(a) Drugs, Treatment for Benzos

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