LGBT Drug Treatment Blog

Drug detox is an integral part of drug and alcohol rehab since it is the process of physical withdrawal from the substance of abuse under medical monitoring.  In order to begin the rehab process, the physical symptoms of drug and alcohol abuse must first be addressed and this is done through the process of detox.  We will discuss the details of the drug detox process and how medical detox makes up the entire methodology of a  drug rehab program.

 In most drug and alcohol rehab, detox is a prerequisite to addiction treatment.  Depending on the drug or substance of abuse, medical detox can range from very mild to severe and life-threatening.  Drug and alcohol abuse do extensive damage to the human body and brain, and drug detoxification is designed to help with the damage done to the body, and this process can last from approximately 3-10 days, depending on the addiction and its severity.  The nature of addiction is a dependence which can be physical as well as psychological.  Certain drugs such as alcohol and opiates create a physical addiction that can be very uncomfortable and dangerous during the drug detoxification process, requiring the presence of qualified medical staff to oversee adverse physical effects of withdrawal.  Some symptoms of drug detox from substances such as opiates include vomiting, nausea, headaches, abdominal pains, sweating, and high fever, among other similar symptoms.  For alcohol. the symptoms can be far more severe and life-threatening such as sweating, nausea, vomiting, delirium tremors (DT), black outs and seizures.  Many times in addiction, it is the fear of these withdrawal symptoms that will continue abuse of these substances.  For drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines, the symptoms of withdrawal are less physically grueling and have more adverse psychological effects such as agitation, severe cravings, headache and extreme fatigue.
 
While drug detox is very common in drug rehab, it is generally considered to be a beginning part of the drug rehabilitation process and not the entire drug rehab process itself.  Despite this widespread opinion that drug detox alone is not enough, there are several drug rehab centers that use the methodology of drug detoxification as the only therapy included in the recovery process.  This methodology is based on the idea that once the physical dependence of drug and alcohol addiction is overcome, the rest is a matter of strong will and dedication to recovery and sobriety.  Often, this methodology is looked at suspiciously given the idea behind drug rehab is to gain the tools to remain sober after addiction treatment and not just the physical withdrawal.  However, this method has worked for millions of addicts over recent years who have found that all they needed was detox treatment.  This can be a particularly difficult part of deciding on drug rehab methodology because it is very hard to assess what addictions need therapy versus which can be overcome through detox treatment alone.  The assessment for how comprehensive drug rehab needs to be for addiction treatment is something that needs very careful consideration as there is no set formula for which addiction cases do and do not require more treatment than detox alone.  Althoug many cases of addiction require therapy and treatment beyond drug detox with the very nature of addiction being defined as a brain disease which does not have a quick and easy treatment.

Although it is not generally recommended, drug detox alone may be a good choice for cessation of prescription medication that has been legitimately prescribed.  Many prescription medications are extremely addictive and dangerous, but the difference between taking them responsibly for legitimate reasons versus recreational purposes is a deciding factor in whether or not they have been abused and require drug rehab after detox treatment.  It is imperative to remember that drug rehab is a process of more than just physical healing after drug or alcohol abuse.  Drug rehab takes a deeper look into the addiction itself, as well as the emotional, mental, and psychological healing.  If there has not been any damage done to the mental, emotional, or psychological aspects of an individual’s life, medical detox alone may be a better fit.  However, when dealing with substance abuse and addiction, very rarely is there a case of addiction without some mental and emotional trauma needing drug rehab.

Depending on the situation and the substance abuse, medical detox may or may not be necessary and should be assessed prior to admission to a drug rehab facility.  While medical detox is an essential part of drug rehab, it is often not enough to be the only part.  Once each individual addiction situation has been assessed to determine the best course of action for recovery, it is only a matter of finding the right drug rehab based on individual philosophies, methodologies, and services offered.

To locate a drug detox program youcan go to www.99detox.com or call 1-800-99-DETOX and someone will be there to assist you day or night.

Which Minnesota Drug Rehab Is Best for Me?

Unfortunately, the search for the right Minnesota drug rehab center is often a challenging one. Drug addiction is complex and demands a variety of addiction treatment strategies and recovery options. Good drug rehab programs offer a wide array of approaches to alcohol treatment and drug rehab. The most effective drug rehab programs treat both an individual’s addiction and the addiction’s underlying causes. This type of addiction treatment approach will better ensure that a patient can stay sober for the rest of his life. Drug rehab should also include services and programs to help patients become functional members of society. Finally, Minnesota drug rehab centers that are effective and reputable must address the overall mental health of the clients. Anything less and the patient is set up to relapse. An effective drug rehab program must provide a wide range of drug addiction treatment options, teach life skills, relapse prevention and address the dual diagnosis issues of their patients.

Minnesota Residents Going to Florida Drug Rehab

Recently, many people living in Minnesota, suffering from drug addiction and alcoholism, have been traveling to Florida for drug rehab. This seems to be due to the drug rehabs in Florida remaining on the cutting edge of addiction treatment. A Florida drug rehab is comprehensive in their approach to drug addiction treatment, treats the entire family and has become creative in their ability to deal with the insurance carrier while providing a high level of care. This is not to say a Minnesota drug rehab does not provide quality care, but that you might be wise to check out a Florida drug rehab before making your addiction treatment choice.

To locate a drug rehab in Florida or Minnesota you can call the national addiction helpline at 1-800-511-9225.

Drug rehab comes in many different formats to accomodate a wide variety of addictions and individual situations.  One of the most commonly known forms of drug rehab is inpatient or residential treatment.  In residential treatment, individuals will reside at the treatment center in a group or family home setting while receiving intensive crae through counseling, therapy and support group meetings.  Often the therapy and counseling takes place on both an individual and group basis.  The average stay at a typical inpatient drug rehab center is 30 days before program completion.  This is considered to be short-term drug treatment.  Even though 30 days is most typical in residental drug rehab, the time spent in these treatment centers can vary depending on individual needs.  Some people require longer stays of several months to a year.  In this circumstance, long-term treatment is provided.  The only difference between long-term and typicl 30 day drg rehab is the length of time.  The intensity of the rehabiliation process and the manner in which it is provided remains the same.  In many addiction cases, long term treatment is recommended to extend the time allowed for rehabiliitation from long and more severe periods of addiction.  It can be a hard task to decide what kind of drug rehab is best for each individual, but there are a few things that serve as good indicators for long-term treatment.
• Has short term drug treatment been attempted one or more times with relapse occurring within 4 weeks of program completion?
If there has been a pattern of completing 30 days and returning home to almost immediate relapse, it may be a good choice to go with long-term drug rehab in the future.  Often 30 days serves as a “dry out” period, where addicts have just enough time to get clean and temporarily free themselves from addiction, but not enough time or committment to embrace the meaning of recovery and truly understand the disease of addiction.  One of the biggest parts of drug rehab is learning the tools neccessary to abstain from future drug or alcohol use, despite whatever pressures, stresses, or desires may be present.  These tools are not easily attained and without the repetition of how to gain and utilize these tools, sobriety is at a huge risk.
• Has addiction been a problem for several years or resulted in vabuse (compulsive use, overdose resulting in hospital visits?
Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease meaning it does not go away on it’s own and it only gets stronger over time and with mire abuse, without proper treatment.  If addiction has been a problem for many years, generally 5 or more, the disease has had more than enough time to completely infiltrate the brain and how it functions.  Over several years of drug or alcohol abuse, thought processes, behaviors, reponses, lifestyle, and judgement are all surrounded by the influence of addiction, changing the manner in which an addict lives and conducts daily routines.  In drug rehab, the goal is to reverse these behaviors and return the addict to a life of normal function with clear judgement and thoughts.  In considering the time it takes for the average person to grow and mature from childhood learing responsibility, judgement, and ethics to survive independently of supervision, the most intensive 30 day drug rehab will have a hard time reinstating these characteristics after several years of adverse behavior.  The same idea holds true for very heavy abuse of alcohol or drugs over a shorter period of time.  The more these poisons are absorbed by the brain and body (whether over a long time period or over a short concentrated period), the further the addict gets from healthy behavior.  Depending on the damage done, it may take longer periods of drug rehab treatment  to return the brain to normal function.
• Are there serious co-occurring mental health issues along with the Addiction?
Some addictions are coupled with co-occuring mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, bi-polar disorder, and manic disorder, along with a myriad of other mental health issues.  Many times when this is the situation, the mental health disorders serves as a manjor contributor to drug and alcohol abuse and must be addressed in drug rehab as well as the addiction itself.  With the recent increase in prescription medication addiction from use of legitimate prescriptions for disorders such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and stress, dual diagnosis treatment demand is on the rise,  This kind of drug rehab requires that treatment focuses on alternative means to nurture mental health and treat the addiction.  The addition of mental health disorders complicates the addiction treatment process and often a term longer than 30 is recommended for completion of the comrehensive and complex nature of dual diagnosis treatment.  While it is not indicated that all dual diagnosis addiction treatment take place in long-term drug rehab, the longer stays in drug rehab have proven to be more effective, especially with this particular kind of drug rehabillitation.
 
Although research has proven that long-term residential drug rehab is more effective in overcoming addiction, long-term treatment is not for everyone.  Shortery severe term drug rehab, lasting 30 days is very effective as well.  For many addicts, all that is required for recovery is a dry out period and aftercare consisting of meetings,  support groups and possibly some outside counseling.  Generally short-term drug rehab is recommended for addictions that have been severe enough to require removal of the addict from familiar surroundings, but not quite so severe as haing done extensive damage to the brain over a several year period.  There is not one answer for all cases of addiction and the plethora of individual situations, so it is important to have all the information about the addiction and the type of drug rehab center that is best before making a decision.  Different drug rehabs are dotting the globe with more methodologies and philosphies than ever before.  Drug rehabs are becoming more and more specific about their own approach to addiction treatment as to accomodate each individual’s specific addiction, mental health, social, and behvioral issues in settings that are conducive to specific geneders, ages, religous beliefs, lifestyles, and ideals.  It may seem that all of these choices only make the task of finding drug rehab all the more daunting, but conclusive reasearch shows that more specifically targeted drug rehab has been more effective in treating addiction and maintaining sobriety after treatment.

Crystal meth addiction is an incredibly difficult  illness to recovery from.  Once addicted to crystla meth, people tend to go on to the bitter end suffering severe consequences related to health, finances, employment and family. The cravings are so powerful, some people state crystal meth addiction is the worst of them all.

People have tried to treat crystal meth on an outpatient basis, in a hospital or by going to twelve step groups. The most effective way known to effectively treat crystal meth addiction is in a drug rehab. A drug rehab can provide medical stabilization for crystal meth addiction, as well as, psychiatric stabilization. After the crystal meth detox is complete, the treatment for crystal meth addiction is found in participating in a variety of clinical groups and dealing with the triggers that lead to crystal meth addiction.

Crystal meth addiction treatment can last up to 35 days in drug rehab and should be followed by a comprehensive relapse prevention plan and aftercare. Recovery from crystal meth addiction is possible, but only with a complete commitment to treatment. To locate a drug rehab for crystal meth, you can call the crystal meth addiction helpline at 1-800-99-DETOX. 

Drug Rehab and Drug Abuse

There are many different ways of dealing with drug addiction and drug abuse. Addiction can be a scary thing for people to deal with, and it can be especially scary when it is happening to someone that you love. You might not be aware of the details of your loved one’s sickness, but you will be aware when they need drug rehab.

Drug rehab is a tool or program that can help fix relationships, repair things that have been broken, and, above all else, save lives. People who are going through a problem with drugs are often going to be upset that they have been found out, or caught. Often they will be angry and irritable with the person who has brought their drug use problem to the forefront. However, once they have gone through addiction treatment, they will be able to get on the path to recovery and will end up thanking the person who has made them realize they had a problem in the first place.

Drug rehab can be a difficult thing to pursue. Many times, someone is afraid to admit that they have a problem, or they refuse to admit that they need help. Until they can readily state that they do indeed have a problem with drugs, they will not be able to benefit from treatment. You cannot force someone to get better unless they actually want to. However, once someone has taken that great first step and admitted that they might need help for their drug addictions, they have taken ownership for their problems and have begun to take care of themselves. This is the point when someone might need drug abuse treatment.

If you think you or someone you know falls into this category, you might be considering the drug rehab treatment options. There are many different options, from meetings to counseling sessions, to inpatient living treatments. However, it is important to figure out who needs drug treatment, and what kind of drug treatment they actually need.

Drug Abuse Treatment

Someone needs drug abuse treatment if they have been abusing drugs to the point where they can no longer control their own life. When someone is using drugs, or has been for a long time, you will be able to tell. There will be signs. And they might be angry with you for bringing these signs up. But, if in the end they go through treatment and get better, it will have all been worth it. Someone needs drug abuse treatment when they have lost control over their drug and therefore lost control over their lives. When someone needs drug abuse treatment, they will be at a point where they cannot go on without it. When this happens, they should seek help because there are not very many alternative endings to this scenario.

A person needs drug abuse treatment when they have destroyed their lives because of drug use. If they have damaged relationships, lost jobs, and stopped doing the things that used to bring them pleasure, they need drug abuse treatment. When someone has injured themselves or others because of their drug use, and when someone is simply not the person they used to be because of their habits, they are someone who needs drug abuse treatment.

Do not fail to get help for yourself or for your loved one that is dealing with a drug abuse problem. Help is usually not that far away, and will make a world of difference in your lives. Drug rehab will help you put the pieces of your life back together and continue to be alive.

If you are looking for a drug detox or drug rehab in your area, you can call the national helpline at 1-800-99-DETOX or go to www.recoveryconnection.org  

It’s difficult to be gay in a straight world, so it’s no wonder that so many individuals who deem themselves to be gay or are uncertain about their sexuality search for drug rehabs that offer gay and lesbian therapy.

Great care should be taken in locating an addiction treatment center who specializes in gay therapy.  Beware of a drug rehab who may attempt to “cure” or even “convert” you.   Those addiction treatment centers have their own agenda. Also be sure that your chosen drug rehab is well-versed on issues confronting the gay community and isn’t afraid to talk about sexual issues.  It’s best to contact local or regional organizations concerned with gay issues to find a reputable drug rehab program for your needs. Drug addiction treatment for the gay and lesbian population should consist of a number of factors and how you’re counseled may depend on where you stand as far as accepting your sexuality.

Most gay friendly drug rehabs rely on the widely-accepted six stages of homosexuality: 1) identity awareness – feelings that you are different from others or from what you’ve been taught; 2) identity comparison – not understanding why your feelings are different from those of your parents, friends, siblings, etc; 3) identity tolerance – rebelling against homosexual feelings; 4) identity acceptance – embracing your sexuality and what goes with it; 5) identity pride – anger toward parents, society, religion or others who refuse to accept your homosexuality; and 6) identity synthesis – when homosexuality becomes a part of who you are, not the defining factor for your life.

The therapists should also be prepared and able to discuss and treat mood disorders, not unlike those of the heterosexual population, including depression, anxiety, stress, and sexual issues.  Statistics show that the rate of depression is much higher among the homosexual population and that thoughts of suicide are not uncommon. Gay and lesbian therapy can also assist clients in “coming out” to friends, family, and co-workers and deal with the emotional and practical questions and challenges that arise at that time.  Therapists will also attempt to eliminate feelings of fear and being alone and teach clients how to develop healthy homosexual relationships.

To locate a gay friendly drug rehab you can call the addiction treatment helpline at 1-800-511-9225.

HIV Drug Approved by FDA
Raltegravir Tablets Used in Combination with Other Antiretroviral Agents

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved raltegravir tablets for treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-1 infection in combination with other antiretroviral agents in treatment-experienced adult patients who have evidence of viral replication and HIV-1 strains resistant to multiple antiretroviral agents.

Raltegravir is the first agent of the pharmacological class known as HIV integrase strand transfer inhibitors, designed to interfere with the enzyme that HIV-1 needs to multiply. Raltegravir, sold under the trade name Isentress, received a priority review by the FDA.
“This is an important new product for many HIV-infected patients whose infections are not being controlled by currently available medications,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., FDA’s deputy commissioner for scientific and medical programs, chief medical officer and acting director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

When used with other anti-HIV medicines, raltegravir may reduce the amount of HIV in the blood and may increase white blood cells, called CD4+ (T) cells, that help fight off other infections.

FDA’s approval of raltegravir is based on data from two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in 699 HIV-1 infected adult patients with histories of extensive antiretroviral use. A greater proportion of the patients who received raltegravir in combination with other anti-HIV drugs experienced reductions in the amount of HIV in the blood, compared with patients who received placebo in combination with other anti-HIV drugs.

The most common adverse events reported with raltegravir were diarrhea, nausea, and headache. Blood tests also showed abnormal elevated levels of a muscle enzyme in some patients receiving raltegravir. Caution is advised when using raltegravir in patients at increased risk for certain types of muscle problems, including those who use other medications that can cause muscle problems.

Patients taking raltegravir may still develop infections, including opportunistic infections or other conditions that may develop in patients living with HIV-1 infection. The long-term effects of raltegravir are not known, and its safety and effectiveness in children less than 16 years of age has not been studied.

Raltegravir also has not been studied in pregnant women. Women who are taking HIV medications when they get pregnant are advised to talk with their physician or other health care professional about use of this drug during pregnancy, and about registering with the Antiviral Pregnancy Registry if they use raltegravir.
 

HIV, Drug Addiction and the LGBT

For those of you in the LGBT community, that are HIV positive and suffering from drug addiction, it is imperative that you abstain from drug use. The best way is to find yourself a drug rehab for a professional evaluation as to what is the best drug rehabilitation approach to undertake. If a drug rehab is suggested, you want to find a drug rehab program with a strong medical component, is “ gay friendly “ and is known for its high quality of care.

If you require assistance locating a gay friendly drug rehab with a strong medical component, you can call this national drug rehabilitation helpline at 1-800-511-9225. This particular drug rehabilitation helpline is toll free and any services or information it provides is at no cost.

Good or bad, right or wrong, research shows us there is a higher incidence of drug addiction within the gay community than the heterosexual community. The drug or choice has moved in the direction of crystal meth or crystal methamphetamine. Unfortunately this is not a recreational drug and turns out to be highly addictive and devestates lives at an alarming rate. While suffering from crystal meth addiction, we tend to make foolish and high risk decisions that can end up with us dealing with issues ranging from hepatitus, HIV, STD’s, not to mention financial and emotional crisis.

Crystal Meth Rehab

Although crystal meth is not physically addicting, the emotional dependence, the cravings and related health problems call for a gay man or woman suffering from crystal meth addiction needs to find a drug rehab with a medical detox. A medical detox within the drug rehab allows for the dispensing of medication to ease the withdrawal symptoms and to treat medical issues.You need not suffer while in detox due to the medications available, but do not minimize the challenge associated recovery from crystal meth addiction.

Gay Rehab

Treatment for crystal meth is available and works, as are gay friendly drug rehab. I say gay friendly as it does make a difference when entering a rehab that understands the LGBT, their challenges and issues. This does not mean a gay man or lesbian needs to enter a “gay only” rehab, but a gay friendly drug rehab can be much more effective.

To locate a gay friendly rehab which effectively treats crystal meth addiction you can call the national addiction helpline at 1-800-511-9225. This particular addiction helpline is toll free and does not charge for any services.

New York and Florida have some of the highest populations for gay men and women in the United States. It is well documented that the LGBT population suffers from a high incidence of depression and accompanying the depression is drug addiction. The combination of these two disorders is referred to as dual diagnosis.

While dual diagnosis can certainly be treated in a drug and alcohol rehab, it is difficult to locate a LGBT rehab or gay friendly rehab in wither New York or Florida. It is almost ironic as the service that is so greatly needed by a segment of the population that can afford it, is so hard to find.

After much research, I was able to find a rehab in Florida that could honestly demonstrate they were able to provide alcoholism rehabilitation and dual diagnosis treatment for the gay and lesbian.  Don’t get me wrong, many drug rehabs said they could provide rehab, but when pressed as to their LGBT services, they fell considerable short.

Gender specific rehab or population specific rehab does not mean a person can not recover in another type of treatment center. All it states is that it may provide the individual with treatment in an environment where they might feel more comfortable. Comfortable enough delve into the issues that have plagued them allof their life. When the words gay rehab are used all we are referring to is that a person associated with the LGBT population might want to look into a drug rehab that is able to effectively address ” gay, lesbian” issues.

To locate a gay rehab or gay friendly dual diagnosis treatment, you can call the national addiction helpline at 1-800-511-9225.

When one conjures up the image of an addict, they are more often than not predisposed to see him or her as a common “street junkie”, spiking their veins with hypodermic needles; or, one is given to think of the cocaine-addled businessman, snorting up in the bathroom to get him through all-nighters and fly-by-night business deals. They think of famous actors and musicians, from John Belushi to Jim Morrison to Curt Cobain to McKenzie Phillips, strung out or overdosing in hotel rooms. But the truth is actually quite different. Drug addicts come in all shapes, ages, and sizes and many don’t have to go to the street corner and see a dealer to get high. They merely have to go to their local pharmacy, and hand in their RX. It should be remembered, Elvis Presley did not die by lethal speed ball; he dies of prescription drug addiction. It is only now becoming clear how epidemic the problem of prescription drug addiction has become.

By the turn of the millennium, it was projected by the National Institute on Drug Abuse that nearly nine million Americans were using prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. One recent study performed by the National Center on Drug Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University showed that nearly half of primary care physicians have reported problems dealing with their patients’ substance abuse. The problem has gotten to the point where physicians are leading training seminars on how better to deal with the question of patient prescription drug addiction.

Drugs like OxyContin (oxycodone), a controlled substance used to treat chronic-to-severe pain, have been in the news because of several fatalities associated with their use; as well as the high-profile drug addiction to the drug (and drugs like it) cited by celebrities like Michael Jackson and David Guest. OxyContin, a narcotic that acts like morphine, is composed of high-doses of oxycodone, and was believed to be safe because of its twelve-hour time release. However, if anything has been proven over the years, it is that anything can be abused; whether crack cocaine, Robitusin, or Flintstones Vitamins.

One of the more dangerous aspects of prescription drug addiction is the lack of stigma associated. People are not inclined to see drugs their trusty pharmacists give them as controlled substances; and so do not hear the alarm bells going off when the addiction takes hold. As well, the practice of “doctor shopping“, consulting another professional when your doctor has caught on to your addiction, has become the norm for prescription drug addicts. A person in desperate need for a nose job will always find a plastic surgeon they can manipulate into putting them under the knife; likewise the prescription drug addict can find a doctor willing to write their RX.
Although the FDA has strengthened their warnings for drugs like OxyContin, the need for prescription medications and thus the potential for addiction has not subsided. Both Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash had legitimate medical ailments while overseas in the Service which required the use of prescription pain killers, and both were unable to resist the pull of addiction once other factors influenced their use of the drugs. The threshold one crosses from the simple alleviation of pain to the salving of emotional wounds with such drugs is all too subtle and perilous for many who take them.

However, there are precautions prescription drug users can take to moderate their use of controlled substances: Follow the directions on the bottle or pillbox carefully, never increase your dose without consulting your physician, always inform your doctor about your past history of drug addiction, if you have one.
We understand it is not always easy to keep tabs on your growing addiction, or manage the use of controlled substances. For many, the need to narcotize is too difficult to resist. If you believe there is even an infinitesimal chance you are developing a dependency on controlled substances, no matter what; you should not hesitate to call us.

Many prescription drug users are ashamed to find themselves in a clinic, where they will be in the presence of those they believe to be “real” addicts; people addicted to more conventional illegal substances such as heroin or cocaine. They should remember that both drugs were once used to treat physical ailments and that once alcohol, perhaps the most widespread physical and emotional addiction this country suffers from, was once a domestic cure-all for minor ailments. You may find it impossible to believe that you too are a drug abuser; your dependency on prescription meds no different than that of the heroin addict who takes to the street to spike his vein.

For help with prescription drug addiction call, the national addiction helpline at 1-800-511-9225.