Drug treatment centres give more abuse than therapy
Scattered across Cambodia are eight "drug treatment" centres. Each holds between 40 and 400 people whom the government claims are receiving treatment and rehabilitation for drug dependency. But don't be fooled. These centres are often surrounded by …
Read more on Bangkok Post

War on drugs shifts: Health care law expands coverage for substance abuse …
Plans must cover treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, prescription drugs, rehabilitative, prevention and wellness services, according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Pre-existing conditions are …
Read more on Chattanooga Times Free Press

Newport treatment program focuses on video gaming addiction
Morningside Recovery, a substance abuse and mental health recovery center in Newport Beach, announced in a press release last week that it has developed a treatment program focusing on compulsive video and online gaming. Article Tab: Morningside …
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Question by Liza Shevchuk: Natural Remedies For Brain Damage After Drug Abuse?
My older brother has done many drugs from about 16-21. Its been a year since his last use, and he’s been having some serious problems. He has high anxiety and he’s been having frequent episodes of “weird” (as he calls it) feelings. He doesn’t label it as feeling sick. During these episodes he feels jittery, emotional (even cry’s sometimes) out of control, his heart rate goes up. This also causes him to have insomnia. Maybe they’re panic attacks, but the thing is, what triggers it? This occurs randomly on a normal day. We believe its typical withdrawal symptoms, because he abused quite a few drugs. (Marijuana, cigarettes, ecstasy, crystal meth, shrooms, hookah, cocaine, inhalants, “uppers” (as he calls them))
He has gone to see his doctor several times to get treatment, and his doctor said he has migraines.
-____-
He prescribed him anti depressants and that didn’t help my brother AT ALL.
He does this herbal drop treatment (echinacea, other oils, etc) That help him sleep.
Now we’re trying to find him herbal remedies that would help repair his brain damage from all of the abuse he has done to it.
Thank you very much.

Best answer:

Answer by jannsody
I’m not sure that there will be repairing of the brain damage (presuming that he has that as I’m not a medical doctor :), but researchers believe that the brain is very “plastic” and may form new nerve pathways to *help* compensate for the injured areas.

With regard to inhalant use, my friend actually has a severe Brain Injury from huffing at the age of 12, now in her 30s. The chemicals in products used for huffing are actual *poisons* that were never meant to go through the bloodstream.

Please be *very* careful with herbal supplements or “remedies” (e.g., echinacea, ginkgo biloba, chamomile) as they can result in side effects and/or drug (medication) interactions. It’s best to check with a licensed pharmacist before taking any of them. Not everything that is “natural” is safe 😉

Regarding the panic attacks, some people have generalized anxiety (to know specific event) or other types of anxiety. The antidepressants may help to lessen the intensity and/or frequency of the anxiety symptoms. Such medications tend to take about 6-8 weeks before possibly noticing results. A caveat (warning) is that some antidepressants may cause insomnia (trouble getting to and/or staying asleep). However, there are medications that one may take to help counteract the insomnia.

Even though benzo’s (e.g., ativan, valium, xanax, klonopin) may be prescribed to help with sleep, they’re not always recommended as a medication due to their physical addictiveness. (Some withdrawal symptoms from benzo’s may include seizures, psychosis/mental break from reality, or even death.) Some psychiatrists (it’s best to get medication for mental health issues from a board-certified psychiatrist as opposed to “just” a family doctor) prescribe seroquel (or other medications), which is classified as an antipsychotic but in smaller dosages may help with sleep.

You’d mentioned that he’s gone to the doctor several times, and I’m wondering if he’s gone to a neurologist which is medical dr who can help rule out disorders of the nervous system – brain, spinal cord, nerves. I’m just thinking that to help “cover all the bases” (not trying to give false hope though, know what I mean).

I’m not sure that he’d still be going through withdrawal symptoms a year after stopping the drugs, but it’s a good idea to ask a doctor about that as well.

Pertaining to the anxiety, please show him this government site which may have some local counseling agencies: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ and can click the second link. Then one can click “near you” on the left-hand side of the page under “find facilities” and can type one’s city and state of residence into search. Their toll-free 24/7 referral helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Just an fyi that the first link is for those looking for substance abuse counseling/treatment, and that may be an option if he’s still “using” or having cravings for substances.

A 12-step program, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), may have some local support groups. The only requirement is having a desire to get sober. One may attend an “open” AA meeting if there is no drinking problem: http://www.aa.org

This site has some common mottos pertaining to those 12-step programs, including “One day at a time”, “First things first” and “People, places and things”: http://www.royy.com/toolsofrecovery.html

Al-Anon is a 12-step program for the *friends and family* of the problem drinker, but one may attend an “open” Al-Anon meeting if the loved one doesn’t have a drinking problem: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org

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Corrections Exemplary Service Medals award recepients

Image by BC Gov Photos
BC Corrections officers do a lot to keep our communities safe, but some of them really go above and beyond to help rehabilitate inmates by helping them with substance addictions, counseling with mental health issues, or teaching them employable skills. These officers have made a big difference for the inmates they’ve worked with, and in turn, our communities. They are recognized with the Corrections Exemplary Service Medal, or Bar.

Seated row (from left): Debbie Hawboldt, Provincial Director
Tedd Howard, Provincial Director Pete Coulson, Assistant
Deputy Minister Brent Merchant, The Honourable Judith
Guichon, Deputy Solicitor General Lori Wanamaker,
Provincial Director Bill Small, Provincial Director Elenore
Clark, Dave Vallance
Middle row: Melody Shepherd, Ken Fox, Eileen
Johnston, Patrick Monkman, Teri DuTemple, Randy Nelson,
Phil Chafe, Patrick Doherty, Dana Cosgrove, Don Tarling,
Shauna Morgan, Nancy Lewis, Rob Allison, Denean Jones,
Ryan Doern
Back row: Darren Allison, Dave Tuyttens, Gerald
Lapointe, John McKenzie, Greg Fensome, Al Chapple, Scott
Vallance, Mike Albert Page, Al Gillespie, Nedj Macesic,
Miles McGuire, Alfred Chu

Learn More: www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2012/12/minister-of-justice-congra…

The financial toll of living with a drug addict
There's not much worse for parents than the terror of witnessing a child slip away into a life of drug abuse. San Francisco writer David Sheff felt helpless as his son Nic became addicted to substances like methamphetamine and heroin over the course of …
Read more on NBCNews.com

Stimulant-addicted patients can quit smoking without hindering treatment
Smokers who are addicted to cocaine or methamphetamine can quit smoking while being treated for their stimulant addiction, without interfering with stimulant addiction treatment. This is according to new research funded by the National Institute on …
Read more on National Institutes of Health (press release)

by Don Hankins

Once it is decided to quit the addiction, one needs professional support and guidance. The rehabs offer their services based on two types one of which is the outpatient program and the other one is residential program. The outpatient deals with those clients who cannot leave their busy schedules and find out time to stay over in the rehab for the duration of the recovery treatment. This kind of treatment has good effect but it is a bit slow and the life, in which one starts the addiction, is faced daily. There is no discontinuation from that life. This is useful in disconnecting from the existing life, take a small pause, get de-addicted, and embrace the life with new approach. But by opting for outpatient treatment, this is not possible. The disconnection from the factors and elements which might have led the clients to addiction will be consistently present, and there are more chances of not being able to quit the addiction. If the client quits it, the percentage is more to get back to the old addiction or relapse of the addiction. Due to this factor the medical experts suggest a residential rehab for fighting the addiction out of the system.

A residential rehab is a facility equipped with state of art instruments, thorough professional experts and great ambience. All these factors cumulatively help in re-inventing oneself as well as living life once again with complete new outlook. outpatient drug rehab, drug rehabs are found under one roof. They are very effective in quitting the life threatening addiction. Most of these rehabs are laced in the lap of nature. It is believed that Mother Nature has a cure for each and every problem or disease. The healing retreats have good natural environment, which help in carrying out activities which are physically challenging as well as have spiritual values like yoga or meditation etc.

Orange County rehab is one of the most successful rehabs. There are several such rehabs which help their clients quit the addiction if a very effective and non-relapsing way. The rehabs have come a long way in fighting the addiction, they believe in a holistic approach. They treat the mental, physical and social factors affecting the physical and mental health of their client. They also include their families for a long term effect of the treatment. An all rounded approach in healing the client is achieved through these aspects.

http://drugrehabcenter.com – Carl Arrogante: Designer Drugs (Bath Salts Addiction) – Take the first step toward reclaiming your life, and call our Recovery Hotline Toll-Free at 1-800-839-1682….

Question by Evan: I NEED TO KNOW THE MONEY SPENT ON ALCOHOL REHABS YEARLY. RECENT AND RELIABLE PLZ.?
RECENT AND RELIABLE PLZ.

Best answer:

Answer by raysny
The most recent I could find for the US has the figures for 1997:

“A study shows that the U.S. spent a combined $ 11.9 billion on alcohol and drug abuse treatment, while the total social costs were more than $ 294 billion. The results were part of the National Estimates of Expenditures for Substance Abuse Treatment, 1997, which was released at the end of April by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

The report, prepared by the MEDSTAT Group for SAMHSA, examines how much is spent in the U.S. to treat alcohol and drug abuse, how that spending has changed between 1987 and 1997, how much of the spending is done by the private and public sectors, and how substance abuse expenditures compare to spending for mental health and other health conditions in the U.S.”
http://www.usmedicine.com/newsDetails.cfm?dailyID=54

In NY:
“States report spending $ 2.5 billion a year on treatment. States did not distinguish whether the treatment was for alcohol, illicit drug abuse or nicotine addiction. Of the $ 2.5 billion total, $ 695 million is spent through the departments of health and $ 633 million through the state substance abuse agencies. We believe that virtually all of these funds are spent on alcohol and illegal drug treatment.”
Source: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, Shoveling Up: The Impact of Substance Abuse on State Budgets (New York, NY: CASA, Jan. 2001), p. 24.

States Waste Billions Dealing with Consequences of Addiction, CASA Study Says
May 28, 2009

The vast majority of the estimated $ 467.7 billion in substance-abuse related spending by governments on substance-abuse problems went to deal with the consequences of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, not treatment and prevention, according to a new report from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

The report, titled, “Shoveling Up II: The Impact of Substance Abuse on Federal, State and Local Budgets,” found that 95 percent of the $ 373.9 billion spent by the federal government and states went to paying for the societal and personal damage caused by alcohol and other drug use; the calculation included crime, health care costs, child abuse, domestic violence, homelessness and other consequences of tobacco, alcohol and illegal and prescription drug abuse and addiction.

Just 1.9 percent went to treatment and prevention, while 0.4 percent was spent on research, 1.4 percent went towards taxation and regulation, and 0.7 percent went to interdiction.

“Such upside-down-cake public policy is unconscionable,” said Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA’s founder and chairman. “It’s past time for this fiscal and human waste to end.”

CASA estimated that the federal government spent $ 238.2 billion on substance-abuse related issues in 2005, while states spent $ 135.8 billion and local governments spent $ 93.8 billion. The report said that 58 percent of spending was for health care and 13.1 percent on justice systems.

Researchers estimated that 11.2 percent of all federal and state government spending went towards alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse and addictions and its consequences. The report said that Connecticut spent the most proportionately on prevention, treatment and research — $ 10.39 of every $ 100 spent on addiction issues — while New Hampshire spent the least — 22 cents.
http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2009/states-waste-billions-dealing.html

Key Findings

Of the $ 3.3 trillion total federal and state government spending, $ 373.9 billion –11.2 percent, more than one of every ten dollars– was spent on tobacco, alcohol and illegal and prescription drug abuse and addiction and its consequences.

The federal government spent $ 238.2 billion (9.6 percent of its budget) on substance abuse and addiction. If substance abuse and addiction were its own budget category at the federal level, it would rank sixth, behind social security, national defense, income security, Medicare and other health programs including the federal share of Medicaid.

State governments spent $ 135.8 billion (15.7 percent of their budgets) to deal with substance abuse and addiction, up from 13.3 percent in 1998. If substance abuse and addiction were its own state budget category, it would rank second behind spending on elementary and secondary education.

Local governments spent $ 93.8 billion on substance abuse and addiction (9 percent of their budgets), outstripping local spending for transportation and public welfare.¹

For every $ 100 spent by state governments on substance abuse and addiction, the average spent on prevention, treatment and research was $ 2.38; Connecticut spent the most, $ 10.39; New Hampshire spent the least, $ 0.22.

For every dollar the federal and state governments spent on prevention and treatment, they spent $ 59.83 shoveling up the consequences, despite a growing

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