When will we learn that, as cute and talented as they are, child stars often struggle with drugs, failure, and bankruptcy later in life? Another former child star has died, and drugs are the suspected cause. Corey Haim, the teenage heartthrob of the 80’s, has died at age 38. Sadly, this death was not a surprise to most.

We’ve seen this too many times before. A child actor realizes young fame, transforming their lives from a normal childhood to one of undivided attention, wealth beyond imagination, and freedom from every day chores and school. We should know this kind of life for an impressionable teenager has its consequences – we’ve witnessed it in numerous lives.

Corey Haim and Drugs

Corey Haim lived this life of conflict. He was known by every teenage girl in the 80’s, and starred in several films, including Lucas and Lost Boys. But sometime after that fame settled, he began taking prescription drugs. Valium was said to be his drug of choice, although he reportedly used others along the way. Fans that kept up with him saw him go from a funny, hyper child to a depressed, incoherent, miserable adult. Other things in Haim’s life began to suffer the effects; he couldn’t land good work, his weight increased drastically, and he went bankrupt. Like so many people addicted to prescription drugs, he didn’t care about other things in his life and his addiction simply got too powerful.

Haim’s drug abuse was evident to anyone who cared to watch. Videos of him doing interviews with slurred speech or garbled words are all over the web. He entered rehab a number of times and claimed to be drug free a few times in the last decade, but he always went back to the drugs. For anyone that has been through the struggles of drug addiction, or watched a loved one go through it, the Corey Haim story publicly depicts the pain a drug addict goes through on a daily basis.

Haim was eventually paired up with Corey Feldman, co-star of the 80’s, for the A&E show “The Two Coreys”. The show documented Haim living in Feldman’s suburban home. At that time Feldman, married with a child, tried to help out Haim, who was struggling with drugs and trying to get his acting back up and going. The show only lasted two seasons, and didn’t seem to improve anything in Haim’s life.

Corey Haim was then rumored to be recruited by Celebrity Rehab for their show, but turned it down, saying he didn’t need the help. Like so many of us, he denied he had a problem or needed real help, until it was too late.

It is tragic that another celebrity has died, reportedly because of drugs. It is more tragic, that we all saw it coming, and no one could do anything to stop it. This is the same sad story of many other people in this world caught up with drug addiction. 

Sources

Still Buddies: 2 Guys With One Name

Corey Haim Dies

Corey Haim, Actor, Dies at 38  

Relapse is such a big danger to those attempting sobriety, and it is important that both the rehab facility and the recovering addict have a solid plan in place to help avoid relapse. For recovering addicts that go right back to their old life and friends, the chance of relapse is going to be much higher. Someone breaking free from addiction needs to surround themselves with positive activities, support groups, and continuing treatment for the best chance at success.

Sober Housing

One problem that some patients encounter is finding suitable living conditions. These may be people that lost their house and family because of their drug abuse or alcoholism. It is difficult to rise up from rock bottom, being alone in the world, living on the streets or in a shelter, with no family left for support. These people may break free from drugs with the help of a facility, but for many people, entry back into the real world can be a difficult task. That’s when aftercare housing comes into the picture. Some organizations offer housing specifically for people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction. These may be apartments or multi-level houses that offer a place to live and additional support for those recovering from addiction. This kind of housing is often a great benefit to those working to stay sober because it allows them to be surrounded by others that are recovering, it gives them access to treatment programs and support groups, and it holds them accountable to staying sober. Drug tests are usually mandatory for these housing facilities in order to ensure that residents are keeping their commitment to stay clean. Other benefits to these types of housing may include reduced or free rent for a period of time, and access to things like food banks, clothing donations, and job opportunities.

Encouragement to Stay Sober

Living in an aftercare facility is not necessary for everyone recovering from addiction. Many people are fortunate to still have the support of close family or friends to help and encourage them to stay sober. A family that has gone through treatment together will be stronger and better equipped to help their loved one avoid relapse. But for all the people that have no one close to rely on, aftercare housing is a great option. The fellow residents become their extended family and together these individuals are able to encourage each other to stay clean.

Relapse will still be a problem, even for patients with family or aftercare housing. It is important for treatment programs to continue to work with their patients after rehab, in order to encourage them to remain sober. Support groups are a must, as they offer valuable healing and encouragement on the road to recovery. Recovery is a life-long journey, and the risk will still be there to relapse, but people are able to carry on with a normal life after some time, with the help of support groups along the way.

Sources

Communal Housing Settings Enhance Substance Abuse Recovery

Mass.gov 

Finding a way out

Mexico is a country under pressure right now with wars between the government and drug cartels, as well as between different cartel groups themselves. When Felipe Calderon came to power as the Mexican president in 2006, he declared a war on drug cartels in the country. To do this meant they would stop trying to catch and punish addicts that were dealing drugs to support their own habit. Rather, the focus turned to getting them into treatment for their addiction, while focusing on seizing the big dealers. The result of this is that many drug addicts have been channeled into treatment facilities, but it also has caused drug cartels to get desperate.

War in Treatment Facilities

In the city of Ciudad Juarez last year, just across the border from El Paso, TX, members of the Sinaloa drug cartel opened fire in a rehabilitation clinic. This was just one of many incidents by desperate cartel members. Over the year, numerous attacks were made on either former addicts that were no longer going to be dealing drugs, or on members of other cartels that were recruiting dealers in the clinics. The battlefield has moved from the streets into rehab facilities in Mexico.

Recruiting Recovering Addicts

Drug cartels are now trying to take over the treatment industry in certain cities of Mexico. Their goal is to recruit more drug dealers for their organized crime. Using intimidation, brainwashing, and force, cartels are able control those trying to get out of addiction. Some cartel members check themselves into rundown, unlicensed clinics, posing as patients. After a short time, the cartels take over the clinic and begin to try to convince the patients to go out and sell drugs. If they refuse, the patients are beaten or killed.

Some of these cartel members are successful in recruiting new dealers from rehab facilities. They have the perfect prey; people who often don’t have any close family or friends, are at a low point in their life, and feel they have no place to turn. They often have no money, no hope of a job, and they are easily convinced that they can do no better than deal drugs. With the threat of bodily harm, many people are easy to convince.

The whole situation in Mexico seems almost unbelievable. But many people don’t seem too worked up about it, and think that it is just a last ditch effort by the cartels to gain some power back. While the Mexican government knows their country has a problem with both drugs and crime, they are waiting out the effects of the decriminalization. Other countries, including the United States, are watching this state of affairs closely. Everyone wants to find a good solution to the drug problem, and there will most likely be things our country can learn from the way things are turning out in Mexico.

Sources

17 patients killed in shooting at Mexican drug rehab center 

New Threat to Mexico’s Drug Cartels: Rehab Centers

Mexico drug cartels go into the rehab business

Recently, I hit another milestone in my life. My 4-year old daughter told us that she wanted to run away because we didn’t love her and were mean to her. The precipitating event for her decision was the fact that her mother would not let her eat chocolate before bedtime. The nerve of that woman, how could a mother be so cruel!

I sat down on the couch with my daughter and helped her decide what she would need to pack; some food in case she got hungry, some warm clothes in case it got cold, some toys in case she got bored – but only a couple of her favorites because she couldn’t carry too many, and of course an umbrella in case it rained. Wow, lots of stuff! After our discussion, she decided she didn’t want to run away anymore and could suffer some chocolate deprivation.

I refer to this as a milestone in my life because I have used this example with many client parents we have had in treatment but had never experienced it firsthand. I have told many parents whose children call them to report, “the treatment center is locking them in the closet and beating them with sticks,” that situation is not unlike the little kid who wants to run away. If you let them go they get down the street and look at the great big world, it won’t be long before they hightail it home.

It is not unlike that with some of our clients; they are confronted with their pain and told that they are going to have to relinquish their coping skills and deal with it in unfamiliar ways. The whole experience is extremely painful. Their first instinct is to run but it is a well known fact that most addicts do not have the ability to sustain their addiction without some support, therefore we encourage family and friends to withdrawal any support other than supporting treatment and recovery.

I have had many clients prematurely leave our facilities, but once they found that no one would support/enable them, they quickly returned and began a meaningful treatment experience – not unlike the little kid who runs away from home.

I am somewhat making light of this but the analogy is a basic reaction. I know that absolutely nothing rivals the anguish and pain family members go through when they have to cut a loved one off in order to save the addict’s life…especially parents. It is completely against every paternal instinct and inclination. It is however, always necessary.

I am reminded of a story I once read about a missionary who was in a remote location in India and had a son born there with a clubfoot. This condition could easily have been corrected with surgery; however, there was no hospital for miles. One of the missionary doctors explained that everyday this man would have to turn and hold his son’s foot for 20 minutes. This was very painful for the little boy. The missionary spoke of how painful it was to cause such pain for his son. He spoke of how his son would scream, cry and yell, “I hate you,” while he turned the boy’s foot and how those words broke his heart. Then he spoke of the joy he felt when some years later he watched his son run across the soccer field.

The fact is, it is very easy to focus all of our attention on the addict and neglect the pain that their loved ones are suffering. We are constantly asking parents and significant others to practice behaviors that are completely unnatural to them. I don’t know what I would have done had my daughter got up and walked out the door or if I would have had the wherewithal to stand back and allow her to fully experience the consequences of that action; would I be able to sit on my hands until she decided to come back; honestly, I doubt it. I just want to say that we at TSN try to be aware of the family’s needs while we are taking care of their loved ones but I believe today I have a better understanding of what we are asking of them and I know I will be more empathetic. It is not that what we are asking them to do is wrong – it truly is the best thing they can do. That does not make it easy and we need to have patience with them. I also know that without stories like the young girl’s in the article below, I don’t think I could go on in this business. I am including it because I believe it may give some parent out there hope. This young girl came in kicking and screaming and wanted to leave after a week.

By Ann DeMatteo, Assistant Metro Editor
NORTH HAVEN

For the first time in four years, Barbara Hoffman is clean. 



A drug user since 14, the 18-year-old is living in a halfway house in Florida after 60 days of treatment. “All my energy is back. My head is a lot clearer. I don’t need to lie, cheat or steal from my parents,” said the teenager, who estimates she stole money and goods from her parents worth $20,000 from the time she started drinking and using marijuana, cocaine, Ecstasy and prescription painkillers like OxyContin and Xanax.


Her parents, Adam and Joanne Hoffman of North Haven, knew their daughter smoked pot, but were shocked to learn she was addicted to prescription drugs. Now that she’s in rehabilitation, they’re coming forward because they don’t want another family to suffer their pain.
Their world blew apart when they learned a week before Barbara Hoffman was to leave for college in September that she was on a downward spiral, addicted to OxyContin.
“I want to save another parent, another kid, from going through what our family has gone through,” Joanne Hoffman said. “Drugs should not be a secret. That’s how they thrive.”

Prescription pill addiction became an issue in North Haven about a year ago, when more than a dozen people were arrested for numerous burglaries, some dating back to 2006. Police said the burglaries appeared to be connected to the abuse of prescription drugs by some of the young people arrested.



In North Haven in 2008, there were seven arrests involving illegal possession of OxyContin and 26 heroin arrests, according to Capt. James Merrithew, who runs the detective division. In 2009, police made 16 heroin arrests and 19 arrests for pills. Authorities said most users graduate from pills to heroin because it’s cheaper.

Police believe the addictions force users to take advantage of any opportunity to commit burglaries or larcenies.

The town’s Substance Abuse Prevention Council recently created and mailed a brochure to residents about the dangers of prescription painkillers. The town also plans to apply for a $125,000 federal grant that would help the town fight the problem, said Director of Community Services and Recreation Gerardo Sorkin.



The council will continue to educate the community, and this spring hopes to have a program so residents can get rid of their unused prescription drugs. Talks also are planned for the schools.

“We’re very concerned that kids don’t understand how serious addiction to prescription drugs can be,” said Superintendent of Schools Sara-Jane R. Querfeld, a council member. “We’re not seeing any evidence of it at the high school but that doesn’t mean they’re not doing it.”

FROM A GOOD HOME

North Haven parents have been reaching out to Parents 4 a Change, a Southington organization run by Mary Marcuccio, a woman credited with saving the lives of numerous young people, including Barbara Hoffman.

“It’s sad, but the good thing is families are getting help,” said a North Haven mother whose daughter is no longer addicted to OxyContin. She and her daughter continue to be active with Parents 4 a Change.

Parents 4 a Change instructs parents to create an unfriendly environment for their children if they suspect drug use. Parents need to know their children’s friends and need to know where their money is going. Parents in the group said their kids have taken money from their bank accounts or have stolen items from their homes to buy drugs.



The mother said the parents involved in Parents 4 a Change are caring people who were close to their children and made extraordinary efforts to help them once an addiction became known.

Take the Hoffmans, for example. Married for 25 years, Adam Hoffman owns Godfrey-Hoffman Associates, an engineering and surveying firm. Joanne Hoffman is a nutritionist who runs her business in her husband’s building on Broadway. Joanne Hoffman was a room mother when her daughter was in elementary school. She belonged to the PTA, she was a Girl Scout leader, and Adam Hoffman never missed a soccer game.

“I never thought my kid would be involved” with drugs, said Joanne Hoffman.

“The Hoffmans are a good example of parents who are willing to educate themselves and take productive steps to help their child,” said Marcuccio, whose monthly meetings at Derynoski Middle School in Southington now draw 80 people. “Parents are coming out of the closet.”



Barbara Hoffman, 18, graduated from North Haven High School in June. She earned almost straight A’s, took Advanced Placement psychology, was a CAPT scholar, a varsity soccer player for four years and was in the Latin Club. She was planning to major in business.

But a week before she was to leave for Bryant University in Rhode Island, her parents found out she had an OxyContin problem. They had been aware, previously, that she smoked pot, and asked her to stop.

Barbara Hoffman said that starting at 14, she smoked pot about five times a day, every day. It wasn’t that hard to get. Drinking was more of a weekend thing, when friends would steal liquor from their parents’ homes or liquor stores would sell to underage youths.



Barbara Hoffman said her parents didn’t know what she was doing, but some kids had parents who didn’t care that they drank.

When she was 16, she started to experiment with other drugs, OxyContin being the first. She was addicted immediately. Drug-addiction experts and many medical studies, including at Yale University, have linked addiction to genetics. In other words, some people may be genetically hard-wired to become addicts.

“We were just bored. We thought it would be fun. We thought it would be a good idea,” she said of the people she used to hang out with. She tried cocaine a couple of times and didn’t like it, but she liked Ecstasy. When her friends stopped doing it, she continued. When her parents saw the pills, she convinced them they didn’t belong to her.

“I’m a good talker,” she said.



Her parents forbade her to smoke pot, and they started testing her for drugs. So, she stopped smoking and picked up OxyContin, which the tests didn’t pick up.

“During this time, I was breaking up with my boyfriend of three years. I started doing Oxys every day,” going from a few 40-milligram pills to 10 80-milligram pills a day.

She had a job so she had her own money.

“I stole from my parents a lot. … I pawned all my gold, my parents’ gold. At the time I didn’t think it was a big deal because it seemed like everyone was doing it. Now I feel terrible. They worked hard for that stuff and I just took it and sold it like it was mine. I can’t even go by a pawn shop any more,” she said.

INTERVENTION

The moment of truth was Aug. 27, 2009.

“We confronted her with it. … Her new boyfriend, from Hamden, was the dealer,” Adam Hoffman said.

“It was right out of a movie. She acted like a caged animal and said she wasn’t an addict. It was horrifying,” Joanne Hoffman said.

During the confrontation, they had Marcuccio on the phone and she told them what to say.

“Without Mary, the kid would be dead,” Adam Hoffman said.

She was taken to the Stonington Institute, but ran away three times and came back home, saying she could get clean on her own. She then received outpatient services at the University of Connecticut Medical Center and received a shot of Naltrexone, an opiate blocker. She was going to Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

Barbara Hoffman said she hit rock bottom on the night of Oct. 30, when she totaled her car on Interstate 91 after snorting crushed Xanax pills. She was arrested.



Her parents gave her an ultimatum: out-of-state rehab or be kicked out of the house.

On Nov. 3, she was flown to Treatment Solutions of South Florida on the recommendation of Parents 4 a Change.

“She can probably never live in North Haven again because of the sights, sounds and smells. Everyone she knows does anything from drink to use heroin. She can’t handle it,” Joanne Hoffman said.

Adam and Joanne Hoffman attended three “intensive days” of instruction about pharmacology, drug addiction and its causes through the Treatment Solutions Network. They’ll have to attend Nar-Anon, which helps parents of addicts.

They believe that their daughter took drugs to feel better.

“She tried it and had no reason to stop. It made her feel good,” Joanne Hoffman said.

Michael Blackburn from Treatment Solutions Network says there’s a need for what his group does.



Barbara Hoffman had 60 days of inpatient treatment before being transferred to the halfway house, where she lives with five other young women. “She’s doing well,” Blackburn said.

“This rehab is like no other. They call you on your (expletive). It was good, honest. It’s the first time I’ve been to rehab where I actually want to be clean,” she said.

Being in an area in which a recovering addict is unfamiliar helps because the person doesn’t have access to dealers. It challenges the person to get well on his or her own. “The program teaches life and living skills,” Blackburn said.

“She’s seeking a job with the support of Treatment Solutions,” Joanne Hoffman said. “She’ll start college in the fall, knock on wood.”


If you are in love with someone who is struggling with an addiction we have many resources listed on our website www.treatmentsolutionsnetwork.com/families

Jim Bevell
CEO Treatment Solutions Network
561 577-3174
jimb@tsnemail.com

When it comes to illicit drugs, heroin is about as bad as it gets. It is highly addictive, widespread, and ruins or even ends many lives every year. Heroin often is used by the hardest and most experienced of drug users, and many people’s mental picture of a heroin addict involves a homeless person, begging for money or stealing to support their habit, and so trashed that they can’t even talk.

But heroin addiction often happens to other, seemingly unlikely people as well, and it grips them just as hard as anyone. A new trend in high school students from the suburbs is to do heroin. Even with all the education and literature warning people about the risks of heroin use, an estimated 150,000 people began using heroin from the first time from 1995–2002. People start using heroin for a variety of reasons. Some people are looking for a stronger drug with more of an effect after using more moderate drugs for some time. Other people are pressured into trying heroin by friends or co-workers, and get hooked right away. Still other people are trying to escape from something difficult in their life, such as a bad relationship, loss of job, or money problems. Whatever the reason, individuals that experiment with heroin with the intent of stopping after a short time often find themselves months down the line, completely addicted.

Heroin, a derivative of morphine that comes from the poppy plant, is one of the most addicting illicit drugs. It is also one of the most contaminated drugs, with the dirtiest addiction practices. Users crave it so much that they will buy drugs off the street that are cut with all kinds of substances, even with strychnine or other poisons. The strength of heroin is rarely communicated to the user on the street, which puts heroin users at risk for overdose. Heroin addicts lose all concern for their body and physical health. The feeling of euphoria from doing their drug becomes the most important thing. Heroin addicts will use dirty needles to shoot up, or contaminated supplies to smoke or inject it. AIDS and hepatitis B and C are a result of unclean heroin practices.

Effects of Heroin

Chronic heroin users can rarely hide their addiction. While under the influence, heroin users will show slurred speech, droopy eyelids, and an overall slowness to their movements. Chronic users that shoot up will develop collapsed veins, clogged blood vessels, cellulites, and those that smoke or inhale it develop infections of the heart or lungs.

Treatment

There is treatment for heroin. The first step to recovery is detox, which can cause withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, body aches, insomnia, restlessness, and cold flashes. Detox medications can ease the symptoms and the cravings. A good treatment facility will have a long-term plan in place or heroin addicts trying to get clean. Counseling by trained professionals and support groups with others that are recovering will help an addict work toward staying sober.

Sources

http://www.treatmentsolutionsnetwork.com/heroin-rehab.html

http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/heroin/heroin2.html#what

http://www.drugfree.org/portal/drug_guide/heroin

As we all sit back and watch the various layers of the U.S. war effort unfold, it is hard enough for us to conceptually grasp the level of loss and violent despair unfolding each minute for our troops in the middle east. Even for family members of soldiers, who risk their lives daily, they may have a different perspective on the madness, but nothing can or will ever compare to the horror each individual soldier experiences.

The reason I bring this up is to shed a little light on a situation we are all facing that is certain to explode like a hidden IED, tripped by an unsuspecting soldier. Four letters we’ve all heard before but you better be ready for since they are about to change the world we live in…PTSD. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a bomb being constructed in the middle east as you read this and will be triggered to explode gradually over the next 20 years. Believe me, if you think I’m being dramatic, watch the approaching explosion and think back to this post if you survive it.

Visit http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/fslist-ptsd-overview.asp for a peek at what we will all be faced with but when you’re reading this, remember that only recently has the the U.S. Military’s powers-that-be begun to recognize the the fact that PTSD exists…that is pathetic and unacceptable. While it is wonderful that it is finally being given credibility, the resources set aside for treatment is a pittance compared to what will be needed. Ironically, each returning veteran will have a ticking PTSD IED inside each one of them that can ‘go off’ at any second. Whether an acute PTSD reaction occurs on the street, at work, at school, at church or at home, you can bet your ass that if WE ALL aren’t equipped with a basic understanding of how to deal with it, we will be suffering as a society for generations to come.

Sadly, PTSD cannot be treated like other behavioral disorders and daily we hear reports of treatment facilities failing patients and their families on a daily basis by attempting to treat PTSD along with other behaviorally impaired patients…THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE!!!! These individuals and their families need specialized treatments with professionals specifically trained to deal with PTSD. Do the math, with the numbers of returning veterans, we are in for a shit-storm if we don’t get a handle on this thing and the government has its hands full.

That is why I’ve assembled a team at TSN, who has created a program called HEROES WELCOME. I will share more about the specifics in the next few weeks but in essence, we are assembling the best PTSD experts and centers on the planet and offering treatment for both the victim and their family. As a society and a field, we have a unique opportunity to learn from the past (Viet Nam) and truly help diffuse a generational bomb. This is not a bullshit sticker on a bumper, this is a way for us all to actually support our troops and save our own society.

This is the seed and you are all aware that TSN is growing a solution so don’t pretend you haven’t been informed. If you are interested in learning more or have something to offer, contact Jed Wallace for details since he will be coordinating the effort on my behalf. I encourage you to do some serious research and soul searching – be a part of HEROES WELCOME and do your part to support the veterans that have given their lives, limbs and personalities to protect our freedom…now it is our turn!

Christian drug rehab is not a new concept. Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12 Steps were founded on the principle that we need to focus on and gain strength from a higher power to help us recover from our addiction. Spirituality is something that is able to really inspire and motivate many people, because it gives them a new focus and the strength to make it through hard times and struggles.

Benefits to Christian Drug Rehab

There are many benefits to Christian drug rehab. First of all, a study of scripture shows us that we are not perfect, that our lives are a mess, and that we don’t even deserve anything better than that. But the Bible also shows us that we are saved from our sinfulness through our Savior Jesus Christ. The fact that Christ cares about us and wants to have a relationship with us (even the most serious drug addict), gives us motivation to clean up. Christian drug rehab refocuses our lives and puts the emphasis back on God, our “higher being” from the 12 Steps. There is a hope for our future, it’s called heaven, and because of that hope, we can let go of all the struggles and pain and wrongdoings here on this earth. This world is not what matters. What matters is our eternal future.

Programs at Christian Rehab Facilities

There are many organizations and churches that offer drug treatment and support groups for addicts. These are fine and beneficial for some people, but those people that have a real addiction still controlling their life need to be in a professional rehab facility. Professional Christian drug rehab facilities provide help from treatment professionals who have experience helping patients break free from addiction. They may use the 12 Steps and other principles that are known to work to treat addiction. The difference is that Christian drug rehab facilities also incorporate Bible study, group therapy and prayer, and counseling by a Christian therapist. Oftentimes a Christian facility will offer family treatment, where the bond between family members is encouraged to help the patient overcome their addiction. Another way these Christian drug rehab facilities help people with substance abuse is through a focus on nature and God’s creation. Often located in peaceful ocean or mountain settings, these facilities offer plenty of opportunities to relax and appreciate the beauty of nature.

Just like with any drug treatment facility, patients and family members should weigh the benefits of a facility and find one that is a good match to providing what they need. Many people struggling with substance abuse can benefit greatly from the Bible study, the commonality of others of the same faith, and the strength and the hope that is given at Christian drug rehab.

Sources

http://www.christianrecoverysolutions.net/

http://www.lighthousenetwork.org/content/

http://www.abttc.net/c-7-christian-programs.aspx

Prescription painkiller abuse is a problem throughout our country, but the central location for much of the crisis appears to be south Florida. Nowhere else in our country can you find more pain clinics, where prescription after prescription of addicting drugs is given out to nearly everyone that requests them. The pain clinic ordeal in Florida is full of suspicion and trouble, and twists and turns have many people wondering how some of these clinics are able to get away with so much.

Pain Clinics and MRI Scans

First of all, there is no regulation of these pain clinics yet. A new one opens nearly every day in south Florida, and many are storefront offices that prescribe meds to patients without any apparent medical need. Most clinics will require the patient to submit an MRI, but many opponents would argue that the doctors never even look at the test results and simply hang on to them in case they need to show a medical reason for the painkillers. But another twist in the story is that there are now mobile MRI clinics that park themselves outside strip clubs or bars and take patients 24 hours a day. These MRI scans are performed for $250-$300 cash. Since they do not bill clients or insurance companies, these mobile clinics typically are not on the list of those that get inspected.

The problem with these kinds of operations is that the pills given to many of these patients are not really to ease their pain or discomfort. They are drugs being bought and sold to addicts, not only in south Florida, but they are making their way across the country. These drug dealers and addicts have found an easy way to get their hands on a large number of pills, either to support their own addiction, or to sell for a profit to others.

Addiction Treatment at Pain Clinics

Another twist in the story comes from some of these pain clinics that are now offering addiction treatment. For many, this seems like yet another way for these “pill mills” to make money. First, their poor management of prescriptions and monitoring of patients causes many to get hooked on their drugs such as valium, oxycodone, or others. Then, they offer still more medications, namely Suboxone, to treat the addiction. There is no behavioral therapy or treatment that goes along with the rehab, nor is it done by trained professionals. Instead, they promote a one-stop attitude of receiving addicting drugs, then getting more drugs to treat the addiction. But by going to these pain clinics for addiction treatment, a patient is not getting away from the problem, and instead, is being exposed to drug dealers, pill poppers, and the same environment in which they became addicted.

The state of Florida is currently working on ways to regulate these practices. New laws have been passed that will enforce stricter qualifications for pain doctors, better monitoring of prescriptions, and investigation of clinics. Many people just hope these measures are enough to control the out-of-control prescription painkiller business.

Sources

South Florida pain-clinic doctors also treat drug addicts

State takes first step to crack down on pain clinics

Some MRI centers help addicts, dealers get pain pills

Anyone who has been through a tough time at a drug rehab facility here in the United States has nothing to complain about, according to the latest stories coming out of China. The country reportedly has a very strict treatment system that it requires convicted drug abusers to go through. Police can issue requests on the spot for urine samples, and that evidence can send an offender to a compulsory drug rehab center. There is no background investigation required or any history taken to evaluate the person’s past drug use, or even a trial. The perpetrator is sent straight to a detox facility, which has a minimum stay of 2 years, but can be longer.

Once in the facility, reports say that there is no drug treatment program. Inmates go through detox on their own or with a splash of cold water to the face. There is a general lack of medical care, even for serious sicknesses or diseases. Food and care are minimal, and there are reports of abuse at these centers. For those inmates well enough to work, they are forced to work at local farms or factories, leading some to accuse the government of using these inmates as cheap labor. Nearly half a million Chinese citizens are in the system at any given time.

After a person has served their time and been released, they carry that punishment around the rest of their lives. The drug offense goes on their national identification card, branding them as drug addicts and making it difficult to get a job or lead a normal life.

Tough Punishments for Drug Crimes

China is also tough on penalties for drug traffickers. The recent execution of Akmal Shaikh, a British citizen, is one example. Shaikh, who was caught smuggling heroin into China, caused a lot of tension between the two countries. Shaikh’s family and the British government claimed the man suffered from mental illness and deserved an evaluation. China, resentful of illegal drugs being brought into the country, refused and went ahead with the execution.

Even after all the reports of a bad drug treatment system and the strict punishments of drug crimes, China still has a drug problem. You might think that the fear death or of serving 2 years in a Chinese drug rehab center would deter people, but these facilities have a 98% relapse rate.

What can we learn from China?

First of all, we can learn that even with the strictest of punishments, drug addicts can easily relapse. Prison doesn’t heal drug addicts, treatment does. It is important for those with drug problems to get counseling, support, and long term follow-up care.

Secondly, we can learn how easily drug abuse and mental illness go hand in hand. It is not unreasonable for Shaikh’s family to claim he had mental illness. We can’t deny that he committed a crime, but he could have benefitted from treatment for both drug abuse and mental illness.

It is important for those that want stricter punishments for drug abusers to take a good look at the information available and see how much more effective proper treatment is for healing abuser rather than punishment.

Sources

Britain strongly condemns China for execution of drug trafficker

China stands firm by its principles despite a British outcry

Addiction Treatment in China Means Physical Abuse, Forced Labor

China Turns Drug Rehab Into a Punishing Ordeal

A new year is upon us now, and maybe you or a loved one has made the decision to seek help for a substance addiction. Making the commitment to enter treatment is a difficult one, but can be easier to make if you know that there is the right facility out there for you. Make the resolution to get treatment this year, and do it with confidence. The following criteria will help you determine which facility is right for you.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient. Some people with addiction problems are able to recover in an outpatient setting. Others need to live in a facility for some time, or even go through detox in a hospital setting. Follow the recommendation of your physician to determine what kind of facility you need.

Programming. Each facility will have its own programming and some specialize in certain forms of treatment. For example, someone with an addiction to heroin could find a facility that specializes in heroin rehab. It is important for people to enter a program that fits them. Adolescents should get treatment from professionals that understand the best way to treat adolescents, and other individuals should find facilities that offer programming to their demographic. A family approach is usually the most effective, so search for a facility that encourages and provides family programming, counseling, and treatment.

Safety. Safety while in rehab is very important, but unfortunately it is something many people take for granted. A good facility should have measures in place that ensure the safety of staff, patients, and visitors. Check for licenses with the local health authority, and that staff are certified to handle the type of treatment you need.

Staff. Drug rehab can be a taxing job and sometimes these treatment professionals get worn down. Choose a facility where the staff are friendly, open and ready to work. No staff, no matter how dedicated and caring, can effectively help patients when they are overworked or too tired. Staff should also be able to show they are experienced and well-educated.

Location. It is helpful for a person in treatment to go through it with the support of their family. A good facility should be located in an area that is either close to family, or where loved ones can easily travel to be a part of the process.

Follow up care. Relapse is a very real possibility for someone going through rehab. It is rarely possible for someone to go through a certain length of treatment and then be sober for the rest of their life without any extra help. Follow up care and support groups are necessary to help a person remain sober. Choose a facility that has a good follow up program in place to create the best odds of a lifetime of sobriety.

Sources

http://www.phoenixhouse.org/National/About/PhoenixFacts.html

http://www.michaelshouse.com/drug-rehab/

http://www.thecyn.com/