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The generosity of the staff and peacefulness of the surroundings has given me a serenity and safety I had never experienced before." - Don
Club Drug Rehabilitation
- Importance of Screening
- Treatment Types
- Finding Root Causes
- Choosing a Program
In movie after movie and television show after television show, the alcoholic in recovery is shown fighting the noble fight against addiction. Viewers see the alcoholic struggle not to enter a bar, and the scenes sometimes show the alcoholic trying, and failing, to overcome temptation. After years of immersion in these images, it's likely that almost every American knows that alcohol addiction is hard to beat without help. It might not be so common, however, for Americans to believe the same about club drugs. In fact, people may believe that club drugs are taken only at parties, and that they therefore do not cause addiction. This is far from the truth. Club drugs are addictive, and they may be even more addictive than alcohol. In a study published in the journal Substance Abuse and Misuse, club drug users had higher scores on addiction severity tests than did people who used alcohol or non-club drugs. In other words, club drugs can, and do, cause serious addictions, and people fighting with these addictions may need outside help in order to heal.
A drug rehabilitation program is designed to provide that help. Here, the addict receives tailored help that's designed to support the addict and help him or her learn to live without drug use.
The Importance of Screening
In most addiction rehabilitation programs, the addict sits down with a counselor and discloses all of the drugs that he or she took on a regular basis. This might be incredibly difficult for users of club drugs to do. Many people are exposed to club drugs in so-called "raves," where they're supplied with drinks and sugary snacks that are loaded with drugs. The user may have no idea what was included in those drinks and snacks, even though the user may know that the cravings are real.
According to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations, the drugs commonly provided at raves include:
- Ecstasy, an amphetamine-based drug that causes hallucinations
- Gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, which is a central nervous system depressant
- Methamphetamine, a central nervous system stimulant
- Ketamine, an anesthetic
- Rohypnol, a sedative
- Lysergic Acid Diethylamide or LSD, a hallucinogen
While it's quite possible that some addicts became aware of the ingredients of club drugs and then purchased certain components on their own to feed their drug addictions, other addicts may go from rave to rave to take drugs, and they have no idea what they're taking at these parties. Since each drug causes different symptoms, and each drug works a bit differently in the body, most people addicted to club drugs go through a drug-screening process at the beginning of detoxification and rehabilitation programs. In these screening tests, doctors attempt to determine exactly what the person has been taking, and how much of that drug is still stored in the body. With that information in hand, they can devise treatment programs to keep the addict comfortable during recovery.
Treatment Types
In most drug rehabilitation programs, addicts are given a series of targeted medications that help them control their cravings and keep their addictions from overwhelming their responses. Often, these medications have been studied for years, and researchers know exactly how the medications will work to ease symptoms of withdrawal and ongoing addiction. Unfortunately, there are no such drugs that have been specifically designed to help with club drug addiction. For example, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that there are no drugs designed for methamphetamine addiction. Similarly, the NIDA reports that there are no drugs designed for Ecstasy addiction. That doesn't mean, however, that doctors have no options when it comes to treating club drug addiction and withdrawal symptoms.
For example, people who have been taking large amounts of Rohypnol in their club drug mixtures may be treated in the same way as people who are addicted to other drugs in that medication class. An article published in the journal Australian Family Physician found that tapering people down slowly during rehabilitation programs helped to ease symptoms. People addicted to this club drug may begin taking another form of benzodiazepine during detoxification, and then slowly taper down to nothing in rehabilitation.
People who are struggling with addiction to other drugs may benefit from supportive medications, including antidepressants, sleeping aids or anti-nausea medications. The addict just needs to share the symptoms he or she is feeling, and the doctors can work to alleviate those symptoms.
Finding Root Causes
The medications provided during a rehabilitation program may help an addict feel more comfortable and relaxed, but they don't completely eradicate the addiction. The behavior that supported the addiction still exists, and this behavior can feed the addiction and make a relapse much more likely. In order to change this behavior, therapists often use a technique called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. According to the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, this technique revolves around the idea that addictive behaviors stem from maladaptive thoughts. If the person can address those thoughts, and recognize that they are harmful or just untrue, the person won't act upon them and the addiction relapse won't take place.
In a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy session, the addict is asked to:
- Describe his or her current mood
- Name the most important thing that is to happen in the next several days
- Outline something important that happened in the last few days
- Describe what he or she would like to accomplish in this session
This is a bit of a revolutionary concept, as the addict is allowed to set the agenda for the meeting and outline what he or she wants to focus on in the next week. With this information, the therapist and the addict move forward into focused, targeted activities. Perhaps the addict needs to role-play to prepare for the important event. Or, perhaps the addict needs to act out what happened in the days prior, and describe the thoughts that led to those outcomes. The therapist may challenge those thoughts, and get the addict to see the falsities included in those ideas. To give an example: An addict may state that he wanted to go to a dance party, but he decided he couldn't go because parties are not fun unless he can take drugs. The counselor might ask the addict to define "party" or "fun." They might discuss whether or not drugs really are fun. Soon, the addict might learn that parties might be more fun without drugs, because there is no guilt involved. The thoughts change, and then the behavior change follows.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been studied extensively in drug addiction, and many studies have found that it is effective. For example, a study published in the journal Addiction found that participation can significantly reduce the rate of drug abuse in adolescents. Studies on adults have returned much the same results. It's clear that this form of therapy has the power to change addictive behavior, and therefore make drug use and addiction relapse less likely.
Choosing a Program
The techniques described above can be used in either an inpatient or an outpatient setting. There is no right or wrong way to provide this help. It all comes down to the wants and needs of the person in recovery. The treatment must be tailored to meet the needs of that person, at that time. Someone who is addicted to club drugs, who lives alone and finds it hard to get to treatment centers might benefit from an inpatient program. Here, the addict will receive around-the-clock care and monitoring and won't have to deal with the hassle of a long commute. By contrast, a person who is addicted to club drugs who lives with loving family members who are committed to the addict’s recovery might benefit from staying at home and participating in care on an outpatient basis. The family ties stay strong, but the addict still gets needed help. It's a deeply personal decision.
Often, the professionals who supervised the addict during the detoxification program can provide advice on this front. They know how motivated the person is to recover, and they know what sorts of drugs the person has been using. Sometimes, the person's doctor or insurance program may also have an opinion. But in the end, this is primarily a choice that should be made by the addict. These rehabilitation programs are completely voluntary, meaning that the addict can drop out whenever he or she wants to do so. If the addict is forced into a situation that's awkward or uncomfortable, it might be too tempting to leave. By allowing the addict a voice in the decision, the addict might form a deeper attachment to recovery and therefore be more likely to finish the program.
At The Canyon, we offer club drug rehabilitation programs in our beautiful facility in Malibu, California. We believe that treatment is more effective when the addict is kept comfortable, and when the surroundings are stimulating. We'd like to talk with you about our programs and how we can help. Please call us today to find out more.
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