Comments for Drug Addiction Treatment Blog http://treatment-centers.net/blog Drug addiction treatment, drug rehab and alcohol rehabilitation blog by treatment-centers.net. Mon, 12 May 2008 01:55:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 Comment on More on Needle Exchange… by Sub. Abuse Treatment http://treatment-centers.net/blog/needle_exchange_addicts-2/#comment-388 Sub. Abuse Treatment Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:19:57 +0000 http://treatment-centers.net/blog/needle_exchange_addicts-2/#comment-388 <strong>Sub. Abuse Treatment...</strong> A great deal of the sites that you will learn of dealing with this topic are very knowledgeable, while many aren't.... Sub. Abuse Treatment…

A great deal of the sites that you will learn of dealing with this topic are very knowledgeable, while many aren’t….

]]> Comment on What is alcohol rehabilitation? by Denise http://treatment-centers.net/blog/alcohol_rehabilitation/#comment-269 Denise Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:19:13 +0000 http://treatment-centers.net/blog/alcohol_rehabilitation/#comment-269 <strong>Denise...</strong> \"...Since many alcohol rehab centers, including those in the Glendale area, realize that it is difficult for some of their patients to pay for their treatments upfront, you may be able to find a alcohol rehab center, or even a number of them, who ar... Denise…

\”…Since many alcohol rehab centers, including those in the Glendale area, realize that it is difficult for some of their patients to pay for their treatments upfront, you may be able to find a alcohol rehab center, or even a number of them, who ar…

]]> Comment on Drug Rehab Centers Get A Bad Name by Jim http://treatment-centers.net/blog/drug_rehab_celebrities/#comment-268 Jim Mon, 03 Dec 2007 05:21:16 +0000 http://treatment-centers.net/blog/drug_rehab_celebrities/#comment-268 <strong>Jim...</strong> \"...For others, it is better to find a rehab center that is further away from home because the memories and the people there make it too difficult to refrain from abusing drugs or alcohol...\"... Jim…

\”…For others, it is better to find a rehab center that is further away from home because the memories and the people there make it too difficult to refrain from abusing drugs or alcohol…\”…

]]> Comment on Drug Rehab Centers Get A Bad Name by Alcoholism Blog » Blog Archive » Hey, you can t hit a woman like that! http://treatment-centers.net/blog/drug_rehab_celebrities/#comment-17 Alcoholism Blog » Blog Archive » Hey, you can t hit a woman like that! Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:38:02 +0000 http://treatment-centers.net/blog/drug_rehab_celebrities/#comment-17 [...] Drug Rehab Centers Get A Bad Name With the recent influx of celebrities entering drug rehab centers for a quick dryout session, to appease the public, or as the result of a nudge from the judge , drug rehab programs are getting a bad name. As the founder of a public benefit addiction treatment help organization, I ll attempt to set the record straight [...] […] Drug Rehab Centers Get A Bad Name With the recent influx of celebrities entering drug rehab centers for a quick dryout session, to appease the public, or as the result of a nudge from the judge , drug rehab programs are getting a bad name. As the founder of a public benefit addiction treatment help organization, I ll attempt to set the record straight […]

]]> Comment on Clean Needles to Save Lives? by cmontoya http://treatment-centers.net/blog/needle_exchange_addicts/#comment-16 cmontoya Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:08:44 +0000 http://treatment-centers.net/blog/needle_exchange_addicts/#comment-16 <p>I agree that giving out clean needles is just fighting fire with fire... it's increasing one problem to decrease another. There must be better ways to deal with this.</p> I agree that giving out clean needles is just fighting fire with fire… it’s increasing one problem to decrease another. There must be better ways to deal with this.

]]> Comment on Clean Needles to Save Lives? by findhelp http://treatment-centers.net/blog/needle_exchange_addicts/#comment-15 findhelp Sat, 04 Aug 2007 18:42:10 +0000 http://treatment-centers.net/blog/needle_exchange_addicts/#comment-15 Thank you for your comment Tracy. This post was written by my wife and partner in helping people with addictions. I was a heroin addict in my past, an IV drug user myself, and my brother died from heroin addiction. When she wrote this post, she asked me how I felt about her point of view, and I told her I had conflicting feelings about it, but I encouraged her to post it as I felt it would be a source of quality debate - <br> Your comment is quite informative and I agree with it in many ways, and I believe my wife probably would as well in some sense (I look forward to her reply). I agree that we need much more funding for treatment in this country, and I'd far prefer that over needle exchange programs. Needle excange is a harm reduction model for handling a problem, and I believe it is worthwhile. HOWEVER - it would follow that based on the laws of this country, it does do what Karima suggested - it mitigates illegality of possession of drug paraphenalia for heroin, meth, cocaine and other drugs of addiction wich are abused intravenously, and makes access to obtaining this paraphenalia quite simple and low-cost (to everyone but the taxpayer whose interests <b><em>might</em></b> be better served by their tax money going to treatment beds for these addicts, or drug education and prevention). Should we give out free crack pipes as well? Agreed, crack pipes don't transmit AIDS in general, but playing the devil's advocate, why shouldn't crack addicts have the same "advantages" in obtaining their drug paraphernalia as heroin addicts? <br> Needle exchange is a catch-22 in my eyes. It helps with one problem, while creating others. Overall, I'm for it, and the public health is served by the program, however as a heroin addict in recovery, I know first hand to what degree needle exchange programs perpetuate the initial problem of the addiction in the first place. Thank you for your comment Tracy. This post was written by my wife and partner in helping people with addictions. I was a heroin addict in my past, an IV drug user myself, and my brother died from heroin addiction. When she wrote this post, she asked me how I felt about her point of view, and I told her I had conflicting feelings about it, but I encouraged her to post it as I felt it would be a source of quality debate -
Your comment is quite informative and I agree with it in many ways, and I believe my wife probably would as well in some sense (I look forward to her reply). I agree that we need much more funding for treatment in this country, and I’d far prefer that over needle exchange programs. Needle excange is a harm reduction model for handling a problem, and I believe it is worthwhile. HOWEVER - it would follow that based on the laws of this country, it does do what Karima suggested - it mitigates illegality of possession of drug paraphenalia for heroin, meth, cocaine and other drugs of addiction wich are abused intravenously, and makes access to obtaining this paraphenalia quite simple and low-cost (to everyone but the taxpayer whose interests might be better served by their tax money going to treatment beds for these addicts, or drug education and prevention). Should we give out free crack pipes as well? Agreed, crack pipes don’t transmit AIDS in general, but playing the devil’s advocate, why shouldn’t crack addicts have the same “advantages” in obtaining their drug paraphernalia as heroin addicts?

Needle exchange is a catch-22 in my eyes. It helps with one problem, while creating others. Overall, I’m for it, and the public health is served by the program, however as a heroin addict in recovery, I know first hand to what degree needle exchange programs perpetuate the initial problem of the addiction in the first place.

]]> Comment on Clean Needles to Save Lives? by tracey http://treatment-centers.net/blog/needle_exchange_addicts/#comment-14 tracey Sat, 04 Aug 2007 05:47:51 +0000 http://treatment-centers.net/blog/needle_exchange_addicts/#comment-14 I'd like to help you try to understand needle exchange programs (NEPs) a little better. Infected needles contribute between 25-50% of all HIV cases in the US, depending on locality. That's not a small number, it's quite large as a matter of fact. A injection drug user not only spreads to those she shares needles with, but those she shares intamcy with, those she gives birth to, and those who have accidents assisting her in medical emergencies (nurses, EMS workers, police officers etc). The US has become a leader of HIV infections in the Western world, and a huge controllable portion of those infections happen among IDU's and their associates. To curb this simply and inexpensively, NEPs work very well. It is a public health priority for the entire population that we get a handle on this horrible epidemic. Hepatitis C- 70-90% of all IDUs are now infected with hep c- which you can catch by sharing a toothbrush, a razor or other items exposed to blood. This is a much greater risk than HIV for the population at large, and it's irresponsible to not try to get on top of this epidemic as well. By collecting sterile syringes, we are giving a junkie a choice to start taking responsibility for their own behavior, something many don't do as they live outside of societal norms, entrenched in criminal lifestyles, and often completely cut off from family, loved ones and social services. When users access NEP services, they come into contact with health care workers, ex addicts, drug counselor, all who smile and ask how they are doing, how's that abscess, how you feeling. Users get education about safer shooting, safer sex, shelter, and yes, drug treatment opportunities and options, and when a user is ready for treatment, NEP staff are there to help. And I agree, we badly need more treatment centers and honest realistic drug addicition education that works. But until then, and for the sake of those who are not able to get those services, why not, at the very least, keep them uninfected and offer not only a reason to live, but the reality of living? I've worked in NEPs- I've seen clients come and go for years who will never quit. They often are prostitutes (both sexes), indigent. Some are functioning, hiding their addiction from their wives and children. And some come to us to find help, and they get it. We've had clients come back years later, sharing stories about their lives today, their jobs, their families, and they thank us for the fact that they aren't sick or dead. Needle exchange programs aren't the kind of thing that makes immediate sense to us. They seem counter-intuitive, but I've seen them save and change peoples lives. And for those who use the service to stay clean as they continue their addiction, well, you and I both know you can't quit until you are ready. Let's keep them clean so they don't infect the others who might come clean one day. One thing NEPs don't do is affect the drug supply. Herion, cocaine and meth use don't increase when a needle exchange comes to town. They stay the same or decrease, because NEPs hook people up with treatment. What do you do if you have a city with, let's say, 10,000 heroin addicts and funding for only 70 treatment beds? I agree that we should increase treatment for sure. but that money isn't available at all, NEPs can save lives and help people survive for the price of a few needles and a couple of staff. Maybe once our over burdened health care system is no longer strapped with so many people sick and dying from HIV and hep c, maybe then our government will think about serious drug addiction treatment and effective prevention. Till then, we've got a real world out there with real people dying. I’d like to help you try to understand needle exchange programs (NEPs) a little better.

Infected needles contribute between 25-50% of all HIV cases in the US, depending on locality. That’s not a small number, it’s quite large as a matter of fact. A injection drug user not only spreads to those she shares needles with, but those she shares intamcy with, those she gives birth to, and those who have accidents assisting her in medical emergencies (nurses, EMS workers, police officers etc). The US has become a leader of HIV infections in the Western world, and a huge controllable portion of those infections happen among IDU’s and their associates. To curb this simply and inexpensively, NEPs work very well. It is a public health priority for the entire population that we get a handle on this horrible epidemic.

Hepatitis C- 70-90% of all IDUs are now infected with hep c- which you can catch by sharing a toothbrush, a razor or other items exposed to blood. This is a much greater risk than HIV for the population at large, and it’s irresponsible to not try to get on top of this epidemic as well.

By collecting sterile syringes, we are giving a junkie a choice to start taking responsibility for their own behavior, something many don’t do as they live outside of societal norms, entrenched in criminal lifestyles, and often completely cut off from family, loved ones and social services. When users access NEP services, they come into contact with health care workers, ex addicts, drug counselor, all who smile and ask how they are doing, how’s that abscess, how you feeling. Users get education about safer shooting, safer sex, shelter, and yes, drug treatment opportunities and options, and when a user is ready for treatment, NEP staff are there to help.

And I agree, we badly need more treatment centers and honest realistic drug addicition education that works. But until then, and for the sake of those who are not able to get those services, why not, at the very least, keep them uninfected and offer not only a reason to live, but the reality of living?

I’ve worked in NEPs- I’ve seen clients come and go for years who will never quit. They often are prostitutes (both sexes), indigent. Some are functioning, hiding their addiction from their wives and children. And some come to us to find help, and they get it. We’ve had clients come back years later, sharing stories about their lives today, their jobs, their families, and they thank us for the fact that they aren’t sick or dead.

Needle exchange programs aren’t the kind of thing that makes immediate sense to us. They seem counter-intuitive, but I’ve seen them save and change peoples lives. And for those who use the service to stay clean as they continue their addiction, well, you and I both know you can’t quit until you are ready. Let’s keep them clean so they don’t infect the others who might come clean one day.

One thing NEPs don’t do is affect the drug supply. Herion, cocaine and meth use don’t increase when a needle exchange comes to town. They stay the same or decrease, because NEPs hook people up with treatment.

What do you do if you have a city with, let’s say, 10,000 heroin addicts and funding for only 70 treatment beds? I agree that we should increase treatment for sure. but that money isn’t available at all, NEPs can save lives and help people survive for the price of a few needles and a couple of staff. Maybe once our over burdened health care system is no longer strapped with so many people sick and dying from HIV and hep c, maybe then our government will think about serious drug addiction treatment and effective prevention. Till then, we’ve got a real world out there with real people dying.

]]> Comment on Is it Mental Illness or Just Mean? by bernie@seoconsulting http://treatment-centers.net/blog/narcissistic_personality_disorder/#comment-12 bernie@seoconsulting Wed, 01 Aug 2007 02:06:22 +0000 http://treatment-centers.net/blog/narcissistic_personality_disorder/#comment-12 Great Post! I love the blog! Great Post! I love the blog!

]]>