The Benefits of Destination Treatment

When we’re suffering from addiction, it’s natural to want to hold on to any last shred of comfort and familiarity. We find solace in our friends, family, homes and even our material possessions. Whether we realize it or not, however, there are times in which these “comforts” can perpetuate the cycle of substance abuse and make it impossible for us to get a fresh start and the treatment we need. When we keep hanging out with the same people, doing the same things and experiencing the same setbacks, it an be hard to make a clean break. Many of us, addicted or not, never truly experience what it’s like to focus entirely on ourselves for an extended period of time.

There are certain situations in which it becomes necessary to remove ourselves from our environments and focus solely on our recoveries. Whether this means going to a nearby state or traveling across the country, distance can be a critical resource in our sobriety and mean the difference between lasting sobriety and relapse. For so many of us, our continued substance relies on behavioral patterns. When we remove ourselves from our dangerous, and often toxic circumstances, we can allow ourselves to heal in a distraction-free environment without the daily trauma and temptation that can often hold so many of us back.

Not all of us can take the necessary time to embark on destination treatment; however, we shouldn’t discount the notion out of hand. Distance doesn’t have to be a source of anxiety. It can be a the impetus we need to give ourselves a fresh start and bolster our independence. It may seem scary at first, but it can prove to be a liberating and future-defining decision. The most important thing is that we do what is necessary to get the help that we need before our addiction gets any worse and further impacts our lives. Whether this means sticking close to home or traveling to far-off places for a fresh start is contingent upon each one of our personal situations.

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What to Look for In A Quality Treatment Facility

There are more treatment centers than ever popping in response to the nation’s unprecedented drug addiction problem. While this may mean increased access for patients who truly need help, it also means the heightened potential of landing in a facility that’s ill equipped to deal with your care needs or those of your loved one. The reality is that not all addiction treatment facilities are created equal and it’s important to distinguish those that offer quality care from those that lack the resources, understanding and expertise to truly help you and your family.

When we’re looking for help with drug and alcohol addiction, we want it immediately. The last thing we want to have to deal with is exhaustive research on our care options. This is why we should have a sober and lucid loved one help us with our research. This is one of the most important decisions that we will ever make, and we want to make sure that our time, money and efforts aren’t wasted on the wrong program.

With that in mind, here are a few things to look for when making our selection.

Medically Supervised Detox – Detoxification and withdrawal management are fundamental parts of the treatment process. It’s important that the program you choose either offers referral to a quality detox center or, better yet, onsite medically supervised detox by themselves. Detox is a medical procedure that should be overseen by a trained group of experienced and qualified professionals. Any program that doesn’t offer assistance with this stage of treatment is, frankly, one to be avoided.

Aftercare Planning – No matter how much work we do in treatment, the transition back into everyday life can be truly jarring. It’s important that the treatment facility we choose can offer a comprehensive plan to help us cope with temptation and arrange logistical support so we can better avoid relapse. This can simply mean applying the work that we did with our therapists and leveraging our heightened self-awareness to thrive in recovery. The period immediately following treatment can leave us especially vulnerable; it’s important that we have the support we need to build our strength and confidence.

Wide Variety of Therapies – We never really know what techniques we’re going to respond to in a therapeutic context. It’s helpful to have a wide variety of options, whether it’s yoga, music therapy, meditation or anything else. Generally speaking, the more therapies a facility offers, the more resources they have. Even if we don’t think we’ll benefit from alternative or holistic therapies, we may be pleasantly surprised by the end of our program.

It’s also important to determine whether or not we need inpatient or outpatient treatment. This determination will either add or eliminate the residence variable (whether or not we need to be concerned with housing) of our treatment search. At the end of the day, looking for treatment is never a pleasant process, but some due diligence can make it much easier.

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Paying for a Second Chance

The ability to pay is one of the most common roadblocks to quality substance abuse treatment. Despite the fact that there are approximately 23 million Americans that meet the established criteria for addiction and chemical dependency, only about three million actually get the care they need. Even when they overcome their fear and denial, and endeavor to get help, many users find themselves having to contend with long waiting lists, substandard levels of care and other miscellaneous regulatory obstacles. While there are more and more treatment resources emerging on a regular basis, the reality is that the demand for care continues to outpace supply, and this scarcity is one of the main drivers hefty prices.

Help Is Incrementally on the Way

It’s not a secret that quality addiction care can be expensive, and that many users and families don’t have cash readily on hand to finance their recoveries themselves. The good news is that there are more resources than ever for patients who are concerned about paying for drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Recent healthcare legislation has significantly increased access by mandating that insurance providers cover substance abuse and mental health treatment in most situations. Drug and alcohol addiction is a bona fide medical disease; and the insurance landscape is now recognizing it as such. Even if your carrier only covers half or part of your treatment, it’s still a significant decrease from the price tags of yesteryear.

Many addiction care organizations also offer what are called “scholarships” to those who desperately need treatment but can’t afford it. Additionally doctors are being given more latitude in prescribing long-term maintenance drugs, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming stays at specialized clinics.

It May Be Hard, But It’s Not Impossible

At the end of the day, the most important investment we can make is an investment in our health and future. For many of us, our substance abuse will eventually get to a point at which treatment will supersede all other obligations. We have to do the necessary work to get ourselves back on track and thrive in recovery. If you or a loved one needs immediate treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, it’s important to remember that you do have options. You can reach out to your state substance abuse and mental health agency or talk to a referral organization to guide you toward quality treatment in your community.

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Think You’ve Got Addiction “Beat”? Think Again

There is always danger in complacency, whether it’s with our personal health, our careers, our quality of life or anything else. The minute we start taking things for granted and stop trying to improve ourselves, we take our eye off the prize. All things being equal, we may not get too hurt by our complacency, but rather just miss out on some of life’s rewards (that promotion, that new home, that weight loss goal, etc.). For those of us in recovery, however, complacency and be toxic and very quickly lead to relapse. It’s also a very real threat to those of us who have years of sobriety under our belts.

As we move further along on our recovery journeys, many of us have the inclination to become a bit more lax in our regular routines. We may skip meetings, cancel appointments with our therapists and even get bolder regarding our level of involvement in dangerous situations. We “feel” strong enough to take on more obligations, and often wind up biting off more than we can chew. After a while, we may start to experience the same old pressure and stress that caused us to start using in the first place, and we may even think about using more and more as a way to cope.

The addiction recovery landscape is full of stories of people who let complacency derail years of consistent sobriety. While we should be exceedingly proud of our time in recovery, we should also remember to nurture it rather than use it as an excuse to not be diligent. We can pull back the reins a little bit as we get more comfortable in our routines, but we should always be mindful of the lifelong path in front of us. As painful as it is to admit, addiction is never “over”. It can, however, remain a part of our past; a past that grows more distant as we continue to work hard in our recovery.

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Obama Administration Increases Cap on Patients for Buprenorphine Docs

The White House has announced plans to more than double the number of patients to whom one doctor can simultaneously prescribe the anti-overdose drug buprenorphine. Better known by its trade names, Suboxone® and Subutex®, buprenorphine treats withdrawal symptoms from opioids and alcohol and has been a remarkably effective treatment resource for eligible patients. The move is the latest in a series of measures by the administration to compel Congress to fully fund its opioid addiction prevention initiative. There are a series of bi-partisan bills aimed at curtailing opioid abuse in the United States; however, they are, as of right now, unfunded.

Under current law, doctors can prescribe buprenorphine to 100 patients at once. The new measure would increase that number to 275. Doctors would have to apply to raise the patient-cap within their practices. Proponents say that the current figure of 100 limits access in a time when so many Americans need every opioid addiction treatment resource that is available. Opponents are worried about that diversion potential that, however small, has been a reality among Suboxone patients. While it hasn’t been as big of a problem as with its predecessor methadone, buprenorphine has caused some patients to wind up replacing one addiction with another.

While it’s a step in the right direction, and democrats and republicans say they’re committed to this issue in equal measure, funding continues to be a sticking point in the addiction care conversation. Members from both parties in both houses are scheduled to meet to solidify a comprehensive legislative package dealing with American drug abuse; however, democrats want an immediate commitment from Congress of $920 million to fund some of the programs. Raising the buprenorphine patient-cap can be a significant step forward in helping millions of opioid addicts who have been relegated to waiting lists receive this vital care resource.

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Synthetic Drugs Prompt New Look at Long Island DUI Laws

New York lawmakers are taking a closer look at the state’s drugged-driving laws. The heightened scrutiny is in response to a loophole in state law that prohibits the prosecution of those who are found to be driving while high, but not on a substance specified on the state’s prohibition list. One of the most egregious examples of this loop is a nine-year-old tragedy in Long Island in which an eighteen-year-old woman was hit and killed by a driver who, moments before getting behind the wheel, inhaled aerosol dust to get high. The driver was never held accountable in court because the substance that rendered him intoxicated was not on the list of the state’s banned substances.

Designed to give scientific legitimacy to DUI charges, the language of the law states that summonses for drugged-driving can be issued only if the driver is found to be abusing specific substances on the state-sanctioned list. It does not allow for the discretion of the observing officer. New York is one of ten states that still has this loophole.

Keeping Up with the Times

Critics of the law say that it allows offenders to evade prosecution in an era when substance abuse threats are more diverse and sophisticated than ever before. The advent of synthetic drugs has made justice under this statute practically impossible for victims and their families. Newer and lesser-discussed substances like K2 and other forms of synthetic marijuana are just some of the drugs that do not appear on the state’s list, and thus, are deemed prosecutable under current law. A more recent example includes a driver who was stopped in Nassau County for erratic driving, whereupon the officer discovered she was high on a certain type of bath salt not on the prohibition list. She avoided prosecution because the bath salt she was high on is chemically altered just enough to escape being placed on the list.

What is particularly unusual is that even though laws currently exist to possess and distribute these new drugs, traffic law has not yet caught up with criminal law, and there continues to be a disconnect.

Is There an Alternative?

Only a select few states rely exclusively on controlled-substance lists to dictate drugged-driving law. The 37 other states offer broader definitions of the term “drug” and rely heavily on officer observation and discretion. California allows any driver to be charged with an intoxication offense if the they use any substance that compromises their ability to operate a vehicle. Similar legislation is pending in New York. Critics of the broadened language say that it targets those whose physiology renders them impaired by everyday drugs like over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprophen.

It is not clear how the official language of the law will read or if there will even be a change; however, it is clear that something needs to be done to protect driver from any motorist who knowingly engage in drug-related impaired driving, no matter what substance in question.

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The Most Serious Substance Abuse Threats Facing Long Island

By now the myriad of substance abuse issues plaguing the Long Island area have been well documented. As more and more residents succumb to overdose and external substance abuse-related factors, the entirety of the Long Island community has become vulnerable to this complex and multilayered public health issue. In an effort to fully understand the weight and urgency of the problem, it helps to understand which substance abuse issues are most prevalent in the area. As chemical dependency in America continues to transcend age, economic status and ethnic background, a thorough understanding of the contexts and causes surrounding addiction might be the most effective weapon in developing sound treatment and prevention practices. The two most urgent addiction issues facing Long Island include.

Alcohol Addiction – The alcohol addiction statistics in Long Island are grim. Suffolk County has had more DUI-related crashes than any other area of New York every year since 2001. Nassau County is in close second. In 2013, Suffolk recorded 853 alcohol-related crashes, accounting for 10 percent of the state’s total. To the credit of law enforcement and prevention advocates, however, they’re recognizing the urgent need for reform and enacting new measures to try and curb the problem. For example, Suffolk County now deploys a team of police officers five nights a week in what they have termed “saturation patrol” in areas with a high concentration of drunk-driving incidents. Other elements of progress include better access to alcohol abuse treatment centers and more advanced care for alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Opiate and Opioid Addiction – The need for proper opiate addiction treatment in Long Island has never been more urgent. Once again Suffolk County finds itself at the center of the problem, tallying more than 100 opiate deaths in 2015 for the third straight year, and, as is the case with alcohol, accounting for more than 10 percent of all statewide figures. Narcan deployments are at an all-time high in the area. The demand for the lifesaving drug has been so large that in March, Governor Cuomo announced plans to make it available without a prescription. Opioid-related emergency room visits increased 73 percent throughout New York from 2010-2014. In 2013 the state saw 952 deaths from prescription painkillers. In an effort to further prevent dependency, and address physician culpability, the legislature has recently instituted a seven-day limit on initial prescription painkiller dispensation. The changes also require insurers to cover initial inpatient drug treatment without prior approval; extend from 48 to 72 hours the time someone can be held for emergency treatment; and add 2,500 addiction-treatment slots statewide.

One of the glaring obstacles that users encounter when seeking substance abuse treatment is the simple issue of supply and demand. As the area continues to develop more comprehensive substance abuse recovery strategies, Long Island must address the fundamental issue of access to quality addiction care. The aforementioned measure signed by Governor Cuomo on Wednesday will allow for 270 more treatment beds and 2,335 additional program slots, increasing access however incrementally. One question remains in the midst of all of these reforms: Will they be enough to stop the spread of drug and alcohol abuse, and save lives in the Long Island community?

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