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Month: February 2022

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Where To Live After Rehab

Finding A Place To Live After Treatment for Alcohol And Drug Addiction

Early recovery can be difficult to navigate, especially for someone who is newly living independently after inpatient treatment for drug addiction. Thus, entering an outpatient treatment program may be a good option for some people after completing rehab.

Though an outpatient treatment provider will offer fewer services than inpatient treatment providers, it will allow them to continue their intensive treatment services without requiring them to live full time in a treatment facility., which can give a recovering addict more time to find their footing in sobriety before they are fully on their own.

But arranging outpatient services with your treatment provider still leaves unresolved the question of where you should live after exiting housing at residential treatment centers. For people who have supportive family members, returning to their former residences may be a good option.

But others who leave rehab may find that sober living facilities are a good middle ground between the structure and supervision of residential treatment and being fully left to their own devices. The rest of this article will explore why sober homes are such a good option for those in early recovery, allowing you to consider whether or not sober homes are a good option for you or your loved one.

What Is A Sober Living Home?

A sober living home is a type of residence designed to provide recovering addicts with living environments that allow them more freedom then residential treatment facilities but that still works to hold residents accountable for living a sober life by providing them with additional structure.

For instance, residents will be required to follow house rules. Such rules may mandate them attending house meetings, passing urine screens to ensure they have not been engaging in drug abuse or alcohol abuse, and maintaining a sober environment free of psychoactive drugs or alcohol. They also may be tasked with attending support groups regularly, such as twelve step support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous.

Halfway houses have a lot in common with sober houses, but there are some subtle distinctions. Time spent in halfway houses is more likely to be court mandated and time there is more likely to be state sponsored, and there is more likely to be a limit on how long the person can stay in the halfway house.

In sober homes, residents usually pay rent month to month, and a sober living house is typically designed to provide more of a home-like environment than the more dorm-like atmosphere of halfway houses. Many American addiction centers also have a sober living home associated with their substance abuse treatment center, which can provide people who just finished their drug rehab or alcohol rehab program or who are currently undergoing outpatient treatment with a convenient place to continue their recovery process.

Benefits Of A Sober Living House

Sober homes can make maintaining sobriety easier, both by creating accountability and giving residents a built in support group of their peers. The supportive environment of sober living houses creates a perfect place for residents in early recovery to make new friends who will not encourage drinking and who share their lifelong commitment to stay sober from alcohol and drug addiction. These healthy relationships can continue even after residents transition from sober living homes back into a more conventional residence, as can attendance at twelve step support groups.

Following the rules one must to live in a sober house can also help recovering addicts to lay the groundwork for a healthy lifestyle in other ways. For example, some sober living homes require their residents to get a job if they are not in active addiction treatment, since stable employment can facilitate a stable overall lifestyle.

Some sober living homes also have a certified addiction professional on hand who can intervene in the case of a medical emergency or mental health crisis. Many people leaving a rehabilitation program may also struggle with co occurring disorders affecting their mental health, which is one of the many factors that makes sobriety so difficult.

But sober living homes may have a beneficial effect on overall mental health as well as substance abuse per se. Research suggests that residents of sober living homes had better outcomes in terms of employment, arrests, and psychiatric symptoms as well as being more likely to stay sober, suggesting that sober living can help facilitate holistic mental health.

Use The Marchman Act to Help A Family Member With Drug Or Alcohol Addiction

Substance use disorder is a complex condition, and recovery from it is a lifelong process, one that a sober living home may be a part of. However, if someone who is unwilling to consider addiction treatment, you may need to use extraordinary measures to motivate them to begin their sober living journey.

The Marchman Act is a Florida statute that allows for the involuntary commitment of someone who is so entrenched in addiction that they are a serious danger to themselves or others, provided that other criteria are met. If a Marchman Act order is successful, a sober home may be a part of court ordered treatment for your loved one, since treatment centers that only offer outpatient services still fall under the Marchman Act’s purview.

If you are considering using the Marchman Act and would like to know more about how one of our professional intervention counselors can help you through the Marchman Act process, you can call us anytime at 833-995-1007 or contact us online anytime here.

We can also assist you in confronting your loved one about their addiction and attempting a less drastic way to get them to consider committing to addiction treatment, and help you to parse through rehabilitation centers and sober home options that may be right for your loved one. As dark a disease as addiction can be, recovery is always possible, even if it can take a rocky journey to get there.

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How Does Substance Abuse Affect Families

The Effect Of Addiction On Families

Substance use disorder is a serious mental health problem

Families affected

Effects of Drug Addiction On Children Living With An Addicted Parent

Children living with an addicted parent or guardian can in many ways be

Effects Of Drug Addiction On Parents Of Addicted Children

Many parents blame themselves for a child’s addiction problem

What To Expect In Family Therapy

One important part of substance abuse treatment is

Help Family Members With Drug Addiction Using The Marchman Act

treatment facility

833 here

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How Much Does Rehab Cost In Florida?

Different Types Of Addiction Treatment Centers

To understand how much you can anticipate paying for drug and alcohol rehab for yourself or a loved one, it’s important to understand the different kind of addiction treatment programs you may find yourself considering.

For instance, inpatient rehab will generally come with a higher cost than outpatient treatment, which does not require the patient to live at their treatment centers full time and is meant for patients with mild or moderate addictions rather than severe dependencies.

Though many patients may be in need of the intensive care that can only be provided in a full time residential treatment program, opting for outpatient treatment can lower overall drug rehab cost while providing many of the same therapeutic treatment options.

Partial hospitalization programs in particular can provide a similar level of care to some inpatient programs while still available allowing for a lower cost of addiction treatment and providing the patient with more flexibility.

Whether and what level of medical detox a person requires before beginning a more comprehensive drug and alcohol rehab program is also important to consider when calculating total drug rehab cost. For instance, opioid treatment cost may include the cost of opiate addiction detox, which is likely to be around $1,000-$1,500 dollars, in addition to the standard drug rehab cost. Alcohol rehab cost can also often include that of professional medical advice related to the detox process.

Does Insurance Cover Rehab For Drug Abuse?

To start with the good news: much of the cost of addiction treatment is generally covered by health insurance. If your health provider accepts your private insurance coverage, a significant portion of your drug addiction treatment will likely be included in your health insurance coverage.

Legislation from the mental health services administration also prohibits private health insurance from discriminating against patients with substance use disorder or who are in need of any other mental health treatment.

Insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act should also cover addiction treatment services, and low income people with or without private insurance may qualify for free or state sponsored drug and alcohol rehab. Individual treatment programs may also have financing options or scholarship programs that can cover drug rehab costs to at least some extent.

Average Drug Rehab Cost In Florida

First, it’s important to consider that addiction treatment varies in cost more than in just the difference between inpatient and outpatient programs. For instance, a luxury beachside treatment center with extensive amenities will have higher out of pocket costs than a treatment facility in a less flashy location or offering less perks.

But other qualified healthcare provider options without such perks may be just as capable of providing excellent drug rehab services. So, when assessing drug rehab treatment options, it’s important not to get distracted by the bells and whistles and instead focus on the specific drug rehab needs of you or your loved one.

Still, even basic competent addiction rehab programs must bear the cost of licensed medical professionals to implement their advanced recovery systems, so the cost of rehab can be substantial. Thus, most inpatient rehabs will start at about $6,000 for a 30 day stay but can veer as high as $25,000, while outpatient programs can range from $1,000 to $10,000 for drug or alcohol treatment of the same length.

Discussions with a qualified admissions representative can help illuminate the cost of rehab at whatever specific rehab center you may be considering, and your insurance provider may also be able to advice you on what substance abuse coverage falls under your insurance plan and what drug rehab centers may be appropriate to your needs.

There’s also more than the cost of rehab to consider when browsing treatment centers. For instance, since behavioral health conditions like addiction tend to be associated with co occurring disorders, you may want to make sure you find a treatment center capable of dealing with any comorbid mental health disorder as well as drug abuse itself.

Similarly, recovery from some forms of illicit drug addiction can involve medication assisted treatment, and you may want to find a rehab center that can offer it. In the field of addiction medicine, it is becoming more and more widely accepted that medication to reduce patients’ physical cravings for drugs may be the best bet for allowing them to make the most out of drug rehab emotionally and enabling them to go on to live a sober and healthy life.

Using The Marchman Act To Court Mandate Drug And Alcohol Addiction Treatment

To help you afford rehab, insurance and other financing options can be sought out, and you can usually find a way to make a treatment program work for you financially one way or another. But whatever the cost of rehab may be for you, the cost of addiction at its worst is likely to be far higher.

This may be true monetarily in the form of lost wages, money spent on drugs, and money spent to deal with the fallout of drug related legal problems as well as in terms of you or your loved one’s mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Advanced recovery systems can help most people who struggle with addiction to get back on the road to sobriety, but, unfortunately, some alcohol and drug users can be resistant to seeking addiction treatment. In this case, and if the person is clearly a danger to themselves or others due to their substance abuse, you may be able to use the Marchman Act to involuntarily commit them to substance abuse treatment.

If the appropriate criteria are met and you are able to successfully file a Marchman Act petition, a judge may order your loved one to comply with an outpatient or inpatient rehab program or risk legal consequences. If you are interested in learning more about the Marchman Act or how a skilled intervention counselor may be able to help get your loved one into treatment, feel free to call us anytime at (833) 995-1007 or to contact us online anytime here.

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What To Send Someone In Rehab

Though having a friend or family member in drug or alcohol rehab is certainly difficult, the process of recovery from drug or alcohol addiction is even more difficult for the person who is going through it. So, sending gifts and messages of support to a loved one in early recovery can be a great way to keep a friends’ or family member’s spirits up.

Residential drug treatment facilities may even restrict patient’s access to cell phones, so you may have to maintain contact with them through other means, which is where sending letters of support as well as sending gifts through a care package helps your loved one to feel more connected to you and to the outside world.

Rehab care packages can help remind the person you are sending a care package to that you still love and support them, and helping a friend or loved one to pack for rehab can also be highly appreciated during an otherwise difficult time.

What Someone Should Bring To A Rehab Facility

Obviously, someone should not forget to bring basic items they use in their day to day life with them to a rehab center. These include personal hygiene items, like body soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, deodorant, hairbrush, and other toiletries. They should also bring comfortable clothing for day to day wear, that should also not be overly revealing to ensure appropriateness in a treatment center setting.

Formal identification and health insurance card will also most likely be necessary for someone entering rehab. Depending on what other therapeutic activities are offered at the specific rehab facility, workout clothes or a water bottle for use during outdoor activities may also be a good choices to make sure you have in your patient’s possession. Alternate methods of therapy may require specialized supplies or apparel, so you should check out the website of whatever treatment center your loved one is attending before sending them off to their new environment.

Recovery Care Package Ideas For Friends And Family Members

As far as less essential items that might make a good idea to include in a care package, self care is a great direction to go in. Fun activities your friend or loved one could do in their free time like sudoku puzzles, word puzzles, or adult coloring books could be a great way to brighten someone’s day, as could something like a scented lotion or shampoo you know your loved one would enjoy. Decorative items featuring inspirational quotes might also be welcome gifts for someone in the early days of their recovery.

You can also rely on your personal knowledge of your loved one to think of ideas about what they might appreciate, such as books by one of their favorite authors, favorite snacks or candy, or something with sentimental value that they may have left behind, like a favorite t shirt, book, or even stuffed animal.

Some more practical gift ideas for a loved one in treatment include additional apparel, especially if someone is traveling to a climate they may not be used to. You should also keep in mind that not everyone in treatment will have a large amount of space in their treatment center accommodations, so you may want to keep your care package small, or find ways to give a meaningful gift while still being somewhat minimalist space wise.

For instance, a digital picture frame could make a great gift as it can include many photos without taking up as much space as a bulkier photo album. If you happen to have personal experience with addiction, a letter revealing those experiences as well as expressing support could be a welcome personal touch to add to a care package.

Restrictions At Most Rehab Facilities And Other Items You May Want To Avoid

Rules dictating what is and is not permitted can vary across facilities, so if there’s anything you’re unsure about, checking with a staff member before sending something could be a good bet. Across the substance abuse field, any and all drug related items will be prohibited at rehab for obvious reasons, as might any object that could theoretically be used for self harm.

Less obviously, you’ll also want to avoid anything that might trigger thoughts of the life events they are missing out on while in rehab, or could trigger negative thoughts of their past substance abuse. Thus, books or personal photos that romanticize drug and alcohol use should definitely be avoided, while inspirational or spiritual reading material would be a better bet.

You should also note that your package will likely be searched by a staff member before it reaches your loved one to ensure that it is in compliance with the specific rules of the treatment center, so you may not want to send your loved one in recovery anything embarrassingly personal even if it is not technically prohibited.

Using The Marchman Act To Force A Loved One Into An Addiction Treatment Center

If a close friend or loved one is currently struggling with addiction but is unwilling to consider recovery, you may want to consider using the Marchman Act. Advanced substance abuse can interfere with an addict’s thinking to the extent that they may not be able to think rationally about their need for treatment, which is when a substance use disorder counselor may be able to step in and get them to consider recovery.

It’s only if this lesser intervention does not prove helpful that a measure as drastic as the Marchman Act may be warranted. To learn more about the rules of the Marchman Act, our intervention services, and helping people understand the dangers of their addiction, contact us anytime at 833-955-1007 or online anytime here.

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How Does Addiction Start

How does addiction start, and why do only a minority of people who start abusing drugs go on to develop full blown substance use disorder? This is an incredibly complicated question, and it’s one that we do not still don’t know the whole answer to.

However, what we do know is that certain risk factors can increase a person’s chance of illicit drug use and of ultimately developing drug addiction. We also know a fair bit about how addictive substances can change a person’s brain chemistry in a way that ultimately makes drug use more and more appealing, which can eventually result in drug dependence.

This article will explore both of these topics, hopefully giving concerned family members greater insight into the complex disease of drug addiction and a greater understanding of the path to a brighter future.

Risk Factors For Substance Abuse

Though some people may assume that only the drug involved is what caused addictive behavior in someone who abuses drugs, the truth is that addiction more accurately results from a complex interaction between a person, a drug, and that person’s environment.

While not everyone with drug addiction suffers from these risk factors and not everyone with these risk factors develops drug addiction, recent research suggests that, as a group, people who developed addictions are measurably different from those who did not in a number of meaningful ways.

For instance, a person’s risk of alcoholism and drug dependence is significantly higher if they also suffer from other mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, or eating disorders. This is because people with mental disorders may use illicit drugs to help relieve their symptoms instead of visiting a qualified mental health professional for a more appropriate prescription medication.

This will only worsen symptoms and overall mental health in the long run as the person becomes more and more dependent on these harmful illegal drugs just to function. The National Institute on Drug Abuse suggests that about half of those with a substance use disorder also suffer from mental illness, and vice versa.

Another major risk factor for addictive behavior is a family history of drug addiction. This is thought to be partially because drug users who are parents may set a negative example as they suffer from addiction, abuse alcohol, and provide an unstable environment while their children are young. Children will “learn” that drug abuse is an acceptable way to deal with painful feelings, and will be at higher risk of experiencing trauma during their upbringing, another risk factor in and of itself.

However, family history is also thought to be such a powerful predictor of susceptibility to addiction because of genetic factors, especially in the case of specific drugs like alcohol, with the children of alcoholics being four times more likely to become alcoholics themselves. Family history could serve as a sign that a person will have a stronger reaction to an addictive substance, and may therefore be more motivated to keep using it even despite actual or potential negative consequences. To worsen matters, specific mental health issues that can trigger or exacerbate drug use may run in families as well.

Strong peer pressure to engage in psychoactive drug use is another major risk factor, as studies show that peer pressure is one of the most common reasons that teenagers report for using alcohol and other drugs. This is especially harmful when it creates the risk of early exposure, as people who start using alcohol and other drugs before age fifteen are three and a half times more likely than others to be dependent on drugs at age thirty-two.

There are also certain prescription drugs that come a particularly high risk of drug misuse, which can in turn progress to the use of other addictive substances. In particular, prescription drugs like opioid pain relievers exert such a powerful physical effect on brain chemistry that even some people who had no intent of abusing their prescription medication do eventually become addicted to it.

Because opiates work similarly on the brain’s chemistry to certain illegal drugs like heroin, which is basically a far more powerful version of the same drug, they can often serve as gateway drugs to these other substances, which are even more dangerous and addictive.

In particular, the National Institute on Drug Abuse suggests that more than twenty percent of people who use prescription opioids abuse them, and opioids serve as gateway drugs to heroin for four to six percent of those misusers.

The Science Of How Drug Addiction Begins

Drugs causing addiction basically all work on the brain’s system for reward related learning. The brain responds to substance abuse by releasing the neurotransmitter dopamine, particularly in the brain’s pleasure center, which is located in a collection of nerve cells lying underneath the cerebral cortex.

In a healthy brain, dopamine interacts with other brain chemicals to prompt someone to engage in behaviors that were associated with human survival and sustaining life during the early ages of human evolution. For instance, eating or a sexual encounter generally promotes dopamine release, as do secondary learned rewards like socializing, shopping, playing games, or listening to music.

Though these behaviors stimulate dopamine release, when someone consumes drugs, they exert a far stronger dopamine signal. This is what makes addictive drugs so pleasurable to use, but that’s not the only way that drugs affect the brain. Physical addiction can develop when, over time, if a person is habitually abusing drugs, drugs alter a person’s brain chemistry so that the brain comes to “expect” the drugs.

The brain will get “used” to having more dopamine around, so it will need more and more dopamine just to function. This will result in the person needing to use drugs just to feel normal, and needing to use more and more of the drug if they want to get high. This creates a vicious cycle as tolerance is pushed higher and higher, and creates cravings as the brain tries to maintain equilibrium.

A deeper look at addiction and the brain includes areas involved in withdrawal symptoms as well as those involved in the increasing desire for drugs. Another part of the brain called the amygdala will send signals indicating that not using drugs is dangerous, which is why a person will feel anxious and irritable if they do not satisfy their drug craving. The National Institute on Drug Abuse offers a more in depth exploration of these ideas here.

Using The Marchman Act On Someone Who Has Lost Control Of Their Drug Abuse

Though early approaches to drug abuse involved punishing miscreants for their “selfish” behavior, we now know that drug addiction is a disease that requires treatment rather than a moral crime that requires punishment. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders recognizes addiction as a legitimate mental health disorder, and thinking of it that way allows us to maintain empathy for those who struggle with it rather than thinking of them as deliberately hurting themselves and those around them with their behavior.

Overcoming addiction is always possible, and therapy and support groups can help people with drug addiction start to make their way back toward a healthy life. The National Institute on Drug Abuse explains that addiction is a chronic but treatable disorder, and also explains how addiction treatment works to help patients stabilize and begin to change their mindset.

However, some people with drug addiction may be reluctant to begin treatment, as they may not be able to imagine life without drugs and may be fearful of experiencing emotionally and physically painful withdrawal symptoms, though these can often be managed by the appropriate use of medication in an appropriate treatment setting.

In these cases, and if trying to reason with the person is unsuccessful, it may sometimes be necessary to use the Marchman Act, a Florida law that allows for the involuntary commitment of a person who is so severely impaired by substance abuse that they are incapable of making a rational decision about their treatment.

If you would like to learn more about the Marchman Act, or about how one of our professional intervention counselors can guide you through the Marchman Act process, feel free to call us anytime at (833) 995-1007 or to contact us online anytime here.

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Everything You Need To Know About Substance Use Disorder Symptoms

Substance Use Disorders According To The Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders

Substance use disorders are defined by the Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) as a problematic pattern of drug use that an individual continues to engage in despite experiencing negative consequences. Last updated by the American Psychiatric Association in 2013 and published by American Psychiatric publishing, the DSM–5 is the gold standard for professionals when it comes to diagnosing any mental health disorder, including substance use disorder, which is more colloquially referred to as drug addiction.

Someone who has or is developing substance use disorder may exhibit these signs and symptoms:

  • Frequently getting high for longer periods than they intended to or taking more of a drug than they intended to
  • Being unable to handle their usual responsibilities due to their drug use
  • Spending a lot of time using the drug, obtaining the drug, or recovering from the drug’s effects
  • Giving up social or recreational activities that one formerly enjoyed in order to spend more time using drugs
  • Using drugs despite the fact that it is causing relationship problems, financial problems, or legal problems
  • Using drugs even in circumstances where drug use is dangerous
  • Needing to use more and more of the drug to achieve the high that they want (tolerance)
  • Experiencing withdrawal when they are not using the drug
  • Experiencing intense cravings to use the drug
  • Having trouble staying drug free without outside help

For someone to meet the full criteria for substance use disorder, these symptoms of substance use also have to be causing clinically significant impairment to the person. The Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders also includes a separate category for substance induced disorders, which are a separate category of substance related disorders than substance use disorders.

Addictive disorders are also referred to more specifically by the specific type of drug misuse the person is struggling with, such as in opioid use disorder or alcohol use disorder. To learn more, you can check out this breakdown from the American Psychiatric Association.

Recognizing The Symptoms Of Substance Use Disorder

Along with the clinical behavioral symptoms of substance use disorder explored above, it is also possible to recognize a substance use disorder from more visible signs and symptoms present in someone who you suspect is suffering from drug addiction.

For instance, you can often recognize someone who is misusing drugs by the signs of intoxication, which can vary based on the type of drug use they are struggling with. For instance, someone who has been taking opioids may appear drowsy while someone who has been using cocaine or other stimulants may be more likely to present as unusually “wired” and energetic.

Then, other drugs like hallucinogens may result in someone who looks as if they are out of touch with reality entirely. To learn more about the signs and symptoms of intoxication from specific drugs, you can check out each’s dedicated topic page on the National Institute of Drug Abuse website.

However, some general signs and symptoms of intoxication include slurred speech, erratic behavior, impaired control of motor functions, trouble maintaining consciousness, and uncharacteristically risky behaviors. Additionally, other symptoms of substance use disorder can be recognized from the physical appearance of someone who has been engaging in illicit drug use.

These physical signs include sudden weight loss, dilated pupils, and “track marks” on one’s skin from injecting unknown substances. Since injecting illegal drugs carries the risk of transmitting pathogens that can cause serious health problems like hepatitis B and HIV, these specific disorder signs definitely should not be ignored.

Causes Of Substance Use Disorders

The causes of substance use disorder can be quite complex, and it is almost impossible to predict which of the many people who experiment with drug use will go on to develop full blown substance use disorder.

After all, in substance use disorder, substance is not actually the cause of the disorder; rather, it results from the interplay of that substance with the person’s underlying vulnerabilities and specific circumstances.

However, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, some factors do seem to predispose a person to developing problems with substance use. For instance, drug availability and peer pressure at school can be a significant factor in whether children are exposed to drugs. Then, children who yield to peer pressure and begin their drug use at an early age are at higher risk, while children who have more parental supervision are more protected.

Another major risk factor is family history: in other words, someone whose family members struggled with drug addiction is more likely to have trouble controlling their drug use as well. This may be partially due to social factors, as children may learn from family members that drug use is an “acceptable” way to deal with one’s problems.

However, a significant portion of the association may also be due to genetic predisposition. For instance, the person’s genes may lead them to find drug abuse more pleasurable, or may contribute to the development of a mental illness that predisposes them to resort to drug abuse to manage negative feelings caused by the disorder.

As explained by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, having an underlying mental health condition is another major risk factor for developing addiction. This is referred to as “comorbidity” or a dual diagnosis. Post traumatic stress disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders have all been shown to increase the risk of developing problems with substances.

Understanding Withdrawal Symptoms

One reason that substance use disorder can be so hard to overcome is because of the severe withdrawal symptoms that can be caused by drug abuse. Frequent drug use can change the brain’s chemistry and the brain’s structure in such a way that a person’s brain and body begins to “expect” them to take the drug and to “need” it to function normally.

This will result in intense cravings if the person does not take the amount of the drug that they are used to. It can also result in withdrawal symptoms, which can cause such severe emotional distress and physical symptoms that a person may be motivated to take drugs just to avoid them. Depending on the substance that someone is using, withdrawal may also be physically dangerous, so consulting a doctor before going cold turkey may be advisable.

Treatment Approaches for Substance Use Disorders

Drug addiction treatment can take many forms, but almost always incorporates behavioral therapies. In behavioral therapy, a licensed alcohol or drug counselor helps patients to learn healthier ways to cope with life’s troubles and with any underlying mental illness.

Most rehab centers also offer some form of group therapy, in which patients share experiences and feelings with one another or are educated together about addiction related topics. These support groups serve an important role in helping patients to realize that they are not alone in their struggles with substances, giving them a much needed sense of belonging and alleviating feelings of loneliness.

After a person completes addiction treatment, outside support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous can have much the same effect, helping patients to maintain their sobriety long term as they work towards the shared goal of recovery with the help of a supportive community.

Using The Marchman Act To Help Someone With A Substance Use Disorder

If someone with a substance use disorder is unwilling to consider drug addiction treatment, but obviously meets the criteria for a severe substance use disorder to the extent that they are a danger to themselves or others, you may be able to use the Marchman Act require them to be involuntarily committed to addiction treatment.

While causing legal trouble for a family member to ensure that they get the help they need should obviously be a last resort, in some cases, it may be the only step you can take to save their life. To learn more about the Marchman Act and how one of our skilled intervention counselors can help you to confront your loved one or to guide your family through the Marchman Act process, feel free to call us anytime at 833-995-1007 or to contact us online here.

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Attending Rehab As A Parent

Getting Treatment For Substance Abuse As A Parent

While it can be difficult for almost anyone with substance abuse issues to take the difficult step of committing to drug rehab, the road to recovery may be even more difficult for an addicted parent. Along with all the other difficulties that come with seeking addiction treatment, addicted parents must arrange other childcare for their children while they go to rehab if they are planning on utilizing a residential treatment center.

In the best case scenario, the parent will be able to leave the children with a spouse or other family member while they attend rehab, and will be able to maintain custody of their child throughout their rehab center process. However, If a parent is sufficiently incapacitated due to a substance use disorder, the child’s safety may be at risk, in which case the parents may lose custody in order to ensure the child’s protection.

So, parents who do not have family members who can commit to raising children while they go to rehab may face the threat of losing custody of them due to their drug addiction if they cannot make alternate arrangements. According to the National Association for Children of Addiction, one in four children in the US is exposed to dependence on drugs or alcohol in their family, an experience that can lead to “serious physical and emotional difficulties” and a plethora of long-term risks.

Though, according to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, most parents with substance abuse problems are not actually dangerous to their children, it is thus also true that a significant percentage of children who are in foster care are there due to a parental substance abuse problem.

Worries about custody, though, shouldn’t be a reason for a parent not going to rehab for drugs or alcohol if it is warranted by the severity of their substance use. For one thing, even in the unfortunate case that a parent does lose custody of a child while going to rehab, it will not necessarily be permanent, especially if a parent surrenders the child themselves. Though the child will likely be placed in temporary foster care, family services are obligated to work to reunite children with their parents once it is clear that returning home is a safe option.

This is in contrast to the likely outcome if the parent continues their substance abuse as opposed to choosing to seeking help from a qualified treatment provider. Parents suffering from sufficiently severe substance use disorders who do not seek treatment for their condition are at a high risk of losing custody due to factors like arrests or other evidence that the safety of their children is at risk.

It’s also worth noting that treatment options may include those that are flexible enough that a parent could attend intensive substance abuse treatment while still fulfilling their childcare and other family obligations.

Many rehab centers offer outpatient care, which means that instead of staying full time in a residential treatment facility as in typical inpatient rehab, patients will instead only have to come to the rehab center to receive treatment for a minimum of nine hours a week. American addiction centers that offer outpatient care also tend to be less expensive than inpatient rehab centers, so depending on your financial situation, insurance provider, and what you are looking for in a treatment provider, it could be a fitting option for your needs.

Thus, a parent may be able to participate in an addiction treatment program while their child is at school, or arrange childcare for only those few hours of rehab program instead of around the clock. Some American addiction centers also offer parents the opportunity to take their young children with them when they go to rehab, though this is relatively rare among rehab programs. However, allowing occasional visits from family members at set times is much more standard for most American addiction centers.

What To Expect in Addiction Treatment: Individual and Family Therapy

Once the parent has entered a rehabilitation program, a therapist or other qualified healthcare provider can begin to treat them for any underlying mental health disorder or other behavioral health conditions that may be fueling their drug or alcohol addiction.

These mental health issues will then be addressed with treatment options like the prescription of any appropriate medications and advanced recovery systems consisting of therapies scientifically backed by addiction research like cognitive behavioral therapy. Experts in addiction medicine at reputable American addiction centers will be able to asses you or your loved one’s individual needs, thus paving the way for individualized treatment options that will help them get to the root of their unique substance abuse issues.

High quality treatment facilities are also aware that a parent’s addiction affects not only themselves but their entire family unit. If you are a parent, both you and your children have likely been affected by your drug and alcohol use, which is why your addiction treatment may also involve the participation of other family members, such as in family therapy.

Family therapy sessions may explore unhealthy family dynamics and examine the structure of the family system, so that these problems can be resolved and healthier ways of relating can be established.

Family or individual therapy may also help children process the trauma of a parent’s substance use disorder, and both patients and their families often benefit from participation in support groups offered by drug addiction treatment centers. In support group meetings, former substance abusers may discuss strategies that helped them to stay sober from drug and alcohol, while loved ones will be able to discuss the emotional fallout that their family members drug use has had on them. For both groups, the community and acceptance that sharing stories can bring can be a valuable source of healing.

Depending on a child’s age, you may want to keep explanations of their parent’s substance use disorder vague and simple rather than risk going over their heads, but older children may be able to handle more information about a parent’s stay in drug rehab.

Use The Marchman Act To Force A Loved One To Go To Rehab For Drug Abuse

If you are worried about the drug abuse or alcohol abuse of a loved one who remains unwilling to commit to addiction treatment, you may want to consider forcing them to go to rehab by using the Marchman Act.

While involuntary commitment should be a last resort, professional medical advice dictates that, in situations where someone is a danger to themselves or others, such as if a parent’s drug addiction is rendering them incapable of adequately caring for a child, mandating someone to go to drug rehab may be the best option for ensuring that they do not fall victim to their own substance use disorder as well as to ensure their child’s safety.

Despite the risk that this course of actions could cause a parent to lose custody, in the end, a parent who finds their mandated addiction treatment beneficial is far more likely to eventually be able to be a positive influence in their children’s lives. Advanced recovery systems and treatment options offered in American addiction centers have a high likelihood of putting anyone who suffers from a substance use disorder back on the track to a healthy, productive life, while someone who refuses to consider a treatment provider is likely to continue their downward spiral.

For more information on using the Marchman Act to force a loved one into a drug rehab treatment program, feel free to call us anytime at 833-497-3808 or to contact us online anytime here. We can also arrange a consultation with a professional intervention counselor who may have the ability to convince your loved one to consider drug rehab programs without such extreme measures, or help you to get in touch with a qualified admissions representative for drug rehab treatment centers that may be appropriate to your loved one’s needs.

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Can You Force Someone to Get Addiction Treatment?

The devastating effects of substance use disorder are well known to anyone with an addicted loved one. But due to the cognitive and personality distortions that can be caused or exacerbated by drug and alcohol abuse, some people who struggle with drug addiction may be too incapacitated by their condition to seek treatment at an appropriate drug rehab even if that treatment is clearly necessary to ensure their well-being.

Because this phenomenon has been widely attested to by many mental illness professionals, it is possible for family members to attempt to legally compel such a person to participate in a court ordered treatment program.

Having to force someone to go to rehab is far less than ideal and should only be used as a last resort after voluntary treatment has been refused and lesser measures like family counseling have failed. But in extreme circumstances, forcing an addicted person into court ordered rehab involuntarily could be your best shot at saving their life.

In the case of adolescent substance abuse, you may be able to exert your parental rights to compel an addicted teenager to attend drug rehab even without a court order. But in the case of someone over 18, you will likely need to compel them to enroll in a drug rehab using involuntary commitment laws. Though the specific process for involuntary commitment varies from state to state, 46 states do have some type of involuntary commitment laws on the books.

These statutes allow for family members or others who are familiar with the addicted individual to request that they be involuntarily committed to an inpatient treatment center or outpatient rehab. For example, in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana, involuntary commitment statutes fall under Casey’s law, which is named after a 23 year old man whose family was unable to force him to go to rehab and who thus ultimately died of an overdose.

Tragic stories like these illustrate the need that many families have to force someone to go to rehab, as involuntary commitment could be the difference between death and a chance to find recovery for someone who is in danger do to their severe substance use disorder.

According to the the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction treatment doesn’t necessarily have to be voluntary to be effective, and the fact that such treatment can play a critical role in catalyzing a person’s recovery is attested to by the many success stories that Casey’s law and legacy went on to play a part in.

States vary when it comes to the criteria that must be met to force someone into rehab, so you will have to research the specific state laws that apply in your area. But under Florida law, sending an addicted person to involuntary rehab will likely fall under the purview of the Hal S. Marchman Alcohol and Other Drug Services Act of 1993, also known simply as the Marchman Act. The rest of this article will focus on how to use this law to force someone into involuntary treatment.

Using The Marchman Act To Force Someone Into Substance Abuse Treatment

To obtain a court order to force a family member to go to rehab, you will first have to file a Marchman Act petition. If they are seeking professional help, a family unit can choose to seek legal counsel to guide them through this sometimes fraught process, though a skilled intervention counselor may be a more affordable and equally effective option.

Any close family members of the person in question and a mental health practitioners have the option of filing a Marchman Act petition on their own, but three unrelated individuals who are concerned about someone can also file such a petition on their behalf.

After this, your case may progress to a hearing, where you will have to prove that the person is currently a danger to themselves or others because of their drug and alcohol addiction. To do this, you may put forth evidence that the person is incapable of meeting their basic needs due to their substance abuse, or that they have previously inflicted harm on others due to their addiction.

If your petition is successful, you will be responsible for paying for the person’s addiction treatment and finding them an available bed in a treatment facility, though professional help could also aid you in finding your loved one appropriate treatment options.

Alcohol addiction can result in severe withdrawal symptoms that may necessitate medical detox, so a short stay at a specialized alcohol rehab may be necessary at the beginning of an alcoholic’s recovery process, but, aside from that, a court ordered treatment program can involve outpatient substance abuse services rather than a 24/7 stay in a treatment facility.

Individuals who are at high risk of relapse may also require substance abuse treatment in a residential rehab center. However, especially if you plan on being able to serve as a strong support system for your addicted loved one, outpatient treatment may just as effective. It also comes with the benefit of being more affordable and of encouraging the person learn how to live without drugs or alcohol in the real world rather than the artificially controlled environment offered my most treatment facilities.

A reputable addiction treatment center will be able to teach your loved one how to cope with life’s stressors without resorting to using drugs to cope. It will also be able to address any underlying mental health problems that may have played a part in your loved one’s addiction, and ensure that these mental health issues are given adequate treatment as well. Though it can be hard to see from within the terrifying darkness of acute addiction, with the right treatment, your addiction loved one will have every chance at achieving a full and lasting recovery.

Contact Us For Professional Help With A Loved One’s Drug Abuse

If you are currently in the process of convincing a loved one to seek treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, we encourage you to contact our helpline. We will be able to connect you to a professional interventionist, who can aid you in attempting to get the person to agree to commit to drug rehab.

If these efforts are unsuccessful, they will also be able to help you through the process of filing a Marchman Act petition. To learn more, feel free to call us at 833-497-3808, or to contact us online anytime here.

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How to Help a Loved One Get Into Drug Rehab

Why A Professional Treatment Program Is Essential To Helping Someone With Drug And Alcohol Addiction

Dealing with a loved one’s addiction can be a harrowing experience for concerned family and friends. It can be hard for family members to understand addiction, especially given the unwillingness that many people with substance addiction can display to accept treatment for their condition.

But, as opposed to being a moral issue or a “choice,” substance use disorder should be considered as a disease, a serious mental illness that sometimes requires the help of a certified addiction professional before your loved one is ready to embark on their addiction recovery journey.

Rather than not caring about the effect that his or her substance abuse is having on his or her family, someone with drug addiction often simply does not have the emotional resources to consider the effect that their addiction is having on others. This is because of the all-consuming effect that their substance use is having on their own mental health.

They may be fearful of experiencing painful withdrawal symptoms if they stop their alcohol or drug use, or they may fear learning to live without the drug abuse that has become their central emotional coping mechanism for all of the obstacles life throws at them.

Along with the painful feelings that may have motivated them to start abusing drugs in the first place, they may now also be struggling with guilt and shame for the suffering that their addiction has caused their loved ones, which may only feed a vicious cycle of drug abuse.

However, at addiction treatment centers, caring treatment providers can provide medical advice and formulate an appropriate treatment plan for your loved one. A stay in a treatment facility will offer a person with addiction a controlled and completely drug free environment, where they will be able to slowly process all the painful emotions that they may have been using drugs and alcohol to escape.

An addiction treatment approach will generally involve specialized therapy designed to help your loved one to address these underlying mental health issues, as well as to work through the traumatic experiences that may have fueled their drug or alcohol addiction.

Depending on the patient’s needs, addiction treatment also may incorporate the prescription of whatever psychiatric medication would be appropriate for the patient’s specific mental health condition. It may also involve prescription of an appropriate regimen of medication assisted treatment, which is sometimes prescribed to ease a patient’s physical withdrawal symptoms so that they can focus on the cognitive and emotional aspects of their recovery, especially in the case of drugs like opioid that are known to result in intense physical cravings.

Treatment programs will also teach a person who is struggling with addiction healthier alternative coping mechanisms that they can use rather than resort to substance abuse. They will learn to identify and avoid people, places, and things that might “trigger” them to use drugs, and to pursue the kind of full and meaningful life that will make sobriety an appealing prospect.

Some addiction treatment centers also incorporate activities designed to foster a patient’s holistic wellness, like yoga or horseback riding. Treatment centers might also offer experiential outings and events which can help build community and connections between patients in early addiction recovery and help them to rediscover joy in their new life free of addiction.

Group therapy can also be an invaluable resource as it provides patients a chance to share their experiences of addiction with others who have gone through similar trauma, helping them to feel less alone and often helping them to become a lasting support system for each other through long term alumni and aftercare services.

If you suspect that a friend or family member may be struggling with addiction, you can also read about the warning signs that your loved one has a substance abuse problem here. But if you already have clear evidence that your loved one is in need of substance abuse treatment, there is no time to waste in convincing them to enter a rehab facility.

The longer a person remains in active addiction, the more entrenched their behavior will become, making it harder and harder for them to pursue recovery, and the more likely that they will tragically lose their chance to pursue recovery at all.

As attested to by this report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, overdoses have been rising steeply since 2013, when dangerously powerful opioid fentanyl entered the drug supply, with 64 percent of last year’s massive overdose death toll thought to involve the substance.

The incredibly deadly nature of this drug means that your loved one’s life may be at stake if they do not receive substance abuse treatment at an appropriate addiction treatment center if they are abusing any illegal substances.

Aside from the risk of acute overdose or a fatal incident caused by behaviors like intoxicated driving, continual abuse of most substances poses a serious threat to long-term physical as well as mental health, even in the case of legal drugs like alcohol. Though it may not be easy, convincing your loved one to commit to a treatment plan may be the best chance you have at saving their life.

How To Help A Loved One Struggling With Substance Abuse

One important role family members can play for someone who is struggling with substance abuse is by serving as a part of their emotional support system. Instead of offering harmful “tough love” or playing an unproductive blame game, you should emphasize how much you care about them, which is why you are so concerned about their well being that you are willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure that they pursue treatment options.

However, if your loved one remains in denial that they have a problem, or otherwise unwilling to consider an appropriate rehab program, you may want to seek out the services of a professional interventionist, who can help you develop an intervention plan to break through to your loved one.

They may also be able to help you to find a specific treatment provider best suited to your loved one’s needs, such as a medical provider that is qualified to help patients through acute detox, which can sometimes be physically dangerous depending on the drug that they abused. In particular, alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawals can lead to potentially fatal symptoms, so it’s important that a patient not try to go cold turkey without first consulting a qualified medical professional.

Involuntarily Committing Someone With Drug Or Alcohol Addiction To A Treatment Facility

 

Involuntary commitment should always be a last resort if a person is struggling with addiction issues. But, sometimes, compelling them to get help can be the only way to get your loved one to accept the life changing care they need. This is why, if confrontation and/or intervention has failed, it may be necessary to use the Marchman Act to force your loved one into a rehab program.

The Marchman Act is a Florida statute allows a concerned loved one to legally require that loved one to enter a treatment program if they can prove that the person is too incapacitated by an addiction to recognize their need for treatment.

To start this process, the loved one will have to file a Marchman Act petition, after which the court will determine whether the situation of the person with addiction warrants a court mandated stay in a rehab center. However, you will still be responsible for finding a specific treatment center with an available opening for your loved one, as well as for paying for their addiction treatment.

For a more detailed breakdown and step by step guide to what to expect if you initiate the Marchman Act process, you can click here. You can also contact our team of experts to learn everything you need to know about getting your loved one to seek treatment options for their addiction, including pursuing involuntary commitment to treatment centers if it becomes necessary.

For our professional treatment advice, and to learn about our professional interventionist services, you can call our website’s main phone number at 833-497-3808. We will be available to answer calls to the toll free numbers listed on our site 24/7, or you can also use our online chat function to talk to a live agent in real time.

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Differences Between the Baker Act and Marchman Act

While the Baker Act and Marchman Act can both be used to involuntarily commit individuals to treatment while they are in the midst of a mental health crisis, there are significant differences between the two acts and how each should be used.

To explain the contrast between the Baker Act and Marchman Act, we will explore, in depth, how each of these acts can be used to protect someone who is struggling with a serious mental health issue from substantial harm. The following criteria should help give you an idea of which act may be more effective when it comes to getting your loved one into the appropriate form of treatment.

Using The Baker Act To Help A Loved One With Mental Illness

The Baker Act is a Florida law that allows an individual to be held for up to 72 hours for an involuntary assessment if his or her mental illness poses a real and present threat of serious bodily harm to the individual themselves or to others. Such harm often involves the threat of suicide, or of such neglect to his or her well being that person’s ability to make a rational decision about their need for care must be called into question.

Generally, the Baker Act can only be initiated by a qualified professional. This could include a law enforcement officer, psychiatric nurses, or other behavioral health professionals who are familiar with the patient and the risk of physical harm that their mental health issue poses.

One may also technically use the Baker Act to directly petition for involuntary assessment to the court themselves, but this is done far more rarely. So, if you are concerned about someone who refuses to seek treatment or to agree to a voluntary examination, your best bet may be to call emergency services so that the law enforcement professional called to the scene can determine if a Baker Act is necessary.

If it is, and if the court can determine that the patient meets Baker Act criteria, the person will then undergo involuntary assessment, during which a mental health examination will be conducted by two different qualified professionals. If those professionals agree that the person is likely to cause harm to themselves or others, they will then recommend treatment.

The patient will then have another opportunity to agree to voluntary treatment. But, if they remain defiant, the court may enact an ex parte order forcing them into treatment if their refusal poses a clear threat to themselves or others. Court ordered treatment can be inpatient or outpatient, and can last until the person is determined to no longer be in danger.

Using The Marchman Act To Help A Loved One Struggling With Substance Abuse

The Marchman Act is a Florida law that allows for involuntary assessment and, potentially, involuntary treatment of a severely substance impaired person who has refused voluntary examination and/or voluntary treatment. Spouses and family members or law enforcement or mental health professionals may petition the court using the Marchman Act, in which case only a singular filer would be necessary. However, three people who have no specific relationship to the person but have direct personal knowledge of the person’s substance abuse may also jointly file a Marchman Act petition.

Once the loved one or professional can petition the court, the judge will then set a hearing to take place in the next ten days, unless an ex parte or emergency order is deemed necessary to request examination sooner. At the hearing, those who filed the petition for involuntary assessment will testify to the degree to which their substance abuse impaired loved one is incapacitated. For instance, they may describe how recent behavior like extreme self neglect points to a dangerous lack of self control.

If the judge rules that the person meets the criteria for involuntary assessment, the person can be taken into custody and taken to a licensed service provider equipped to handle Marchman Act patients. After an involuntary examination by this licensed service provider, which should be conducted by at least two mental health professionals, the person may be released if professionals determine that their drug use does not qualify them for involuntary services.

If the person does meet the criteria for involuntary treatment based on their initial assessment, they will first be given the opportunity to agree to substance abuse services voluntarily. If they do not, the administrator of the facility must file a new petition for involuntary services, which will result in another hearing. One of the mental health professionals who conducted the involuntary examination must testify at this hearing, though both sides can still call any other family member or loved one that they want as a witness.

If the judge finds that the person does meet the Marchman Act criteria for involuntary substance abuse treatment, and determines that a less restrictive form of treatment has a substantial likelihood being unable to help the person, the court may then order the person into treatment for a maximum of ninety days, with one potential ninety day renewal.

The Connection Between Mental Health Issues And Substance Abuse

The reason that the Baker Act and Marchman Act can sometimes both be applicable to certain situations is because drug addiction, also known as substance use disorder, is technically classified as a mental health disorder.

Thus, Florida citizens may be able to petition for involuntary assessment using either act for a person who is suffering from substance abuse impairment, and even someone initially court ordered to receive treatment under the Baker Act could theoretically be ordered to complete specialized substance abuse treatment if substance use appears to be their primary problem.

And, since mental health issues are known to be highly correlated with addiction, it is highly possible that a person who is in crisis due to their addiction may also be mentally ill. Fortunately, mental health services are also usually offered during addiction treatment, so a person who is ruled unable to exercise self control due to their addiction by the court under the Marchman Act and ultimately enters treatment will likely see their overall mental health improve as well.

However, while the Baker Act can be used on a person suffering from addiction, it does not work the other way around: you cannot use the Marchman Act in court to request examination or treatment for someone who is mentally ill but who is not abusing substances.

To learn more about the Marchman Act, the Baker Act, and which one might be applicable to your loved one, you can review these resources or call our hotline any time at 833-497-3808. We also offer such services as professional intervention counseling, and can help your family to file a Marchman Act petition if your loved one remains unwilling to consider treatment despite our best efforts.

If your loved one is currently struggling with addiction and you believe that they may qualify for involuntary examination under the Marchman Act in the near future, we can guide you through every step of the process, from your initial petition to your court hearing.

We can also assist you in finding a rehab center or private practitioner where your loved one can attend treatment if the intervention or petition is successful. To learn more about this or our other services, feel free to contact us anytime here.

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