Drug Rehab Costs Are Chump Change Compared To the $Billions Big Pharma Spends On Marketing : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab treatment center review

Drug Rehab Costs Are Chump Change Compared To the $Billions Big Pharma Spends On Marketing
by Rod MacTaggart

Big Pharma is spending almost twice as much money on promotion as it does on research and development of new drugs - contrary to what they say. And the effects of all this promotion can be seen across the country where tens of thousands of prescription drug problems are treated at drug detox and drug rehab centers.
In 2004, according to researchers at Canada's York University, Big Pharma spent nearly 25% of their $235.4 billion in sales, or about $60 billion, promoting its drugs - and that's probably an underestimate, the researchers said. But in spite of the industry's claims that research and development far exceeds all other costs, R&D expenditures were only 13.4%. The relentless marketing of drugs to the public as well as to doctors can't help but be a factor in the soaring rates of prescription drug addictions and numbers of people requiring prescription drug detox and drug rehab.
Because of the endless television, print, radio and internet advertising, prescription drugs have become a way of life for most Americans. But Big Pharma's promo costs are not just for advertising, they also include many other promotion activities. For example, Big Pharma promotes its brands directly to individual doctors in the hope their drug will be prescribed over another company's drug. The industry averaged $61,000 per doctor promoting its drug brands to physicians across the country in 2004, the study said. Yet doctors and medical staffs can have trouble keeping up with all the drugs, according to articles in medical journals, causing mistakes such as wrong drug combinations, overdoses, and even addictions that result in patients becoming dependent or addicted and needing drug detox or drug rehab.
The authors limited their study to the United States because it is the only country for which sufficient information is available. The US is the world's largest market for pharmaceuticals, representing 43% of global sales and promotion expenditures. With over 22 million prescription drug abusers, according to the Centers for Disease Control, America also probably has the most prescription drug deaths, addictions and prescription drug rehab treatments in the world. As for why our health care costs are also the highest in the world, one need look no further for at least one of those reasons: Big Pharma passes along its promotional costs to us in the price of its drugs.
The study claims that Big Pharma is market-driven, far from the research-driven, life-saving health-care industry it claims to be. But of course, we already know that by the increasing numbers of injuries and deaths caused by prescription drugs, and the sky-rocketing number of people needing a prescription drug rehab program.

Drug Rehab vs. Drug Crime: The Choice Is Obvious, But It Isn't Easy : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008 treatment

Drug Rehab vs. Drug Crime: The Choice Is Obvious, But It Isn't Easy
by Rod MacTaggart
Teenagers busted for possession, adults busted for trafficking, cops busted for stealing drugs from evidence lockers - every day of the week there are dozens of news stories about drug-related crime. A few of the crimes are purely for money, but most are crimes to support drug habits - arrests, fines, jail terms and ongoing addictions that could be avoided if someone helped these people decide to get into drug rehab instead.
Here's a little tour of the country, a smattering from a single day's news. It's disturbing to see that most of today's drug crime stories concern the deadly and addictive opiate prescription painkiller OxyContin:
Olympia, WA: A 40-year-old friend of the family supplied their 16-year-old daughter with OxyContin and Vicodin pills to consume herself and sell at school and split the profits with him. Contributing to a teenager's - or anyone's - opiate addiction should be a crime in itself. Her life could have been changed forever, even with drug rehab.
Austin, MN: An Austin police officer who was about to take the oath of office for the Austin School Board is instead facing felony charges for allegedly stealing OxyContin from the police evidence locker. The second-ranking officer on the force, he stole the drugs the same day he was elected to the school board. If convicted of a felony, he'll lose his job, his school board seat, and his life will be in ruins. Drug rehab could help him to begin recovering his life as he knew it.
Anderson Township, OH: A man walked into a Walgreens pharmacy and after announcing he had a gun, walked out with 90 OxyContin pills. Cops think it's the same guy who pulled a similar OxyContin heist at a CVS pharmacy in nearby Springdale on New Year's Eve. The manhunt continues, but this guy is going to need drug rehab if he lives long enough. OxyContin can be a deadly addiction.
Yarmouth, MA: A man high on heroin led police on a high speed chase through four towns before being arrested by Yarmouth police. The cops had to put down Stop Sticks - those mats with spikes to puncture tires - to stop him. But then he fled on foot, and had to be chased down before finally being arrested. Drugs make people do stupid, crazy and dangerous things. This man is definitely a candidate for drug rehab.
Poughkeepsie, NY: A 39-year-old man faces 18 months in jail for selling heroin to an undercover policeman - a felony conviction. How dumb can you get? Under state law, this guy faced a lengthy mandatory prison term because he had already been convicted of another felony within the last 10 years. He entered a plea of guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence. If this person has a real friend, they should get him into a drug rehab program where he can examine his life and make some serious changes.
Boston MA: A huge, 14-month investigation is underway at the Boston Police Department following the discovery that drugs confiscated in nearly 1,000 cases over 16 years are missing from the central drug depository. The drugs included cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and OxyContin (the OxyContin was replaced with a substance similar to Tylenol or aspirin).
The decision to begin meddling with drugs is never made with crime in mind, or drug rehab, for that matter. Nevertheless, drug crimes occur in cities, towns and villages across the country every day. Millions are addicted, more addicts are made every day, and crime becomes the only way to support the habit. The solution to both crime and addiction for addicts caught in the drug-and-crime trap is more help from family, friends and the community in providing a drug rehab program when it's first needed, before things get completely out of control.

California Drug Treatment Center Succeeds Where Other State Programs Fail : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab treatment center review

California Drug Treatment Center Succeeds Where Other State Programs Fail
by Arthur McCloud

Matt battled drug addiction for fourteen years, but thanks to a California Drug Treatment Center, he now has a chance at living a drug free life. His journey to get the help that would save his life, started seven years ago when his mother, Lola, found Narconon Vista Bay, a California Drug Treatment Center, on the internet. Impressed with the program's success rate and treatment methods, Lola knew that Narconon was the right choice for her son. However, obstacles lay in her path as Matt, caught in the Oregon Corrections system, could not leave the state. Instead of attending the California Drug Treatment Center, Matt was placed in a state run drug rehab.
However, within two months of completing the drug rehab, Matt was back to using drugs and committing crimes. The program simply could not handle all of the problems most addicts face. Matt's dad explained, "I've come to realize that [the corrections system] is really good at putting addicts in jail or half-way houses, but they don't offer the full spectrum of treatment that an individual needs." One program even required that Matt have thirty days clean before they would even admit him. "If I could get Matt clean for thirty days, then he wouldn't have needed the program, now would he?" his mother exclaimed.
Unfortunately, many drug treatment centers only deal with certain aspects of the rehabilitation process, and many addicts return to using drugs as Matt did. A few years later, Matt found himself in another state run program, but his experience there ended up much like his first experience - full of anxiety and fear. The meetings, the group therapy and the sober living environment were not enough to keep Matt clean.
His father knew he was on a suicide mission. If Matt stayed on this path he would end up dead or locked up for good. His parents decided to seek help one more time. His Mom got on the internet and, once again, came across the California Drug Treatment Center's website, www.drugrehab.net, that she had come across all those years ago. She called determined that one way or another she would get her son to the California drug treatment center.
Despite the legal problems that Matt faced, the staff at the California drug treatment center eased Lola's concerns and in her own words, "made it happen." The staff ensured that Matt's legal issues were handled and shortly after, Matt admitted himself into the treatment center.
Narconon Vista Bay's philosophy is to increase those suffering from drug addiction awareness levels to a point that they can make positive choices and live a drug free live without anxiety and without fear.
Completing the California drug treatment center's program was not easy. There were challenges to overcome, demons to face, and baggage to let go of, but Matt did it. Now, he is a graduate. "I can say with sincerity I'm happy and I'm happy to be sober."
At Matt's graduation from the California drug treatment center, his father said to the group of seventy people who had gathered, "To everybody, I can't say how much this California drug treatment center has done. I can hear it in my son's voice. I can see it in his attitude. I'm confident in Matt and I believe in him."

Drug Rehab Programs Must Address Mind, Body And Spirit : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab treatment center review 2008

Drug Rehab Programs Must Address Mind, Body And Spirit
by John Frank

Although many people believe that addiction is simply a psychological disease or a spiritual affliction, one that could be handled simply by the force of sheer willpower, those who suffer from addiction know better. Many drug rehab programs focus on only the psychological aspects of addiction and believe that by handling the addict's mind the addiction can be cured.
However addiction affects the mind, the body, and the spirit and all three of these aspects must be addressed in order to overcome addiction. When only the mind has been addressed in a drug rehab program, then the addict is still left with physical and spiritual afflictions caused by addiction. When addicts are told to turn their power over to a force outside themselves and that this is a necessary step in combating their addiction, the addict's mind and body still suffer, and the likelihood of recovery is minimal.
Those drug rehab programs falter in that they fail to address the mind, the body, and the spirit. It is no wonder that so many drug rehab programs have such low success rates. 12-Step programs focus on the mind and the spirit by addressing addiction as a disease, one that an addict is powerless over. Other programs focus on only the mental aspects and believe that through therapy that addresses the reasons why an addict turned to drugs then an addict can cure the addiction. Still other programs simply believe that after a few days of detoxification, the addict's body is recovered. None of these methods, although helpful in the short term, provide a long-lasting solution to addiction.
A successful drug rehab program understands that the mental, spiritual, and physical aspects must be completely handled in order for the addict to overcome addiction, and that it is an investment in one's future life.
Mentally, the drug rehab program must provide a safe environment where the addict can deal with the issues that led him or her to drugs in the first place. In addition, the drug rehab program must help the addict change thinking patterns so that when faced with challenging issues, the addict has new and productive ways of dealing with life.
Physically, the drug rehab program must provide a detoxification program that thoroughly cleanses and returns the body to a state that is not affected by drug residues that remain in the body. If a drug rehab program does not offer a full and complete detoxification program, the addict will continue to be triggered or negatively affected by the residues left in the body.
Spiritually, the drug rehab program must understand that each individual addict perceives the spirit in a different light. The drug rehab program must respect these differing beliefs and allow the drug addict to follow his own opinion and belief system about what the spirit is, regardless of what anyone else believes.
The drug rehab program that addresses the mental, physical and spiritual aspects of addiction will give the drug addict the power to completely overcome his addiction. His mind will be healed. His body will be cleansed. His spirit will be realized. And his addiction will be left in the past.

Drug Free Rehab vs. Medication As A Drug Rehab : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008 treatment

Drug Free Rehab vs. Medication As A Drug Rehab
by Lora French

I do not understand western medicine's fascination with medication. It seems these days that everyone is searching for a pill that will be the answer to all of their ailments. Take this pill for that. Take that pill for this. Research which drug will cure this or aid with that. It simply goes on and on. We have become a medicated nation.
I am baffled by this when we see the consequences of drug addiction in our communities. We think our problems with addiction will be solved if only we can get a handle on the meth problem or the heroin problem or the marijuana problem. We can't see that many of the medications that are being handed by our doctors and pharmacies can be just has destructive as so-called street drugs. What's frightening to me is that we are trying to solve the drug addiction problem in our country by creating new drugs that these drug addicts can take to cure their drug addiction.

Does this faulty thinking make any sense? Are more drugs truly the only way to handle a drug addict's drug problem? Why can't we provide those suffering from addiction with a comprehensive drug free rehab program? Yes, I said it. Drug-free. This means skip the methadone clinic. Skip the Subaxone. Skip the anti-depressants. Skip the quick fix.

The cover story for the July 16, 2007 issue of Time Magazine delves into the nature of addiction and how "new brain research is helping us understand why we get hooked." The researchers involved use addicts' brains to "design new drugs that are showing promise in cutting off the craving that drives an addict irresistibly toward relapse." Great! Right? If an addict just didn't crave the drug, he would be fine.Partially, yes. But there is so much more to what causes an individual to get hooked on drugs. There are always underlying issues that the once sober individual is trying to escape. Giving an addict a drug to stop the craving only addresses a part of the problem. There must be drug free ways to reduce the cravings an addict experiences and provide a complete drug free rehab for the drug addict.

Holistic approaches to drug addiction have been developed and have been proven to work. One such program, the New Life Detoxification program offered at Narconon Vista Bay, truly addresses the cravings an addict experiences by cleansing the body of drug residues in a drug free setting, using vitamins and a sauna program at its base. The end result is that the cravings for drugs have disappeared. However, the program also addresses the underlying causes for the addiction in the first place. None of these wonder drugs for addiction deal with the root causes, which in all honesty, makes me question the motivation behind developing these types of drugs.

Who profits from these wonder drugs? Is it the drug addict who now has to support his new habit? What happens to this addict when he can't afford to get his medication? Will he return to using the bad street drugs and find himself caught in the trap of addiction all over again? These drugs to cure addiction are new. That means long term side effects are unknown. What will they be? What side effects will the addict have to deal with?

We have already seen what happens to those on methadone. We know that Subaxone is classified as a narcotic. We have seen that Ritalin, a methamphetamine, causes serious problems for our children. And yet, we keep pushing this idea that medication is the answer to addiction. When will see that drug free rehab is truly the only solution to our drug addiction problems?

8 Factors To Consider When Choosing A Residential Drug Treatment Center : Alcohol rehab Drug rehab review 2008

8 Factors To Consider When Choosing A Residential Drug Treatment Center
by John Frank

Facing the fact that someone you love is not only suffering from drug addiction, but now must receive help to overcome the addiction, is difficult for anyone. Where should you start? Who do you turn to? What questions do you need to ask about drug treatment programs? Perhaps, you may have been at this point before, and you now feel a sense of hopelessness in finding a residential treatment center that will work this time around. Maybe, though, this is the first time you've had to take these steps to help someone you love. The process can feel overwhelming.
Ultimately, you want your loved one back. You want that person you love free from drugs. You want that person to live a healthy and productive life. By asking the right question on each of the following areas when choosing a residential drug treatment center, your chances of making this happen for your loved one will increase.

1. Success Rate -

What is the success rate of the residential drug treatment center? Obviously, the higher the success rate, the more likely your loved one will succeed. Ask to speak with graduates of the drug rehab facility or their families. Get real opinions from real people.

2. Methods -

What method does the drug treatment center use? Ask yourself if they are addressing all aspects of your loved one's addiction, including what led them to drugs in the first place. Methods that only deal with one aspect of addiction are more likely to fail. Remember addiction results from a combination of many factors, including a lessening of morality and integrity and an increasing burden of guilt and shame. The life of an addict includes bad habits, poor health and difficulty facing problems. After speaking with the facility, ask yourself if they are handling not just the psychological aspects, but also the physical and mental aspects of addiction as well. Are they providing practical skills that will help your loved one succeed once the drug rehabilitation program is completed?

3. Services -

What services does the residential drug treatment center offer? This is not only for your loved one, but for you as well. Will they help with legal issues? Will they assist in an intervention? In other words, to what length will they go to make certain your loved one gets the drug treatment they need?

4. Staff -

Who are the staff members at the residential drug treatment center? The best trained staff will have had experience with drug addiction. They will not have learned about it in a book. Are they qualified for their positions? What real-life knowledge do they have with drug addiction? What is their reason for working in this field?

5. Follow-up Program -

What type of follow-up program does the residential drug treatment center offer? This is important. Sending a newly rehabilitated drug addict back into the world without any follow-up can be disastrous. Make sure that there is a program of this type in place. Good programs keep in touch over the phone regularly after one leaves the program.

6. Location -

Where is the residential drug treatment center located? A residential drug treatment center should be protected. Ask how easy it would be for your loved one to leave. Many addicts when first coming off drugs want to leave. Ensuring that this is difficult, while not seeming like a prison, increases the chances that the person will stay to finish.

7. Length -

How long does the residential drug treatment center take? Although the standard program is 28 days, if the residential drug treatment center offers a longer program, it is more likely your loved one will succeed. However, if the residential drug treatment center allows your loved one to work at his or her own pace, without imposing time constraints, your loved one has an even greater chance of overcoming drug addiction. An example of a program that is not based on time but on completion can be seen at http://www.drugrehab.net

8. Price -

How much does the residential drug treatment center cost? Before eliminating any program because of its price, ask yourself this: What are they offering? Look back at the points above and determine what the drug rehab is truly giving to the one you love. Yes, the more it offers, the more likely the price will be higher. However, your loved one will have a greater chance at becoming a healthy productive member of society. How much is that person worth to you?

Choosing a residential drug treatment center can be difficult. Dealing with a loved one suffering from drug addiction is devastating. By breaking the process down into what is important and finding out the answers to the questions above, you will be able to make an informed choice as to which residential drug treatment program can best help you and your loved one. Drug addiction can be dealt with and overcome.