| Definitions of Treatment Services |
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Detoxification- The general definition of detoxification is to remove poison or the effects of poison from a system. In substance abuse treatment the term is used in a similar manner; drugs or the effect of drugs are removed from the body. There are numerous detoxification programs, and each has a slightly different approach, but most follow a similar procedure.
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DUI/DWI offenders- Drunk driving is a serious offense and the consequences of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol are become quite severe. According to the state in which the offense is committed, DUI/DWI offenders can get off with just a warning, may lose their driver’s license, or might even serve time in prison.
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Gay and Lesbian- It’s difficult to be gay in a straight world, so it’s no wonder that so many individuals who deem themselves to be gay or are uncertain about their sexuality search for counselors that offer gay and lesbian therapy.
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Men- Research shows that men are given more opportunity than women to use drugs, but equal numbers of men and women are likely to begin drug use. Men use different types of drugs than women. Men are more likely to abuse alcohol, and marijuana.
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Mental health services- The surgeon general definition of mental health is: “The successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity; from early childhood until late life, mental health is the springboard of thinking and communication skills, learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self esteem.” Mental health services are any service that helps a person obtain these abilities.
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Mix of mental health and substance abuse services- A study done in 2002 found that there were five million adults who had a serious mental illness, and had substance abuse problems. Almost 30 percent of all adults with serious mental health illnesses also use drugs. Other statistics show that 53 percent of substance abusers also have at least one mental illness.
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Outpatient- Outpatient drug rehabilitation means that a person does not live in the facility for treatment, but come to the facility for classes, visits with specialists or group meetings. Outpatient drug rehabilitation centers are more long-term and patients can attend programs for as long as needed. A variety of techniques and program intensity levels are used to achieve this goal.
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Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders- Quite often, individuals suffering from substance abuse are also afflicted with some type of mental illness. In the mental health community, these simultaneously occurring illnesses have come to be known as co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders.
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Pregnant/postpartum women- Depression affects millions of pregnant and postpartum women each year, regardless of race, ethnic background, color, or social standing. Recently, controversy over the treatment of these women has come into the forefront but most professionals will admit that the mental illnesses that present themselves during and after pregnancy deserve immediate attention.
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Residential long-term treatment (more than 30 days)- Choosing the proper treatment program for substance abusers can be a daunting task. With so many programs from which to choose, the addicted individual and their family turn to professionals and other resources for suggestions in regards to the proper treatment.
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Residential short-term treatment (30 days or less)- Substance abuse and other mental health disorders affect each person differently and in varying amounts. That’s why it’s necessary for professionals to offer several types of treatment programs to address the needs of different individuals with diverse problems.
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Seniors/older adults- The senior population is the fastest growing in the country, thanks to the baby boom of the post-World War II era and modern technology which allows us to enjoy longer and more fulfilling lives. Still, facts show that a large portion of seniors or older adults suffer from various mental health disorders that should be treated through the use of professional counseling or therapy. However, many view the use of professional therapy as a crutch or weakness, so mental health problems continue to grow in great numbers.
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Substance abuse treatment- Substance abuse treatment is often individualized to each patient, but there are a few steps that each patient needs to take to become drug free. The first of these steps in recognizing the problem. Denial used to be mistakenly believed to be part of the drug addiction symptoms, but recent research is showing it is not. People trying to help a person accept that they have a substance abuse problem need to show empathy, and respect.
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Substance abuse treatment services- Substance abuse is seen by most physicians and mental health professionals as a long-term illness and so many substance abuse treatment services are designed to try and find the best way to help someone cope. The people that are considered to have substance use disorder are those who can not stop and whose use is compulsive. A person’s genetics, mental health, and stress levels all have a role in determining if a person has substance use disorder. Substance abuse actually changes the brain, and these changes remain in effect for a long time.
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Women- Substance abuse among women is different than in men, and most often has multiple contributing factors, such as poverty, psychosocial, mental health, history of abuse and trauma, and involvement in abusive relationships. Because of these numerous factors that need to be addressed to help a woman become drug free, substance abuse centers specifically for women are becoming more prevalent, and existing substance abuse centers are changing their treatment approaches to better help women get rid of their addictions.
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