Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers: Article in the LA Times today (“The 30-Day Myth”) Drug Rehab

Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers

The effective treatment of adolescents with substance abuse and behavioral disorders requires an approach that includes attention to every aspect of a young person’s life. We see every individual as a whole being. In addition to fully understanding the emotional, developmental, physical, psychological, familial, social and cultural factors, there must be appropriate resources in place to address these issues.

There was an excellent article in the LA Times today (“The 30-Day Myth”) which supports the idea that for lasting recovery, more treatment time is essential. The 28 day program is simply not working anymore. Research indicates that relapse rates are proportional to how long an individual has been in treatment. Many people come unwillingly into treatment, so their recovery may not even start within the first month. It may take weeks for a patient to “clear” or “detox,” which can also impede progress. These facts are what made Visions reconsider their residential policies.

Visions opened as a 30-90 day treatment program for adolescents. Over time Visions learned what this article reveals; that extended treatment ensures better outcomes in terms of relapse prevention. Currently, the minimum stay at Visions is 45 days. Addictive behaviors develop over time and so it’s no surprise that there is no quick fix in the treatment of addiction.

For more on this topic see today’s paper or follow the link:

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-addiction10-2008nov10,0,1225784.story

Labels: drug-rehab, drug-treatment, LA-Times, visions, Visions-Adolescent-Treatment-Centers

1 Comments:

At November 11, 2008 3:02 PM , Adam Echols said...: I appreciate this article and blog for addressing the fact that those dealing with substance abuse and addiction are unique individuals suffering from complex and multi-faceted problems that cannot be addressed with quick-fix or “cookie cutter” approaches. The L.A. Times article is also interesting in that it subtly highlights the fact that there is general lack of effective treatment within the criminal justice system. As the article points out, abstinence time alone (as in when one is incarcerated and without drugs) is not sufficient in and of itself and leads to high relapse rates after release. The relapse of these individuals who have been incarcerated previously sends many of them right back to prison. The lack of effective treatment in our criminal justice system serves to perpetuate the individual and societal problems associated with substance abuse and addiction while also nourishing the prison industrial complex…