The Drug Info

It is a fact that half of US teenagers try marijuana before finishing high school. It can affect school performance and sports adversely. Long term use can lead to addiction. In 2002 over a quarter million individuals entering a drug rehabilitation program reported marijuana as their primary drug of abuse.

There are a few treatment programs geared specifically for marijuana users. Rehab involves counseling and group therapy. The ultimate goal of teen drug rehab programs is to allow the teenager to be abstinent from drugs. They help the person become productive and overcome the health effects of the drug as well as the withdrawal symptoms. Teenagers are unique in that they are undergoing physical and mental changes constantly. Many

teenagers may also have legal issues and may have a compulsory drug rehab program. Relationships with family, peers and the community are very important. As with other rehab programs a thorough medical and psychiatric evaluation is performed. Periodic monitoring of progress is made and as some programs state the goal of rehab right from the first day is planning for the return home.

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Drug rehab programs are geared toward the rehabilitation of persons who are trying to overcome their addiction. There are many types of rehab programs. Some of them are of short duration and some can be residential and others are long term such as marijuana replacement programs.

Rehabilitation depends on participation for a sustained period of time. The rehab programs are designed to address the physical aspects of drug addiction and the psychological aspects of integrating back into society. Some programs are residential especially for persons with serious drug addiction and may be covered by private or public insurance to some extent. There are also chemical dependency units where there is about a 3-6 week period of inpatient care where

withdrawal from drugs is done in a medically safe fashion. It has been shown that plain replacement of opiate craving with methadone, while helpful is not as effective as a more comprehensive program with counseling and medical care.

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I come from a big but close circle of friends. We ve been friends since high school and most of us continue to be. But I tell you, we ve been through some tough times. Some of my closest friends began experimenting with drugs and soon they got hooked. It was ugly, and for two of those it still is Thankfully though, with the help of some of the guys we were able to intern them in drug rehab centers.

They got a second chance

It s been around 5 years since most of them got out, and I still thank the drug rehab centers. They gave my friends a second chance at life. We re still working

on two of our friends. I d like to think they aren t doomed to be drug addicts for the rest of their lives. That s why I keep telling them to go to a rehab center, but each time they seem to be doing a good job, they fall into a relapse. It s difficult to talk about this, and that s why I chose to write about it. I feel like I should warn people that haven t gone through what I ve gone to prepare them.

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A drug rehab center is a beacon of hope for persons suffering from the curable disease of drug addiction. There are over 11,000 such locations and programs in the United States and a quick internet search will reveal one in the local area.

The variety and spectrum of rehab programs matches the physical diversity of drug addiction. There are simple group counseling programs that are free of cost. There are the celebrity driven residential treatment programs which are often quoted in the media. The vast majority of programs focus on treatment of physical and psychological aspects of addiction. The typical rehab center is in an urban area with outpatient facilities. Patients can get advice, medical referral and treatment as

well as replacement opiates such as methadone in programs like methadone maintenance programs.

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Drug abuse or substance abuse is a widespread issue. Although popular culture has created certain stereotypes for the drug abuser, all are susceptible to drug addiction. The intensity of addiction, the type of substance abused and the effects may vary based on the genetic makeup of the individual among other environmental factors. It is heartening to note that drug addiction is treatable. This treatment process is also called drug rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation aims to integrate the person back into society to become a productive member. The process may involve avoiding the drug, learning new stress management skills, other behavioral treatments but often involves the use of specific medications. Another prominent component of drug rehabilitation programs is the use of a

physical location with a controlled environment where the patient is taught life skills while undergoing treatment. Treatment centers can be private or government operated.

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