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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do you use drugs to help alleviate withdrawal process from drugs?
Yes. Depending on the nature of the drug used by the patient prior
to admission our medical team prescribes as safe, short acting
medications to ease the acute withdrawal common in alcoholics and
other drugs.
2. Do you use any of the newer drugs I've read about that supposedly
help reduce cravings or shorten withdrawal?
No. We believe that addiction is a disease of the brain. Drugs
produce a progressive dysregulation of brain reward circuiting, a
state of non-equilibrium. Removing the drugs allows the brain to
return to a state of equilibrium over time. Adding other drugs to
"help" or hasten the process actually delays the brain's return to a
state of equilibrium or homeostasis.
3. How do you treat the addict who is also depressed and taking
tranquilizers?
At our residential facility every patient's medical history
including any psychoactive drugs currently being taken is assessed
carefully by our medical team. Both science and our experience point
to the fact that, for the addict, depression as well as anxiety and
other seeming mood disorders can actually be the result of addictive
alcohol and drug use. When the patient's history reveals that the
psychoactive medication was begun after drug use began, we ask the
patient to stop taking the medication.
The reasons's are two fold:
1. As stated earlier, the brain needs to reset itself to reach stasis
and
2. Many psychoactive drugs produce changes in what are called "reward
thresholds" which leave the patient very vulnerable to relapse.
4. How does a patient then deal with being depressed, anxious or
stressed?
Alcohol and drug addiction negatively affect how the addict feels,
thinks and acts as well as how the body functions. Recovery entails
learning new skills to deal with the impact on thinking and feeling
and changing the dietary regimen through nutrition therapy. Dr. Milam
found, for instance, that most alcoholics are hypoglycemic and due to
low blood sugar suffer depression, mood swings, anxiety and cravings.
Patients are taught to deal with these fluctuating feelings by using
cognitive therapy and the principles of a 12-step program. After
intensive treatment (inpatient or outpatient) every patient receives
continuing care to practice new skills and deal with the stress of
early recovery. Facing problems squarely usually brings a sense of
relief as well as a growing sense of ease with sobriety. The most
frequent comment we hear from our patients is "Thanks for giving me my
life back to me."
5. You treat adolescents. Don't most kids addicted to drugs also have
another mental disorder requiring medication?
No. Again science and our experience point to the opposite
conclusion. Because the adolescent brain is still maturing the effect
of addictive drugs is more pronounced and occurs more quickly. Too
often the behavior caused by the drugs is mistaken for a mental
disorder and psychoactive drugs are prescribed that cause greater
disequilibrium. As with adults our medical team assesses each
adolescent's medication history and makes individual recommendations
to parents on the medical necessity of each psychoactive drug. If a
drug is removed it is always tapered according to pharmaceutical
protocols.
6. May I bring food to a patient when I visit?
We ask that you bring no food or drinks to patients at visitation.
Part of the program of recovery is our nutritional program designed to
help the healing of the brain and the body.
7. Can I talk to my patient's counselor?
All questions by family members and friends about patients are
directed to the family liason. She will also contact family members
about the educational opportunities offered at LMRC about the disease
of addiction and its effects on family members.
8. What type of toiletries can the patient bring?
Adolecent patients may have electric razors but no aerosol
products or products containing alcohol. Adults may have non-alcohol
based toiletries.
9. What about over-the-counter medications?
Please do not bring any over-the-counter medications to treatment.
Our medical staff will address any issues that may arise.
10. Is smoking permitted?
Adult patients may smoke in designated areas during free time.
Adolescents are not allowed to smoke anywhere on program grounds.
11. Why do people relapse despite treatment?
Addiction is a chronic disease, that is that it can reoccur like
diabetes and hypertension. Just as with other chronic diseases, the
addict can relapse if he/she does not follow the regimen laid out in
the program. In treatment we advise patients that if you do not move
forward (i.e. take the steps necessary each day to stay sober) you are
moving backwards (i.e., slipping into old ways of thinking, believing
and acting). The addict cannot underestimate the power of the disease
to lure him/her back into a pattern of living that leads to drinking/
using.
LMRC's prescription for recovery includes:
1. Attending continuing care regularly.
2. Active involvement in a 12-step program.
3. Healthy living - eating right, excercising.
4. Using Rational Emotive Therapy
(RET) tools to deal with disturbing emotions.
Contact us now at Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers for FREE Drug &
Alcohol evaluations...
Call local: (425) 823-3116 or toll free:
(800) 231-4303 or email us confidentially
help@lakesidemilam.com
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