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Quote of the Week
Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open. ~B.K.S. Iyengar
If you like the Quote of the Week you can see a new one everyday at The Treatment Center Blog Treatment Center Daily Blog |
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PAIN MANAGEMENT
WE TREAT THE DEPENDENCE AND THEN THE PAIN
Introducing our New Pain Management Track. We understand what you're going through and are here to help you. A dependency on prescription medication has become common in this country. It is estimated that today more than 4.7 million Americans are dependent on prescription medications. Whether it is a result of a physical injury caused by an accident, surgery, anxiety, or chronic pain caused by cancer or another disease, people from every walk of life are struggling with this problem. This is a problem that does not have any external signs. It is not something that is easily identified just by a looking at a person, and can affect anyone, anywhere; but we can help.
Or Call 877-679-3342 |
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Addicted to Heroin
Howard Lotsof was addicted to heroin at the age of 19. In 1962, he and some friends were looking for a new high when he swallowed ibogaine. Ibogaine is an extract of Tabernanthe iboga, a perennial rain forest plan found in Gabon, Africa.
According to Lotsof, when he and six friends, all of whom were addicted to heroin, five of them quit using the drug immediately. They said that their craving for heroin had ended. Lotsof, who died from liver cancer at the end of January, campaigned throughout his life in support of ibogaine. Thousands of former addicts and some scientists believe that ibogaine should be scientifically tested for its ability to stop cravings for heroin and cocaine. Ibogaine is used in drug treatment clinics in many countries but is banned in the United States.
Lotsof lobbied public officials, pharmaceutical companies and independent researchers to investigate its claims. In the mid 1980s, Lotsof convinced a Belgian company to make ibogaine in capsule form and it was made available to addicts in the Netherlands.
Lotsof started the Dora Weiner Foundation in honor of his grandmother. The Foundation's goal was to develop ibogaine as a medication, educate people about addiction and encourage those addicted to get treatment. In 1986 Lotsof received a patent for ibogaine's use as a treatment for heroin and cocaine addiction. Lotsof began a collaboration with Jan Bastiaans, a Dutch psychiatrist known for using LSD therapy for Holocaust survivors. Together Lotsof and Bastiaans treated 30 addicts, two-thirds of whom stopped using drugs for anywhere from four months to four years. Since three quarters of addicts typically relapse within six months of conventional treatment, the results of ibogaine sparked interest from the scientific community.
"His great achievement was in inducing the National Institute on Drug Abuse to undertake a research project on ibogaine that produced scores of peer-reviewed publications and paved the way for FDA approval of a clinical trial," said Kenneth Alper, an associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at the New York University School of Medicine. The FDA approved the trial but it was never finished due to contractual problems and a lack of money. Ibogaine remains banned by the federal government.
"In the uncontrolled environments in which ibogaine is typically used, clinics or nonmedical settings, the observations indicate that there is a resolution of withdrawal, meaning the addict is detoxified and no longer has withdrawal symptoms and is no longer physically dependent," said Alper.
Other expers are skeptical about ibogaine's efficacy in substance abuse treatment.
"At various times ibogaine has been proposed to treat opioid withdrawal as a cure for opioid dependence and as a cure for cocaine dependence," said Dr. Herbert D. Kleber, director of the division on substance abuse at the New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia University.
Lotsof published papers on ibogaine in The Journal of Ethnopharmacology and The American Journal of Addictions. Melissa Tarling
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From the Desk of our Clinical
Director
The Treatment Center of The palm Beaches is proud to announce the newest therapist to the team and family. Rene Blanco is a LMHC and Certified hypnotherapist who has years of experience within the co-occurring arena of treatment.
Marcie McMaster, LCSW CAP
Clinical Program Director
The Treatment Center of The Palm Beaches, LLC |
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A Word from Dr. Baker
Acceptance
When making the decision to enter into a treatment program for an addiction, people often experience many feelings, some of which may difficult to handle. For instance, a person may be overcome with guilt and shame over the things they might have done or failed to do during the height of their active addiction. Anger and resentment over a situation, another person or the concept of being powerless may become all- consuming. As we begin to live a sober life, we learn that we must accept our current circumstance, in order to be liberated from it. As the serenity prayer states, "God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference."
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TGIF
Greetings
We are well into week one of the 21st Olympiad in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada at which 82 nations are represented by thousands of athletes who are competing. The opening ceremony reflected a beautiful, creative, artistic testimony of history, culture and tradition, and the tragic unexpected death of the young Georgian luger touched the hearts of all. As we remember this fallen luger, let us unite in spirit to support our American athletes and remember they are ALL winners; NONE are losers given their courage, enthusiasm, and Olympic spirit.
I am currently reading a masterful book by Dr Jerry Long, a radiation oncologist, entitled Evidence of the Afterlife in which he declares boldly and unambiguously -based on 9 lines of evidence - there is an afterlife. The title intrigued me; not that I needed convincing about life after life. However, to get a medical perspective which suggests believing in afterlife is fascinating to say the least.
Dr Long shares the results of over 1,600 surveys of NDE'RS around the world who were announced dead or sensed dying and were resuscitated. Based on the NDE common denominators of seeing and experiencing, Dr Jerry develops evidence for life after life because:
- It is medically inexplicable to have a highly organized, lucid experience while unconscious or clinically dead. When heart stops beating, blood stops flowing to brain and 10-20 seconds later brain activity for consciousness stops. But all 1,600 cases did!
- NDE'RS may see and hear in their out-of-body (OBE) state, and what is seen is always real. They should not be able to see because they are unconscious or at distance from event. But they did accurately see!
- NDE'S occur during general anesthesia when no form of consciousness should be taking place. It should be impossible to have a lucid experience or awareness in unconsciousness. But they did have heightened awareness.
- NDE'S take place among those who are blind. But visually impaired can see and recount details when unconscious.
- A life review during NDE reflects real events in person's life, even if forgotten.
- Virtually all beings encountered during NDE are deceased at time of NDE, most are relatives and friends.
- The striking similarity of content in NDE'S among children and adults strongly suggests they are not due to pre-existing beliefs.
- The remarkable consistency of NDE'S around the world is evidence that NDE are real events.
- NDE'RS are transformed in many ways by their experience, often for life.
Wow! Next week, I'll share how people are changed for life as reflected by the 8 indicators I have developed for a NDE. But for now, I am treasuring the evidence that addresses the skeptics and disbelievers not just about NDE's but life after life. My faith, spiritual journey, personal NDE, after-death-communications from deceased loved ones, and firsthand accounts of youths and adults who had NDE's, made me a believer many year ago. Why? Because life comes from God and returns to God so life never ends but only changes for God is Eternal Love. To read the documented work of a physician whose nature is to be skeptical about spiritual realms is refreshing, enlightening, and reassuring for the curious.
So this TGIF weekend, look deeper than the material realms; awaken to the spiritual dimension of our being divine-like. Live fully aware that our life is so much more significant and transcendent than we realize or appreciate for we of the household of Mystery-Presence.
Ron
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Derek
Well, it is a new week and for me that means a new hobby. Since I have been sober I have had the opportunity to explore all the things I was interested in while I was using, but never had the time, money or motivation to do. When I first got sober I took up boogie boarding, then shooting, then a few months later, paintball, remote controlled cars and helicopters. All of these activities I truly love to do, but when I was high they were the last thing on my mind. There was only one thing on my mind - how to get and use more. My whole existence was centered on finding drugs and money to get them. I'm so glad that I am no longer a slave to opiates. Now, every day is an adventure, and anything is possible. Who knows what next week will bring? You too can be freed from your jail of addiction with just one phone call. Please call us and let help restore your hope. |
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COOP'S CORNER
Dual Diagnosis-What Does It Mean?
Information derived from Dual Recovery Anonymous
The term dual diagnosis is often used interchangeably with the terms co-morbidity, co-occurring illnesses, concurrent disorders, co-morbid disorders, co-occurring disorder, dual disorder, and, double trouble.
Professional literature has used a confusing array of terms and acronyms to describe co-occurring disorders or a dual diagnosis.
Individuals who experience a dual diagnosis often face a wide range of psychosocial issues and may experience multiple interacting illnesses (more than two). The term "co-occurring disorders" is becoming a common term used to refer to dual diagnosis, or co-occurring substance abuse disorders and psychiatric or emotional illnesses.
Dual Recovery Anonymous defines "dual diagnosis" as meaning that an individual has two separate but very interrelated diagnoses:
- A psychiatric diagnosis
A substance abuse diagnosis which may include both drugs and alcohol
A dual diagnosis occurs when an individual is affected by both chemical dependency and an emotional or psychiatric illness. Both illnesses may affect an individual physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually. Each illness has symptoms that interfere with a person's ability to function effectively and relate to themselves and others. Not only is the individual affected by two separate illnesses, both illnesses co occur with one another. The illnesses may exacerbate each other and each disorder predisposes to relapse in the other disease. At times the symptoms can overlap and even mask each other making diagnosis and treatment more difficult.
A person may sincerely try to recover from one illness and not acknowledge the other. As a person neglects his or her mental illness, that illness may recur. This recurrence may, in turn, lead a person to feel the need to "self-medicate" through drug use. Over time, the lack of progress toward recovery on both fronts may trigger feelings of failure and alienation. Perhaps the greatest tragedy is the damage that occurs to the individual's self-esteem.
There is no single type of dual diagnosis. There are numerous forms of psychiatric illness.
There are also many patterns of alcohol or drug abuse. As a result, a variety of different forms of dual or multiple disorders are possible.
An individual is in dual recovery when they are actively following a program that focuses on their recovery needs for both their chemical dependency and their psychiatric illness.
The Treatment Center can help, call for a free Confidential Assessment . 24/7 1-877-392-3342
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CEO'S DESK
We recently admitted a complex pain management patient who found us on the Internet while searching for pain management programs. The patient has been maintained on opiate pain killers that are not controlling the pain and are creating negative side effects. We are using a variety of strategies, including consults to our outside specialists, alternative medications, massage, and intensive counseling. Although the patient does not consider self as an addict, the patient exhibits similar behaviors, guilt, and hopelessness. We will use everything at our disposal to help this patient feel better and manage the pain.
Bill Russell CEO The Treatment Center
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ALUMNI NEWS
At the beginning of the February, The Treatment Center celebrated its first anniversary with a party here at the center. It was terrific to everyone come out and take part in the celebration. Employees, friends, family, current patients, and alumni were all here to take part in the festivities. Everyone seemed to have a great time. It was great to see a lot of the people who have come through The Treatment Center and talk with them and see how well they are doing. I love to get calls and emails from alumni and hear that they are doing well. I take great pride in being a part of The Treatment Center. It amazes me to look back and see how much we have accomplished within its first year. I look forward to being part of The Treatment Center as we continue to grow and help more and more people as well as continue to grow the alumni program.
I am always available to any alumni, day or night, whether they are struggling or if they just want to let me know that everything is going well. The best part of my day is hearing from alumni. Talking to alumni and hearing them do well or struggle helps me stay clean one day at a time. They help me far more then I could ever help them.
Tony Martino Alumni Coordinator 215.896.7859 Tmartino@thetreatmentcenter.com |
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MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to restore hope. At The Treatment Center we recognize
the value of every person, and are guided by our commitment to deliver
the highest quality of treatment to addicted and dual-diagnosed individuals.
We accomplish this by providing exemplary physical, emotional and
spiritual care for each of our patients and their families. Our goal is
to provide the highest standard of personalized patient care possible
to those suffering from drug addiction, alcoholism, and co-occuring
mental health disorders. The Treatment Center is a place of healing;
we restore the diminished spirit using a holistic multi-disciplinary
approach to treatment in a loving and supportive environment. | |
