Dear Friends and
Colleagues,
There are many reasons group therapy settings and community recovery
groups like AA work. People are inspired
by hearing other people's stories of successes and failures. It provides a sense of hope and illuminates
the possibility that this too could happen for me, or provides us an
opportunity to be grateful for what troubles haven't befallen us. Nonetheless, we are moved, given to an
emotional or enlightened feeling, and are carried a little bit further on our journey
as a result of hearing someone else's story.
Everyday in the addiction and drug treatment industry, I
hear at least one story, if not several in the same day, of addictions and life
struggles encompassed by addiction that I feel like I couldn't possibly bare
were I in their shoes. And I'm given to
gratitude by hearing their story. Our clients, who are facing a life changing
crisis, have no choice but to share their story - if they don't.... they can't
get the help they need. The sharing of
their story begins a process in their journey to wellness, it INSPIRES CHANGE. Not only do I change upon hearing their
story, the power of their story is released into the universe and into the
light of care and is diffused enough to provide an inspirational moment of
hope, to be soon followed by an act of change.
It occurs to me that my own life story is filled with
successes and failures, all around the life circle. Whether in personal growth, family issues,
career moves, and physical well-being - I have had my share of ups and downs,
successes and failures. Yet I don't
regularly share my story with others, and certainly not the whole story -
fragments maybe. Would I also begin the
process of a journey to wellness, inspiring change within and for others, just
by telling my story?
Everyday the opportunity to receive inspiration awaits
us. Whether or not we feel that 'clarity
of mind' moment, or that 'a-ha' experience, where something comes into clearer
vision or opens up pathways for new ideas and thoughts or promotes change -- we are continually surrounded by inspiration
-- all one needs to do to receive it is
INHALE.
The drawing of air into the lungs, inhalation, is a
companion to inspiration. So today, take
a deep breath, INHALE and let inspiration seep in deep to your soul and ask yourself,
"How can sharing my story become an inspiration for change?" At the very least, you will feel refreshed by
the enormous amount of clean fresh oxygen now coursing through your body. And at best, you may be given the courage and
opportunity to share your story to inspire someone else along their journey -
and to move you along your own journey to wellness.
..... INHALE.......deeply...... EXHALE..... slowly.....
May you be inspired by the very air you breathe today
knowing that your story, when spoken and heard, will provide much needed
inspiration!
All my best,
Your Ally in Good Health! 
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"One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose
sight of the shore for a very long time." -- Andre Gide
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Monitoring Services - Adding to Our Continuum of Care
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 Monitoring is a proven method of supporting sober skill development
following the completion of primary substance abuse treatment. This method of
creating measurable outcomes while providing accountability and documentation
has been utilized for many years.
The monitoring model has proven to be effective with pilots, physicians,
dentists, nurses and pharmacists when substance use is discovered, and as a
result, has created uncertain conditions for predictable performance in the
workplace.
After residential treatment or as an extension of the Certified Personal
Recovery Assistant service, monitoring services can provide an accurate,
responsive system of support when there are indicators associated with the
relapse process.
Monitoring allows for early identification of potential difficulties
interrupting the progression of relapse thinking and behavior patterns. The
procedure for alerted response includes a collaborative process between the
recovering client, identified support people and treatment professionals.
Hired Power is associated with a network of certified laboratories
nationwide. This relationship assures a system of convenient, accurate and
time-sensitive test results. We provide a discreet method for documenting
attendance at 12-step meetings. We believe that this accountability can support
compliance with the aftercare plan and continued ongoing sobriety. Hired Power
facilitates the process for communicating with identified stakeholders as
outlined by federal law.
All Certified Personal Recovery Assistant assignments include the
opportunity for continued monitoring services. These services can also be
assigned as stand-alone services including:
- Continued support in
following through with the daily living plan
- Routine communication with
client and stakeholders: weekly phone interview, email correspondence,
documentation of progress.
- Self-reporting of attendance
to meetings, therapist appointments, out-patient programs etc.
- Random Urinalysis drug
screening using a nationwide network of providers.
- Monthly reports and
documentation of progress for additional providers
- Oversight of monitoring
services and transition plan by a Recovery Care Manager
Whether a client requires support for a day, a week
or continual around-the-clock assistance, we provide powerful tools for a
successful recovery and a rewarding, productive life.
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Relapse
Prevention In The Managed Care Environment
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An Article By Terence T. Gorski
Relapse prevention is a serious concern of managed
care providers who are responsible for containing the cost of chemical
dependency treatment. When
we look at the relapse rates following treatment, it is easy to
understand why. Forty seven
percent (47%) of patients treated in private treatment programs will return to
chemical use within the first year following treatment.
Of those who relapse, about 40% will have short-term, low
consequence relapses and will rapidly return to recovery, while 60% of
relapsers will have long-term, high consequence relapses that require
costly treatment.
In reviewing these statistics, it is important to
keep the following points in mind.
1.
Fifty three percent of chemically dependent patients do recover after
treatment
2.
Recovery rates can be as high as 90% in clients who are socially
Stable (i.e. are employed, have a stable residence and have social
support in the form of family or significant friendships), supported by
Employee Assistance Programs, and do not have polydrug addictions, other
psychiatric disorders, or serious medical complications.
3.
When compared to other chronic life style related diseases, such
as cancer and heart disease, the relapse rates to chemical dependence
are relatively low.
4.
The recovery and relapse rates for chemical addiction have significantly
improved since the introduction of abstinence-based recovery methods in
1935.Prior to the development of
Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935, the 98% relapse rate led to alcoholics
being declared as hopeless by most leading psychiatrists and physicians.
The introduction of Alcoholics anonymous (AA) increased recovery
rates to about 25% and the introduction of Minnesota Model Treatment
that combines 12-Step recovery with detoxification, education, and
counseling caused an increase in recovery rates to about 50%.
5.
Patients who relapse are not hopeless.
40% of relapsers find their way into long-term recovery after
experiencing short-term and low consequence relapses.
Other relapsers significantly improve their overall health and
functioning and decrease their health care utilization in spite of
experiencing periodic short-term and low consequence relapses that are
rapidly stabilized by appropriate intervention and treatment.
6.
Relapse prevention therapy is improving the chances of recovery for
relapsers. A study
completed by Father Marten's Ashley found that chronic relapsers who
completed a CENAPS Model Relapse Prevention Program had the same
improvement rates (approximately 65%) as did patients completing primary
treatment for the first time.
Relapse Cannot be
Ignored
Treatment centers and managed care providers cannot
afford to ignore relapse because it is so common.
Approximately 40% of all patients admitted for chemical
dependency treatment in the United States are relapsers who have
previously been treated for chemical dependence.
Treating these relapsers is expensive.
The National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Utilization Study (NDATUS)
estimated that the nation spent a total of $4.08 billion in treating
chemically dependent people. Since
40% of these patients were relapsers, the nations spent $1.63 billion
treating relapsers. Unfortunately, most of this money was spent on recycling
patients through treatment that had already failed. Few treatment
program have comprehensive relapse prevention tracts in spite of the
large number of relapser that they treat.
Failed Strategies
To Contain The Cost of Relapse
Managed care providers are concerned about relapse
because it increases the cost of treatment.
In the eyes of most managed care providers, treating
relapse-prone patients in treatment programs that failed to produce
sobriety the first time around is not cost effective.
"If it didn't work the first time," they argue,
"Why should it work the second?"
This has led to many managed care providers
establishing cost control strategies that refuse to pay for repeat
treatments with methods that have failed.
These strategies limit the number treatments per lifetime to
between one and three.
Unfortunately, this strategy doesn't work because
without treatment relapsers keep using alcohol and drugs until they
develop serious medical and psychiatric illness that requires expensive
treatment. In the long run,
the policy of refusing to pay for repeat treatments increases rather
than decreases treatment costs.
Since relapsers represent 30% to 40% of private
treatment dollars and 50% to 70% of public treatment dollars, this
policy of refusing to pay for repeat treatment places many treatment
programs in serious financial trouble.
A Cost Containment
Strategy That Works
What is needed is a new strategy for treating
relapsers in specialty relapse prevention programs that lower relapse
rates and rapidly intervene upon patients who relapse so that the
duration, severity, and consequences of relapse episodes will be
reduced. This significantly
reduces the cost of treating relapse-prone patients.
Many managed care providers are aware that their
old strategies for coping with relapse don't work.
They are beginning to institute a new strategy of paying for
multiple treatments only in relapse prevention programs. This new strategy works because relapse prevention programs
directly address the causes of relapse, lower relapse rates, and reduce
the consequences and costs of relapse.
What is needed is the wide spread implementation of
specialty treatment programs for relapse-prone people. Fortunately, such
programs can be quickly and efficiently introduced in most treatment
programs and cost no more to operate than other addiction treatment
approaches.
GORSKI-CENAPS Web Publications
www.tgorski.com
Published On: June 10,
2001 Updated On: August 07, 2001
© Terence T. Gorski, 2001 |
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NOW HIRING!
TWO Full-Time Office Positions in the H.B. Office/ Orange County
Recovery Care Monitor: Requires a CADC license or will consider right candidate needing Internship hours to meet the CADC requirements.
Case Manager: Meets requirements of a licensed counselor or CADC.
Email Resume and References to : monitoring@hiredpower.com
We are looking to fill these positions by the end of March. More details about the position will be provided at the interview stage. PLEASE NO PHONE CALLS about the position - EMAIL ONLY!
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Betty Ford Women's Symposium
Los Angeles, CA
March 11, 2009
US Journal7th Annual Adolescents and Young Adults Conference
Las Vegas Hilton
March 26-28th, 2009
U.S. JournalThe 23rd National Conference on the Family and the Self
Santa Fe, New Mexico
April 14th-17th, 2009
Southworth Associates
International Treatment Centers Cooperative Conference
Vero Beach, FL
April 15-17, 2009
CAADE Conference 2009The Politics of Addiction Treatment and Prevention
Sacramento, CA
April 17th-19th, 2009
CARA presents Brain Repair for Addictive Disorders
Sacramento, CA
April 17th-19th, 2009
(across street from CAADE conference)
Healing the Heart of Trauma with EMDR and Ego State Therapy in the Treatment of Complex Trauma Clients
Santa Barbara, CA
April 18-19, 2009
Process Addictions
Foundation Recovery Network
April 22-24, 2009
The Palms Resort
Las Vegas, Nevada
www.dualdiagnosis.org
UKESAD
6th Annual UK/European Symposium on addictive Disorders
May 14-16, 2009
www.ukesad.org
NAATP 2009 Annual Conference
West Palm Beach, FL
May 17th-20th
22nd Annual Northwest Conference on Behavioral Health and Addictive Disorders
Seatlle (Bellevue), WA
May 27th-29th, 2009
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Prevention, Education, and Early Intervention for Alcohol and Other Drugs of Abuse
A survey of the major theories and approaches to
prevention, education, and intervention into use and abuse of
psychoactive substances. Relevant research, theory, and trends in the
primary prevention field are reviewed. Students will learn primary,
secondary and tertiary prevention strategies and techniques.
Who should attend?
Students working toward the Addiction Counseling Certificate,
counselors working in alcohol and drug treatment centers, therapists
who need training in this specialist area of counseling, and distance
learners. Also recommended for parents, community members, and
educators.
CRN: 81079
ALDX 904.01
1.0 Semester Hour
Schedule:Mondays
5:00 - 6:30 pm
April 6 - May 18, 2009
Location: ONLINE
Tuition: $125
Click here for more information and to Enroll.
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HP CPRA
SPOTLIGHT
(we keep our faces to ourselves)
Meet Scott C.
49, Male
Scott has been a valuable and successful PRA with Hired Power for over a year now. Prior to Hired Power Scott worked for
10 years in the mental health industry as a technician/ clinical secretary
where he was often the major support to management and doctors. Scott
maintains 18 years continuous sobriety as an active member of a twelve
step community, attending regular meetings both at AA and NA. He has
a broad knowledge of many mental health diseases often associated with
addiction. Scott loves working with others, including younger individuals
both from the support of recovery as well as codependency.
Scott loves any and all
sports and physical activity. He especially enjoys weight training and
anything cardio. In his spare time Scott's passion is live music. He
is an accomplished, professional musician and has played in many venues
and also enjoys music production and recording.
Due to his
music background our younger clientele relate well to him, as do our
entertainment clients. As a PRA Scott is able to assist clients within their own recovery
paths, he is a strong mentor offering guidance and he is a very patient,
calm individual.
We are grateful to Scott for his dedication to recovery
and his ability to mentor others as part of the Hired Power team!!
Feel free to request Scott for you or your clients CPRA.
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Hired
Power believes in partnering with one another to support the programs
and events within the addiction and mental health profession. If you
have community events you would like us to announce for you, we would
be glad to put it up on our blog.
Send us all your event details and any digital artwork in an email to:
info@hiredpower.com and we will put your event up on our blog on a
first come first served basis.
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Contact Us:
(800) 910-9299
West Coast Connections:
nzumwalt@hiredpower.com
monique@hiredpower.com
East Coast Connections:
Amy@hiredpower.com
ONLINE
Sober Transitions BLOG
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