Individualized Alcohol and Drug Treatment Planning
Substance use disorders or addictions as they are more commonly known, affect lives regardless of age, community, profession, religion or geographic location. Because alcohol and drug treatment is not a "one size fits all" proposition it is important that treatment facilities consider characteristics such as these when determining the best type of treatment for the individual.

Though sometimes it can be difficult to differentiate between the truth and the false when interviewing alcoholics and drug addicts, successful treatment can depend on a treatment center's ability to collect and consider accurate information regarding the substances that have been misused, how long they've been misused and the quantities misused. It can also be important to consider one's cultural background, health problems, legal status and possible family issues. For these reason's it is critical that alcohol and drug treatment centers employ skilled interviewers that can get to the bottom of what's really going on with the client.

If the treatment center is able to paint a clear picture of what has brought the client to them, it can dramatically increase treatment outcomes. However, as already stated, sometimes the client isn't immediately forth coming with all of the information. Treatment centers often need to interview the client more than once and compare the answers to specific questions for consistency. Often, the true picture isn't revealed until after the client is detoxified.

NON-MEDICAL DETOX PROTOCOL

Detoxing from the many different substances that are commonly misused is also not a "one-size-fits-all" proposition. Some stimulant substances such as cocaine or crystal meth can be detoxed with a non-medical protocol if the client is in otherwise good health. Usually, good nutrition, bed rest and the support of addiction treatment professionals working in an alcohol and drug detox center is all that's required.

MEDICALLY-ASSISSTED DETOXIFICATION

While meth and cocaine can sometimes be detoxed non-medically, other drugs, such as opiates, alcohol and benzodiazepines should always be detoxed in the safe and secure environment of a licensed detox center. These substances produce severe withdrawal symptoms that can be dangerous to the client.

ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME

The symptoms of DT's include profound confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, hyperactivity and extreme cardiovascular disturbances. This condition causes shifts in your breathing, your circulation and your temperature control. It can cause your heart to race or can cause your blood pressure to increase dramatically and it can cause serious dehydration.

Once DT's begin, there is no known medical treatment to stop them. Grand mal seizures, heart attacks and strokes can occur during the DT's, all of these serious alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be fatal to an alcoholic if not medically treated.

OPIATE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

Some of the more acute withdrawal symptoms associated with "Cold Turkey" heroin or opiate detox are 3 -7 days of severe muscle aches and spasms, profuse sweating, diarrhea and severe cramping caused by dehydration. Worse are the withdrawal symptoms caused by abrupt discontinuation of the use of some of the pharmaceutical opiates such as Oxycontin and particularly Methadone. These substances can produce weeks and sometimes even months of opiate withdrawal symptoms such as the sweats, muscle and joint aches, spasms, cramping, diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration leading to possible convulsions.

Regardless of the medical status of the detox protocol, a person should always get checked out by a physician prior to attempting any detox from any substance.