History of treatment in our society (National Recovery Month)
September is national recovery month. We have well over 23 million people living in recovery from substance use disorders (SUD's). They are from all walks of life. I am one of them and I am proud to yell from the rooftops that I am person in recovery.
Doctors, lawyers, educators, law enforcement, construction workers, and many more people who are in careers far and wide, who once were in active addiction, now, live fulfilling lives in recovery. Fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, all members of the family who once struggled with the daily battle of the plight of being in active use of drugs and alcohol, now, live happy lives with their families. You can't just put a person in a box in this arena. To say addiction only effects one certain style of person is not near enough. To say that a certain career will be effected more than others won't tell the whole story.
Many of the people above find a path to recovery through treatment. Our society has ran for many years on what is call the sub-acute model of treatment. In the medical arena (this is what SUD's are, a medical issue) if you break your arm, you might initially go to the emergency room and get a cast put on your arm, but, that's not it. You don't just keep the cast on forever and hope for the best. You go to follow up appointments to check on the cast, get the cast taken off, and maybe even need physical therapy afterwards. This process likely will take months.......just for a broken arm.
In many cases, for substance use disorders, we just put the cast on and call it good. Going to inpatient treatment is the sub-acute portion of what should be a long term, on-going care process. Insurance companies, in all to many scenarios, don't even cover a full 30 day in-patient treatment episode. If they do, they certainly don't want to pay for aftercare. Aftercare is that vitally important process of helping an individual transition to long term recovery. Some of this craziness is starting to change, but not fast enough. My son works in the field and is constantly fighting this battle. When he sees a client who he knows needs 30, 60, or, maybe even longer term inpatient treatment, but, he has an insurance company denying it every step of the way. The research is clear in this area.....the longer an individual is given treatment and aftercare, the higher their chances of long term recovery.
Now, to speak about treatment in our society. Most treatment centers, when I say most I say 75% or more in our nation, are using what is called the Minnesota Model of Treatment for treating SUD's. This model of treatment was created in the 50's at a psych hospital by two men, one a psychologist the other a psychiatrist, who had zero experience in the field of SUD's, but, wanted to help the many alcoholics who were crossing their paths. Alcoholics during this time were sent to mental hospitals, there was no treatment for substance use disorders during this time. The model basically puts people in a controlled environment for 30 days and teaches them the twelve steps of alcoholics anonymous. During the 50's AA was growing, and, was really the only known way for an alcoholic to get sober. Notice, we are only talking about alcoholism here....not drugs. There was a problem with drugs in the 50's, but, treatment was non-existent for a variety of societal based reasons. The Minnesota Model was only focused on alcohol. Read about the history of the model here:
This model of treatment, the Minnesota Model of Treatment, that was developed nearly 70yrs ago, is still being used today. Imagine for a moment you walk into your doctors office and are given a diagnosis for a serious medical condition, say diabetes, and your doctor pulls out a medication from nearly 70yrs ago and says, take this. What would your response be? Probably shocked! We have a ways to go in realizing that science has advanced and we need to use multiple approaches to treating a very serious medical condition. Read about how we need to be treating substance use disorders here: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/principles-effective-treatment
There are positive things happening on local, state, and national levels to help bring us into current times in regard to treating substance use disorders. One of the things is research. Research is now showing that alternative models to treatment are effective. One of these areas if the marrying of the mental health fields and Addiction fields. In the last 20 years more and more states, and even, the federal government, have been finding ways to bring both fields together. We know, through the research, that the vast majority of those with SUD's, also have issues with depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. You can't treat one without treating the other. In recent years, the last ten, there is amazing research that shows many people with SUD's, had issues in early life with what is termed ACE's, Adverse Childhood Experiences. It is amazing to see these two entities work together. We have known for years they should be, but, for many they didn't. Even now, in the year 2018, many don't. It is slowly working toward the goal of ensuring people are put first, and not each entities disagreements with each other. Read about evidence based treatment approaches here: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/evidence-based-approaches-to-drug-addiction-treatment
I am a person in recovery from a substance use disorder. Because of access to treatment, mental health counseling, medical care, and, access to many other peripheral resources, I haven't had to use any substances since March 25th, 2007. Every day without drugs in my system is a good day and I am forever grateful for that reality.
Doctors, lawyers, educators, law enforcement, construction workers, and many more people who are in careers far and wide, who once were in active addiction, now, live fulfilling lives in recovery. Fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, all members of the family who once struggled with the daily battle of the plight of being in active use of drugs and alcohol, now, live happy lives with their families. You can't just put a person in a box in this arena. To say addiction only effects one certain style of person is not near enough. To say that a certain career will be effected more than others won't tell the whole story.
Many of the people above find a path to recovery through treatment. Our society has ran for many years on what is call the sub-acute model of treatment. In the medical arena (this is what SUD's are, a medical issue) if you break your arm, you might initially go to the emergency room and get a cast put on your arm, but, that's not it. You don't just keep the cast on forever and hope for the best. You go to follow up appointments to check on the cast, get the cast taken off, and maybe even need physical therapy afterwards. This process likely will take months.......just for a broken arm.
In many cases, for substance use disorders, we just put the cast on and call it good. Going to inpatient treatment is the sub-acute portion of what should be a long term, on-going care process. Insurance companies, in all to many scenarios, don't even cover a full 30 day in-patient treatment episode. If they do, they certainly don't want to pay for aftercare. Aftercare is that vitally important process of helping an individual transition to long term recovery. Some of this craziness is starting to change, but not fast enough. My son works in the field and is constantly fighting this battle. When he sees a client who he knows needs 30, 60, or, maybe even longer term inpatient treatment, but, he has an insurance company denying it every step of the way. The research is clear in this area.....the longer an individual is given treatment and aftercare, the higher their chances of long term recovery.
Now, to speak about treatment in our society. Most treatment centers, when I say most I say 75% or more in our nation, are using what is called the Minnesota Model of Treatment for treating SUD's. This model of treatment was created in the 50's at a psych hospital by two men, one a psychologist the other a psychiatrist, who had zero experience in the field of SUD's, but, wanted to help the many alcoholics who were crossing their paths. Alcoholics during this time were sent to mental hospitals, there was no treatment for substance use disorders during this time. The model basically puts people in a controlled environment for 30 days and teaches them the twelve steps of alcoholics anonymous. During the 50's AA was growing, and, was really the only known way for an alcoholic to get sober. Notice, we are only talking about alcoholism here....not drugs. There was a problem with drugs in the 50's, but, treatment was non-existent for a variety of societal based reasons. The Minnesota Model was only focused on alcohol. Read about the history of the model here:
This model of treatment, the Minnesota Model of Treatment, that was developed nearly 70yrs ago, is still being used today. Imagine for a moment you walk into your doctors office and are given a diagnosis for a serious medical condition, say diabetes, and your doctor pulls out a medication from nearly 70yrs ago and says, take this. What would your response be? Probably shocked! We have a ways to go in realizing that science has advanced and we need to use multiple approaches to treating a very serious medical condition. Read about how we need to be treating substance use disorders here: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/principles-effective-treatment
There are positive things happening on local, state, and national levels to help bring us into current times in regard to treating substance use disorders. One of the things is research. Research is now showing that alternative models to treatment are effective. One of these areas if the marrying of the mental health fields and Addiction fields. In the last 20 years more and more states, and even, the federal government, have been finding ways to bring both fields together. We know, through the research, that the vast majority of those with SUD's, also have issues with depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. You can't treat one without treating the other. In recent years, the last ten, there is amazing research that shows many people with SUD's, had issues in early life with what is termed ACE's, Adverse Childhood Experiences. It is amazing to see these two entities work together. We have known for years they should be, but, for many they didn't. Even now, in the year 2018, many don't. It is slowly working toward the goal of ensuring people are put first, and not each entities disagreements with each other. Read about evidence based treatment approaches here: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/evidence-based-approaches-to-drug-addiction-treatment
I am a person in recovery from a substance use disorder. Because of access to treatment, mental health counseling, medical care, and, access to many other peripheral resources, I haven't had to use any substances since March 25th, 2007. Every day without drugs in my system is a good day and I am forever grateful for that reality.
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