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by James Heller
2. July 2012 15:03
Motivation for recovery can change in an instant for alcoholics and opiate addicts. They’ll say they want Vivitrol treatment to reduce cravings and help them focus on treatment. The addict brain then does everything it can to change that decision. Because of this, Tarzana Treatment Centers makes every effort to speed the process from decision to Vivitrol injection.
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“Collaboration between substance abuse treatment providers and primary care physicians and clinicians on behalf of alcohol-dependent individuals is key to obtaining the best treatment outcomes for this chronic, relapsing disease.”
-- Source: http://wwwtest.adp.ca.gov/Pressroom/News/Focus/June2012/INDEX.html#feat1 --
Patients must be assessed for Vivitrol treatment by qualified medical personnel. Tarzana Treatment Centers’ alcohol and drug treatment program has licensed medical professionals on staff daily. This minimizes the time between decision and assessment. Every step like this toward getting the actual injection helps a patient to resist thoughts suggesting to not go through with the decision.
Vivitrol is available by prescription only, which is the next step toward injection. Our daily staff of medical personnel includes licensed prescribers. This minimizes another possible waiting period, and may even eliminate it if the assessor and prescriber is the same person. The only step left is to receive the Vivitrol injection, and we keep a stock ready for new patients.
Collaboration between providers is easy at Tarzana Treatment Centers because they all work in the same facility and use the same software to track patient care. Nobody can promise that you will get a Vivitrol injection the same day you make the decision, but we make it possible.
Telemedicine services are also available with online medical care, online mental health treatment, and online alcohol and drug treatment.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
by James Heller
27. June 2012 14:27
Tarzana Treatment Centers and Vivitrol were featured on the Madeleine Brand Show on KPCC Public Radio. You can read about the topic and listen to the segment at this link:
At some point, every alcoholic and opiate ( heroin, pain killers) addict has a desire to quit drinking or using drugs. Most of them don’t know how to get help or that they can get addiction treatment at low or no cost, leading to a feeling of hopelessness. If that desire to quit passes without getting help, they can wind up in a downward spiral and eventually lose everything. The addiction can take a strong hold on them. If they find their way to a traditional detox-to-aftercare treatment program, it may require Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).
When individuals have a difficult time with relapse after alcohol or opiate detox, recovery can seem out of reach. Some will repeatedly enter detox treatment, with a serious desire to recover from alcohol dependence or drug addiction. Alcohol and opiate cravings are a major trigger for relapse, and can strike both during and after detox. For the individuals we’re describing in this article, cravings are also a major distraction during treatment. So they rarely achieve long-term recovery.
We are committed to the promotion of Vivitrol treatment because we have witnessed the positive results for so many of these patients. Several individuals who had been to detox more than five times have now been sober during Vivitrol treatment for more than 6 months at a time. That is a big achievement for this group. Every sober moment they get in treatment will provide them with tools to stay sober. Relapse may not be a thing of the past in these cases, but recovery is finally in reach.
Telemedicine services are also available with online medical care, online mental health treatment, and online alcohol and drug treatment.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
by James Heller
22. June 2012 07:37
When life and financial situations take a turn for the worst, most people do what they can to support themselves until they can get back on their feet. Others don’t have much of a personal safety net and enroll in public assistance programs. Some turn to alcohol or drugs as an escape and become dependent. In these cases, addiction can make for a long road back to a normal life.
Two factors that keep alcoholics and heroin addicts from achieving long-term recovery are money and cravings. They think they can’t afford treatment, so they don’t bother calling a facility. If they do get into treatment and complete medical detoxification, they may relapse shortly thereafter because the cravings are so powerful. Many of these individuals give up if a loved one doesn’t inform them of the options that are available.
Tarzana Treatment Centers has solutions for both barriers to recovery. It is likely that you qualify for public assistance if you are out of work and can’t afford treatment. We can get you started with detox right away under low-cost and no-cost public contracts. Alcohol and drug treatment is covered by Cal-WORKs and Medicare, along with several other programs. The goal of these programs is to help you get clean and sober so you can get back on your feet.
Since cravings may cause relapse, we also encourage the use of Vivitrol for qualified patients. Vivitrol blocks receptors in the brain to reduce alcohol and opiate cravings, and works for 30 days with one injection. We have low-cost and no-cost treatment contracts for Vivitrol, and can get you started when you are ready to discharge from detox.
If you are using alcohol or drugs, and are suffering some tough financial times, the only guarantee is that things will get worse. Today is the day to get started, and Tarzana Treatment Centers has you covered.
Telemedicine services are also available with online medical care, online mental health treatment, and online alcohol and drug treatment.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
by James Heller
20. June 2012 09:34
Rodney King has spoken about his alcoholism and drug abuse issues for a few years. He has appeared on many TV and radio programs, including Celebrity Rehab, and we’ve seen him publicly go between sobriety and relapse a few times. We are going to bypass what made Mr. King a household name. We will instead discuss how alcoholism plagued him, and what can prevent future tragic losses.
When King had a lot of money, he tried expensive rehabs. But the treatment didn’t help. He tried to publicly go through addiction treatment on television, which looked somewhat promising for a while. But he was dealing with alcohol-related legal issues a few months later. King was like most alcoholics who never achieve long-term sobriety. Sadly, the death toll is very high.
If Rodney King died by accidentally drowning in a pool while he was drunk, then it highlights the urgency with which alcoholics should seek help. Any delay can lead to a sudden and tragic loss. It is difficult to sugar coat these things, so we prefer to state it clearly. Alcoholics too often say “That won’t be me”, only to be taking a final breath the next day, filled with regret.
Alcoholics who drink heavily to cover deep-seated emotions usually have trouble focusing in treatment. The urge to drink is great due to alcohol cravings. So craving reduction may help them to achieve long-term recovery. One effective tool for this is Vivitrol, which is a monthly injection of Naltrexone. Vivitrol removes the distraction of cravings so patients can explore core feelings in alcohol treatment.
Tarzana Treatment Centers is a Vivitrol provider and has seen some amazing results. Success stories cross all social, gender, and age lines. Some of our mental health treatment patients have been on Vivitrol treatment and sober for several months, where they previously struggled achieving only weeks of sobriety. In addition to being safer from accidents, our Vivitrol clients have reported that they get more out of treatment when cravings are out of the way.
Telemedicine services are also available with online medical care, online mental health treatment, and online alcohol and drug treatment.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
by James Heller
20. October 2010 13:05
Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles is thrilled at the news that the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Vivitrol for use in opioid addiction treatment. The evidence was clear to us that Vivitrol reduced opiate cravings, but the FDA went one step further in approving it for the “prevention of relapse to opioid dependence.” This means that we can finally say what we’ve also known for a long time; Vivitrol prevents relapse.
Tarzana Treatment Centers offers Vivitrol for alcohol treatment and opiate treatment as part of our Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program. It is a Naltrexone injection taken monthly that reduces alcohol cravings and opiate cravings. This allows individuals in recovery to focus on addiction treatment, and offers a better chance at long-term recovery. For more information about the FDA approval and Vivitrol, click the link below for the press release by Vivitrol manufacturer, Alkermes.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/alkermes-announces-fda-approval-of-vivitrolr-for-prevention-of-relapse-to-opioid-dependence-2010-10-12?reflink=MW_news_stmp
Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides a full array of health care services including adult and youth alcohol and drug treatment. We specialize in treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, and have two primary medical care clinics in the San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley. If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence, drug addiction, or co-occurring mental health disorders, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
by James Heller
12. April 2010 14:07
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is a safe and effective method for alcohol and narcotic withdrawal and maintenance. There is ample evidence suggesting that harm reduction strategies should be more widely available to those suffering from alcohol dependence and drug addiction. Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles has taken note of these facts, and offers several medication assisted treatment options.
Traditional alcohol and drug treatment services help many individuals to begin a life in recovery and improve their lives. MAT is utilized in medical detoxification at the start of treatment to minimize withdrawal symptoms from alcohol and other drugs. This process is important since patients must be medically stable before beginning the process of recovery.
For some, though, relapse commonly follows traditional treatment. This is generally due to alcohol cravings and opiate cravings that vary greatly from patient to patient. Medications like Suboxone, Vivitrol, and Methadone help to minimize cravings so these individuals may begin the process of recovery, medically stable and in a receptive state of mind.
For more information, click the link below:
Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles offers many medication assisted treatment options. We specialize in treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, and have two primary medical care clinics in the San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley. If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence, drug addiction, or co-occurring mental health disorders, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.
For more information on Vivitrol, contact us via email at vivitrol@tarzanatc.org.
Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.
by James Heller
27. July 2009 07:22
By James Heller
Tarzana Treatment Centers has been offering Vivitrol injections to patients in alcohol treatment for some time now. In an effort to raise awareness of medication assisted treatment, and as a professional courtesy, we would like to share some patient experiences.
How We Obtained Information
Four informal interviews were conducted with patients who had received an injection of Vivitrol during treatment at Tarzana Treatment Centers. No effort was made to collect statistics in this case. FDA guidelines were followed with each of these patients, but not addressed in interview questions. Each was reminded of the FDA approved use of Vivitrol if the patient mentioned other perceived benefits. The point was to collect candid feedback that may be helpful to those considering Vivitrol as a tool in their own recovery, and those treating them.
It appears that patients see Vivitrol as a good tool in recovery for more than just alcohol craving reduction. They report a common sense of hope that they will remain sober, as well as a stronger motivation for recovery compared to non-Vivitrol patients. This was consistent in a range from first-timers in treatment to chronic relapsers.
Vivitrol Gives Hope to Patients
A 50 year old patient who had been drinking since age 10, in treatment for the first time, stated that he will continue with Vivitrol injections even though he did not know if it was working. Vivitrol brought him hope that he will remain sober using any tool available. Another patient who suffers chronic relapses said that treatment is more effective on her after taking Vivitrol, and that she feels a sense of hope for the first time.
Vivitrol Improves Motivation for Recovery
The degree of patient motivation for recovery is a major factor in successful treatment. With each new treatment episode, motivation tends to diminish for an individual. So it is interesting that patients with more than one treatment episode at Tarzana Treatment Centers reported higher motivation for recovery after taking Vivitrol.
Vivitrol Reduces Alcohol Cravings
Tempting situations are everywhere for alcoholics early in recovery. The cravings that result at these times are a major factor in causing relapse. So if cravings don’t manifest completely, it can mean the difference between relapse and continued sobriety.
On cravings, those in treatment for the first time credited fellowship and commitment to a program for reducing them, and acknowledged that they had no experience with which to compare. Others with several treatment attempts fervently attributed the reduction in cravings to Vivitrol.
Two patients admitted to relapse on day 34 after receiving the first injection. Both were scheduled for a second injection, but chose instead to attend an event out of town. Interviews were conducted with these patients on day 37.
When asked if a second injection would have prevented relapse, both quickly answered in the affirmative. Each relayed that they had been in more tempting situations during the first 30 days than when they drank on day 34. This is an indicator of Vivitrol’s success in reducing cravings in the 30 day period.
Reported Side Effects are Mild
One of the patients who relapsed on day 34 reported getting sick after drinking only 3 beers, which is inconsistent with the other who relapsed the same day. Another reported injection site pain and mild shakes for the entire 30 day period. These are considered to be due to factors not shared in the interviews, as opposed to being side effects of Vivitrol use.
Unexpected Benefits Reported
Some patients reported benefits outside of those expected from Vivitrol. A patient stated that she did not feel an urge to use methamphetamines as well. And each patient used terminology at times that referred to relief of the mental obsession rather than the physical craving.
Another surprising report comes from a staff member who helps patients to quit smoking. At least one patient has refused nicotine replacement patches, stating that she does not feel like smoking since receiving the Vivitrol injection.
Conclusions
From these interviews, it can be concluded that patients do indeed experience a reduction in cravings for alcohol with Vivitrol whether or not they credit the drug. Motivation for recovery appears to be bolstered if it is not already strong. And side effects were consistent with those expected, minus two that were unlikely to be a result of Vivitrol use.
It is also plausible that the reduction in cravings has a positive side effect on a patient’s mental state in treatment. Just the belief that their obsession has been lifted will improve motivation and hope for patients using Vivitrol.
For more information on Vivitrol, contact us via email at vivitrol@tarzanatc.org.
by James Heller
4. May 2009 13:51
Since alcohol cravings are a major trigger for relapse, leading patients out of alcohol treatment prior to completion, Tarzana Treatment Centers offers Vivitrol to patients as a part of their treatment. It is an effort to not only keep alcohol dependent patients in treatment, but also to improve the effectiveness of that treatment.
Vivitrol is Naltrexone in the form of a monthly injection which blocks the euphoria associated with alcohol use. How many injections a person receives varies depending upon how long cravings continue.
Vivitrol was approved by the FDA for the treatment of alcohol dependence in April, 2006. While there is no need for further clinical trials, Tarzana Treatment Centers conducts studies with other entities to help standardize treatment modalities. As seen below, Vivitrol is helping patients succeed in alcohol treatment so our goal is to make it available to any patient that is eligible.
On September 11, 2008, Tarzana Treatment Centers began participation in the Los Angeles County Alcohol and Drug Program Administration’s (ADPA) Vivitrol Demonstration Project. The ADPA has concluded that “The medication seemed to effectively support clients to relieve their cravings for alcohol, thereby allowing them to focus on their recovery efforts and averting premature departure from their treatment programs.”
In a six month period Tarzana Treatment Centers administered the first injection to 32 patients. 23 of them began treatment in alcohol detox and, on average, had been in treatment 1 or 2 times previously. Out of the 23 a total of 21 completed detox with 17 transferring to residential treatment.
Overall, 23 of the 32 remained in residential alcohol treatment or have successfully completed during the 6 months. One patient completed outpatient alcohol treatment. Only 4 patients left treatment prior to completion against medical advice.
Based on the success of the demonstration project, ADPA stated that it is “…considering ways to support provider purchases and other costs related to Vivitrol use on a continuing basis and to expand its use Countywide.”
The ADPA research article and data can be found at:
http://www.lapublichealth.org/adpa/bulletins/ADPABulletin2.pdf
For more information on Vivitrol, contact us via email at vivitrol@tarzanatc.org.
Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles makes a daily effort to find treatment news articles that we can share with our readers in the alcohol and drug treatment community. The external content was found among other articles of equal informational and educational quality.
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