Patient safety is a top priority for any health care provider that is accredited by the Joint Commission of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO), as it should be for all of them.  In order to ensure patient safety, all staff members in a facility need to be well informed.  On the other hand, most of the general public is not so well informed of how they can protect themselves in a health care setting.

All staff members at Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles attend required training sessions, live and online, so patient safety is guaranteed to be a priority on all levels of service.  In providing alcohol and drug treatment and integrated behavioral healthcare, we focus on everything from floor coverings to medication interactions.  

Patients should be aware of their own rights and responsibilities as they relate to safety, as well.  While we make it a practice to orient new patients in these areas, there are things that they can do to streamline the admission process by being prepared.

JCAHO has posted a Patient Safety Quiz on its website that is meant to educate the general public.  It is a simple quiz that takes just a few minutes.  After completing the quiz, you will be led to a page with a great deal of information on patient safety.  Follow the link below for the quiz:


Tarzana Treatment Centers is accredited by JCAHO, and prioritizes patient safety in all of our integrated behavioral healthcare services.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence or drug addiction, 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.

Women suffer from alcohol dependence and drug addiction with many of the same problems as men.  Gender plays a role in the start of alcohol and drug use, the drugs of choice, and some of the problems associated with addiction.  And in some cases these problems can cause mental health issues.

Alcoholism usually comes over time with men, as opposed to women who tend to move more rapidly towards dependence.  This is generally due to differences in how the body metabolizes alcohol.  So women discover sooner than men that alcohol causes problems for them, and either seek alcohol treatment or accept the problems so they can continue drinking.

With drugs, women may seek more than euphoria when they use drugs.  Drug use trends among women are higher with stimulants and prescription drugs than for marijuana.  It is generally considered that teen cocaine and methamphetamine use among women is because they are very weight conscious.  And prescription drugs are often used in response to adolescent anxiety or depression in women more than men.

When women engage in alcohol abuse or drug abuse, problems can begin before dependence sets in.  Men may take advantage of women sexually and emotionally, and abusive relationships may develop.  Dependence brings more problems that can lead them to prostitution or other behaviors that lead them to see all men as victimizers or tools for validation.

While men and women benefit from co-ed drug treatment, these are times when gender-specific treatment may be necessary.  Women sometimes benefit from being in women-only alcohol and drug treatment to begin the healing process.  And if they have children, it is an added benefit when childcare and parenting classes are included.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides gender-specific treatment to eligible women, along with childcare, as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one needs help for alcohol dependence or drug addiction, 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.

Alcohol and drug treatment for some requires a gender-specific setting.  While alcohol dependence and drug addiction are generally treated the same regardless of gender, a co-ed setting can be a distraction for some valid reasons.  So an alcohol and drug treatment provider that offers gender-specific treatment removes the distraction and improves the opportunity for long-term recovery in these cases.

All alcoholics and drug addicts engage in negative behaviors that can cause long-term psychological issues of one kind or another.  In most cases they can find freedom from them with the help of addiction counselors and a program of recovery.  But for some these behaviors can cause paralyzing phobias, anger, and habits that prevent them from focusing on treatment in a co-ed setting.

Women, for example, may believe that men are untrustworthy because all of the men they encountered during alcohol or drug use were predatory.  Or they may have used sex as a means of getting the drugs they needed, again with predatory men, which can link sexuality to personal validation.  And some were involved in abusive relationships with men, which can lead to fear and anger with all men.  In many cases, these problems are discovered by counselors in alcohol and drug detox units.

All of these, and other factors, distract women if they are in alcohol and drug treatment with men.  They not only benefit when men are not present in treatment, but also when treatment staff and mental health professionals can focus on women’s issues during treatment.  Combined, treatment is more effective and provides the opportunity to correct habits and heal the very real pain.

There are also women with children who have no means to leave home for treatment while providing care for them.  Or, they don’t feel comfortable leaving a child for several weeks or months.  When treatment includes parenting classes and groups, as well as childcare, these individuals have access to treatment and don’t need to worry about the care their children are receiving.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles offers women-only and women with children treatment, to eligible patients, as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one has a problem with alcohol dependence or drug addiction, 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.

A lot has been said in recent months about the use of technology in health care.  Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles makes a daily effort to innovate and improve the way it uses technology in alcohol and drug treatment.  Applications are used in every aspect of our work from customer service, to productivity, to reporting.

Starting with our Reception Log, customer service is streamlined at our front door.  This application is used by all of our staff members who meet with our clients and visitors.  Our receptionist enters information about the client or visitor and who they came to see.  The time is automatically recorded and the staff member is notified with the visitor’s name and purpose.  

Staff is responsible for each individual assigned to them.  Whether individuals have an appointment or not, staff will greet them and either meet with them or set a later appointment.  The Reception Log application follows each individual until they have been admitted to treatment or they depart the facility.  

The Reception Log is valuable for customer service because it cuts down on wait times in the lobby.  Admissions staff, for example, can see that a new patient is in the lobby and deliver paperwork to them, getting the process to admit started.  This is important to new patients and their families, especially if they are in need of alcohol or drug detox treatment.

In terms of productivity, counselors and technicians in our residential rehab, outpatient, and medical detoxification units view the log so they can be ready for the arrival of new patients.  This alerts staff to free time for new arrivals, but it also gives inpatient staff members time to make sure they feel welcome.  For detox this is especially important as new arrivals typically are in the early to mid stages of withdrawal.

Tarzana Treatment Centers provides many services through various private and government funding sources.  The Reception Log allows us to quickly produce reports when requested, and we can do so while maintaining our strict confidentiality standards.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles uses technology to provide all of our services as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence or drug addiction, 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.

Alcohol and drug treatment is more affordable than most Americans think, apparently.  It is understandable if their only source of information is the major media, where only very expensive celebrity treatment centers are discussed.  These cost a small fortune, but most are reasonably priced, like Tarzana Treatment Centers.

Quality treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction should not require people to mortgage their homes.  Celebrity rehabs, as they are generally called, provide special services to the very wealthy in order to provide comfort and distraction-free treatment.  For the great majority of alcoholics and drug addicts, they are not necessary and can even be detrimental to successful treatment.

At Tarzana Treatment Centers, we provide integrated behavioral healthcare that includes alcohol and drug detox, adult and youth alcohol and drug treatment, mental health care, and HIV/AIDS services.  We offer residential and outpatient services.  

In many cases, due to the many contracts we have with insurance carriers, treatment is much more affordable than you think.  We also work with community based organizations to help some individuals get into alcohol and drug treatment, like AAIR for Native Americans.

If you are in need of alcohol or drug treatment, money does not need to be a deciding factor in getting it.  Please call Tarzana Treatment Centers today at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

The information below is from University of Maryland’s CESAR Fax, which is published periodically.  The portion below details people of all income levels are misinformed about the cost of alcohol and drug treatment.

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Nearly half of U.S. adults say that they would not be able to afford alcohol or drug treatment if they or someone in their family needed it, according to a telephone survey conducted this past June. While adults with annual incomes under $50,000 are most likely to say they would not be able to afford treatment (67%), more affluent adults also perceive an inability to pay for treatment. Thirty percent of those with incomes between $75,000 and $100,000 and one-fourth of those with incomes above $100,000 didn’t think they would be able to afford treatment if they needed it. R. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, recently stated that his office will be “working to ensure drug abuse treatment services are incorporated into our national health care reform process.”*

-- Source: http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/cesarfax/vol18/18-27.pdf --

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.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley, and in Santa Ana.

Federal stimulus dollars through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) are being used to help the homeless and others who need temporary housing during alcohol and drug treatment.  These are important funds that not only help those who need a “leg up”, but also provide employment and inject money into the economy.  

Tarzana Treatment Centers was pleased to receive funds from the United Way through the (ARRA). This Act is part of the economic stimulus package that Congress passed and President Obama signed into law in February 2009. The overall intention of the ARRA is to create spending and relieve financial burdens of both individuals and state and local organizations, so the economy can begin to recover. The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) funds are specifically for not-for-profit organizations to supplement their emergency food and shelter programs.  

Alcohol and drug detox are major components of the integrated behavioral healthcare services that Tarzana Treatment Centers provides.  State and local grants allow us to provide medical detoxification to individuals who would not otherwise be able to afford these treatments.  But while these services are greatly needed, it is also important that alcohol and drug treatment continues in order to avoid relapses.

One of the basic needs that people require is shelter.  For those suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction and seeking treatment, it is especially important to have a safe place to be during the process.  Homeless individuals, and others who simply don’t want to return to toxic residences, are generally willing to enter government funded residential alcohol and drug treatment.

Detox counselors at Tarzana Treatment Centers work tirelessly to refer these patients to aftercare and continued shelter.  But government funded residential treatment centers are usually full, and place individuals on a waiting list.  If temporary housing can’t be found through family, friends, or charity organizations in the interim, patients usually return to the streets or toxic places.  So, many of these patients leave and relapse during the period between detox and aftercare, even if that period is just 24 hours.  

The EFSP funds mentioned above are opening doors for individuals who need temporary shelter and food.  The time gap between detox and treatment is only one example of the need that is being fulfilled.  Others include HIV/AIDS services, veterans’ alcohol and drug treatment, and Native American services.  Our goal is to provide uninterrupted services to all who need them.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley, and in Santa Ana.

We have an opportunity to speak out about the issue of proposed cuts to alcohol and drug treatment programs and to put a potential solution in front of legislators.   On June 15 at 6:00 PM Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Legislative Budget Conferee Senator Mark Leno will participate in a live Internet discussion on the budget.  If enough citizens submit similar questions about the issues, we might be able to get our questions addressed during the discussion and influence these leaders to attend to the needs of alcohol and drug treatment clients.

Some suggested questions are:

1. Why do the Governor and some legislators interpret the defeat of Propositions 1A through 1E as a voter rejection of increases in taxes?    The defeat of the several propositions would be more accurately interpreted as a rejection of attempts to redirect monies that the voters have already authorized.   
2. Why are some legislators willing to cut funding for Prop 36 when doing so will only shift the costs to the criminal justice system?
3. Over 1.3 million Californian adults and children depend on CalWorks.  What will happen to these parents and children if CalWorks funding is eliminated?
4. A $ .10 per drink fee would generate almost $1.5 billion in revenue annually.  What is the level of support among legislators for this proposal? The Governor has proposed it in the past and over 80% of the public supports it.

Please take a moment to copy and paste these questions into the form you will find at the following link:   http://senweb03.senate.ca.gov/focus/townhall/default.htm

This generation has a better understanding of alcohol and drug use among combat veterans than in the past.  It is fortunate that alcohol dependence and drug addiction treatment has become more effective for everyone over the past 40 years, while our armed forces had a break in major conflicts.  Now veterans can get the help they need early after returning from combat, enabling them to resume normal family and social lives.

Alcohol and drug treatment has improved since the 1970s, giving more alcoholics and drug addicts hope that their lives can change.  And treatment for co-occurring substance abuse and mental health is now specialized in some treatment centers that offer integrated behavioral healthcare. This is a great benefit to US veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who may have issues with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and use alcohol or drugs to minimize emotional pain.

Alcohol and drug detox using medical detoxification procedures has become routine.  However, not many alcohol and drug treatment centers offer comprehensive medical detoxification for alcohol and drugs, if at all.  Starting treatment with a proper alcohol or drug detox that offers addiction counseling can build a solid foundation for long term recovery.

Tarzana Treatment Centers provides alcohol and drug treatment through integrated behavioral healthcare specialized for US Veterans.  Our medical detoxification services include addiction counseling.  Mental health professionals are available to treat those who suffer from post-combat issues, so the chance of relapse after treatment can be minimized.

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has placed a priority on minimizing alcohol and drug use over the past generation.  New guidelines restricting alcohol use on military bases has helped during service.  More importantly, DoD has made an effort to help veterans discover when a problem exists and, if needed, when to seek help.  A short section of a website dedicated to those aims follows.

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It's common for Service Members to drink alcohol while in the service. Some Service Members have admitted to alcohol use during their deployments, a situation in which there are clear rules governing alcohol use. Some Service Members drink even though they are under age. Service Members drink socially with their buddies, or to relax. Most often the drinking is kept under control and doesn't cause any serious problems. But for some Service Members, the drinking does get out of control. Problems in relationships like fighting, trouble fulfilling duties and responsibilities because of intoxication or a hangover, and financial and legal difficulties, such as a DUI or a "dirty" drug test, can all be consequences of excessive drinking.

While most people are able to drink in moderation without problems, for others drinking can create negative consequences. Problem drinking may take different forms. The most common are drinking heavily and binge drinking. Heavy drinking means continued drinking even though there are problems at work, or in relationships, or with a health-related matter, and even when there have been serious negative consequences such as getting a DUI or getting into fights. Binge drinking is defined as drinking five or more drinks at a time. Frequent binge drinkers are twenty-one times more likely than non-binge drinkers to damage property, be injured in accidents, act violently, have risky sex, drive drunk, or get in trouble with the law. Binge drinking among younger people has also been linked to memory problems.

-- Source: http://www.afterdeployment.org/index2.php?cid=s108_0110&rcid=s108_0100#2a –

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.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley, and in Santa Ana.

One of the reasons we incarcerate those who commit crimes is to rehabilitate them.  The US justice system is supposed to help these individuals become civil members of society.  Since alcohol or drug use is involved in most crimes that result in incarceration, though, you would think that alcohol and drug treatment would be a key factor in their rehabilitation.  Unfortunately, that’s not the case for most of them.

A couple of scenarios can help explain why alcohol and drug treatment is needed for the incarcerated.  First, there is the alcoholic or drug addict who committed a crime while under the influence.  The second group consists of alcohol and drug abusers who live a life of crime and have been incarcerated several times.

Alcohol dependence and drug addiction can cause the sufferer to do things they normally wouldn’t.  This can be due to blackouts or desperation for a “fix”, among other reasons.  When the crime committed is serious enough to warrant incarceration, it stands to reason that treatment should be provided before they are released.  

These are not career criminals, but people who suffer from a disease that needs to be treated.  Probation for this group is counter-intuitive.  Follow-up outpatient alcohol or drug treatment makes better sense.  The problem is alcohol dependence or drug addiction, and not crime.  So the solution is to fix the primary problems of alcoholism or drug addiction that resulted in the crime.

Many incarcerated individuals know of no other way to survive than to commit crimes due to life circumstances.  They are always in and out of jails and prisons, and tend to use alcohol or drugs to mask inner feelings that motivate their life of crime.  The justice system would make great strides in solving this ongoing problem by providing alcohol and drug treatment during incarceration.

Alcohol and drug treatment gives sufferers a sense of hope that life can be lived not only without alcohol and drugs, but also as productive members of society.  For the incarcerated, the treatment experience can be powerful when they relate life experiences with one another.  The hope generated by treatment during incarceration can help many “career criminals” change the course of their lives.

Time served in a jails and prisons does nothing for anyone if they don’t learn how to change their lives upon release into society.  Even those with the best intentions of “going straight”, not knowing how, are at risk of returning to a life of crime.  So continued outpatient or even residential alcohol and drug treatment during probation can help to prevent a return to damaging lifestyles.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported on the lack of treatment available to incarcerated individuals.  An excerpt is provided below.  Revolving doors at jails and prisons don’t need to exist when we have solutions like alcohol and drug treatment.  And in tough economic times, it’s nice to know that making these changes will save money.

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Effective Treatment Is Not Widely Available

Less than 10 percent of adults and about 20 percent of adolescents with substance abuse problems in the Nation's jails, prisons, and probation programs can receive treatment on a given day, according to the National Criminal Justice Treatment Practices Survey (NCJTPS). Although 65 percent of adult facilities report that they offer substance abuse treatment, the number of people who can participate in these programs is often severely limited.

These findings further reveal the scope of the problem highlighted by previous research indicating that the most frequently provided services for adults and adolescents—substance abuse education and low-intensity group therapy (less than 4 hours a week)—are not likely to help offenders change their behavior. The survey also disclosed that only 40 percent of adult facilities and 29 percent of juvenile facilities reported having full-time personnel to provide drug abuse therapy.

-- Source: http://www.nida.nih.gov/NIDA_notes/NNvol22N3/nidaatwork.html#insert –

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.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley, and in Santa Ana.

Even if an alcohol or drug intervention comes when problems are still manageable, an ultimatum to enter some form of treatment needs to be made.  The reason is simple.  Life problems will continue to mount for people who use alcohol or drugs as an answer to their problems.  A change needs to be made in their actions and thinking through intensive therapy.  

This is a task that requires time, patience, and knowledge.  Loved ones who may be compelled to help could find themselves frustrated, disappointed and angry.  Treatment professionals and people in support groups have the knowledge and experience that can make change happen.  Knowing what type of treatment to require of the individual is important.

Alcohol dependence and drug addiction will result in withdrawals upon cessation of use.  Entering residential alcohol and drug treatment, starting with medical detoxification, should be required of these individuals in an intervention.  Simply stopping the use of alcohol or drugs makes a relapse almost certain, and can cause physical harm or even be fatal.

When an intervention is attempted with a loved one at the first signs of trouble, or there about, the temptation is to just say “stop” and demand abstinence.  Nobody wants to over-react by suggesting the individual gets help, but everybody wants the problem to stop and not return.  It makes good sense to risk over-reaction, though, rather than risk worsening or recurring problems

In these cases, during the intervention, a 12 Step program or other support group should be required.  It might even be a good idea to require admission to outpatient alcohol and drug treatment to avoid future problems.  This is because at the core of every alcohol and drug problem is a lack of ability to cope with life issues.  At the very least, the individual will learn valuable tools in treatment that will make life better.

The information below is part of a guide from The Partnership for a Drug Free America which helps readers to plan an intervention.  Tarzana Treatment Centers can help with pre-screening adults and adolescents for admission before the intervention takes place.  So when the decision is made to enter alcohol and drug treatment, this will ensure that it happens immediately.

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What About Requiring Abstinence?
Some families tell the person to stop all drinking and drug use. However, complying can be difficult -uncontrollable alcohol or other drug craving, seeking, and use is the hallmark of addiction. If you decide to give an ultimatum, require treatment, not abstinence. People who engage in treatment will be better able to achieve abstinence, because they will be given the medical attention and emotional support they need to maintain abstinence over the long term.

-- Source: http://www.drugfree.org/Files/Intervention_Quick_Guide --

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.