The HIV Services team at Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles produced an informative video that is meant to encourage individuals to be tested for HIV infection.  Statistics are provided during the video that explain why it is important that people who may not even think they are at risk should be tested.  HIV/AIDS treatment has come a long way over the past 20 years, but, left untreated, HIV can still lead to serious illness and death.

See the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIN_kOEw3wg

The statistics presented might make you think twice if you believe you are not at risk for HIV infection.  When grouped together in a certain order, they tell a story:

* Over half of all new HIV infections in Los Angeles County are spread by people who have it and don’t know it.
* 69% of women living with AIDS in Los Angeles County got HIV through heterosexual (male with female) contact.
* African-Americans account for 22% of living AIDS cases in Los Angeles County.  
* Latinos make up the largest number of people living with AIDS of any racial and ethnic group in Los Angeles County.

The story goes like this:
When a man doesn’t know he is HIV positive, he may see no reason to avoid risky sexual behavior, needle sharing, or other means of spreading the virus.  He may have just one unprotected sexual encounter with a woman that he meets on a night out, and spread the virus to her.  And if he is sexually active with more than one woman, they are all at risk.  If he is an intravenous drug user, he may share needles with others and spread the virus to his friends.  All without being aware that he is doing so.

We share the African-American and Latino statistics to show that HIV is spreading at a rapid pace in these communities.  The best way to put a stop to the growing problem is for individuals to be tested.

HIV tests are confidential, and are offered at a low cost or free at many locations in Los Angeles County.  To be safe, it is best to be tested for HIV if you do not know the status of recent sexual partners and those with whom you may have shared needles.  It is best to be certain if you are HIV positive or negative.  If you are positive, you need to seek HIV/AIDS treatment so you don’t become ill.  To be blunt, dying from AIDS complications is a slow and painful process.

Tarzana Treatment Centers provides storefront HIV testing in the San Fernando Valley.  If you find that you are HIV positive, you will want to ask about our renowned HIV services.  We staff caring individuals who not only know how to produce a video, but understand what you are dealing with and can provide you all of the services you need.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides 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.

All of our services are also available via video conference or phone as part of our telehealth services.

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.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles has taken pride in our efforts to remain current with health technology advancements.  We have now partnered with MDLiveCare to provide telemedicine services.  This will enable us to offer alcohol and drug treatment, mental health treatment, and medical care via video conference technology, which will allow access to more individuals who need these services.

Please click the link below to read the press release:

MDLiveCare® Health Services, Inc. Announces Agreements in California, Florida and Illinois as It Continues Building National Provider Network and Licensing Relationships

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides 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.

Getting medical health care can be a problem for several reasons.  Cost, location, and lack of insurance are all reasons that individuals postpone or neglect health care.  Some may not want to get treatment from their regular physician for some ailments, as well.  The primary medical care clinics at Tarzana Treatment Centers can help in any of these situations.

We have two medical care clinics located in the San Fernando Valley (Northridge) and in the Antelope Valley (Lancaster).  At each clinic we provide health care services to the communities that are affordable and local.  Whether you need drug testing for your employees, treatment for HIV and other STDs, or injury and illness treatments, we can help.

The care we provide is confidential, caring, and convenient.  Our health care services also ensure a continuum of care to our patients in alcohol and drug treatment.  We also staff medical professionals with years of experience with HIV at our clinics to treat individuals utilizing our HIV services.

For more information, please click the link below to view our flyer:


Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides primary medical care at our clinics.  We specialize in treatment for mental health and substance use disorders.  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.

California has designated the month of April as Multi-Cultural Health Month.  The focus for 2010 is on heart disease in men, the number one killer in the state.  Alcoholism and drug addiction can lead to heart disease in those who suffer.  Since the disease of addiction crosses cultural boundaries, Tarzana Treatment Centers is happy to participate in bringing awareness to the public about multi-cultural health care.

Any discussion about multi-cultural issues can be extended to include what are known as subcultures.  A subculture can be any group that shares concerns, values, traditions, and other areas of interest.  Effective alcohol and drug treatment requires knowledge of and specialization for certain subcultures because, even though addiction is the same for everyone, leading individuals to recovery requires empathy.

Focusing on subcultures is not about pigeonholing individuals.  The point is to be aware of cultural beliefs that come from being a part of a subculture, and to treat patients with sensitivity to those beliefs.  This helps to keep patients in treatment when relapse interventions are needed, and connects existing positive beliefs with the benefits of long-term recovery.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles focuses on cultural sensitivity among staff in many ways.  Even though we only hire direct patient staff that has completed courses in treating patients from subcultures, we provide staff trainings on the subject.  There are rarely any language barriers, as well, since we have many staff members who speak various foreign languages.  Best of all, we provide specialized services for some cultures and subcultures.

Our highly regarded HIV services program has evolved over the past two decades.  The needs of gay and transgender patients in HIV treatment require special focus, especially when alcohol dependence or drug addiction is a factor.  Because of this, both staff and other patients attend education groups so HIV positive patients can feel comfortable and their privacy remains intact.

We also have a Native American alcohol and drug treatment track that brings culture and tradition into treatment.  Native American men still suffer a high incidence of alcoholism, which is often responsible for heart disease.  The program includes traditional sweat lodge ceremonies and in-house Wellbriety groups.

Other individuals who may require special attention are undocumented persons, women with children, veterans with mental health needs, those with hepatitis C or Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and senior citizens.  There are too many subcultures in America for anyone to relate to them all.  But since our staff is so culturally diverse, it is likely that all subcultures can feel comfortable with us.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides all of the services listed above and more.  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.

It doesn’t seem very long ago that a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS came with a sense of hopelessness.  Now the diagnosis can come with a motivation to live healthier and extend life.  And when being HIV positive is paired with drug addiction or alcoholism, hope and life must be celebrated.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles understands this and provides comprehensive HIV services as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  It is important for HIV positive patients to receive a continuum of care starting as soon as they enter drug or alcohol detox.  It is also important to celebrate life, as we have for several years now, by holding a World AIDS Day event.

We welcome you to join us for our World AIDS Day event, and celebrate life.  The event will include keynote speakers, live performances, food, prizes and more as we celebrate our continued fight for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.  Here is the information:

Date:          December 1, 2009
Time:         10am – Noon
Location:    18646 Oxnard St, Tarzana, CA  91356 <click for map>

World AIDS Day originated through the World Health Organization in 1988 and later turned over to the World AIDS Campaign (WAC) in 2005.  The theme for 2009, as it has been since the WAC took the reins, is “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise” with the subtitle “I Am…”

World AIDS Day is meant to raise awareness and money with the goal of defeating the deadly disease.  
Great progress has been made in extending the lives of HIV positive individuals, but we have a long way to go.  Public awareness about the virus is still lacking, and we still need to at least find a vaccine.

Slogans for 2009 events are “I am accepted”, “I am getting treatment”, and “I am well”.  They promote a positive attitude for all to see that those who are HIV positive can still lead productive lives.  With medication and treatment they can all contribute to society like anyone else.  There are still those in the general public who don’t know this, and take a fear-based approach to HIV/AIDS.

Advancements in medications and treatment for HIV/AIDS have been great over the past two decades.  Through healthy habits, medication, and treatment, individuals can live long and fruitful lives with HIV.  But it is expensive to live with HIV because of the high medical expenses.  So stopping the virus in its tracks is the ultimate goal of researchers.

For many years, researchers have tried to contain this virus.  The problem is that the virus mutates, which makes developing a vaccine very difficult.  Recent progress has been made in finding commonalities in all strains of the virus, opening the door to the discovery of a vaccine.  Research needs to continue to be funded through government and private grants so this can happen.

If you would like more details on the event, or need help with drug addiction or alcohol dependence and HIV, 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.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles is a respected provider of HIV services.  As part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment, we know these services are valuable to those who are also infected with HIV.  

We do not only treat HIV, drug addiction, and alcoholism.  We also provide housing, education, and counseling, along with many other services.  Our goal is to teach those with HIV how that they can live a productive life in sobriety.

For detailed information about our HIV Services, please click on the link below to view our brochure.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence or drug addiction, and is HIV positive, 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.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles greatly appreciates the many patient testimonials we receive.  In the interest of confidentiality and patient privacy, we go to great lengths before posting them for public viewing, so we couldn’t possibly show all of them.  Sometimes former patients will make their relationship with us public, which gives us a chance to show the positive results of the work we do.

The Daily Sundial of California State University, Northridge, posted an article about a former patient of Tarzana Treatment Centers.  While his name and picture are used the story, we will not.  The story is very informative about how he deals with being HIV positive, and his struggles with drug addiction.

In a follow-up interview with us, though, he expressed a desire to paint a clearer picture of his life in recovery and experience with Tarzana Treatment Centers.  His joy lies in recovery and he would like people to know that he does not dwell in the past, but instead uses his experiences to help others.

His hopeful optimism was evident when he spoke of the status of the relationship he has with his children.  While it is still in the rebuilding phase, and may be for some time, they are as open to moving forward and having dad back in their lives.  He shares daily conversations with them through text messages, and a phone call when possible, since they live out of state.

Future goals for this man in recovery include educating the HIV positive as well as non-positive population, and help to remove the stigma surrounding the disease.  He is currently studying Health Education at CSUN, and speaks for Positively Speaking.  He also works with the Tarzana Treatment Centers Community Advisory Board.

Staying active toward his goals proves to help in his own recovery from drug addiction.  He is an example of how positive behavior contributes to long-term recovery.  Due to the circumstances of his life, he is currently on disability and looks forward to the day that he can get back to work and get off of government assistance.  He is always looking forward.

While success in recovery greatly depends on an individual’s motivation, alcohol and drug treatment is often needed to encourage it or for that which is lacking.  For this patient, his motivation came from being tired of chasing a habit.  Knowing the problems his addiction had caused in his life led him to a desperate desire for help.  

Tarzana Treatment Centers was eager, as always, to make available everything he needed to get back on his feet and begin a new life.  “Tarzana Treatment Centers is amazing!” is all he could say to describe our part in his recovery.  He spoke highly of Charlon Davison, saying she was “perfect” when it came to leading him gently towards recovery and taking care of his new health needs.

We wish all of our former patients well, and continued recovery.  This gentleman is a fine example of how recovering individuals contribute positively to society, and are true assets.  Seeing former patients turn a downward spiraling life around makes all of our work worthwhile.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides a wide range of HIV services as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one are HIV positive and need help with alcoholism 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.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles is committed to providing integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  This means that when patients enter treatment in one of our facilities, they will have access to the many other healthcare services we offer.  And more access to services from one provider means better outcomes in alcohol and drug treatment.

A recent report by California State University, Long Beach, Department of Criminal Justice to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation highlighted that we are truly committed to success in treatment.  The study paid close attention to several details in substance abuse treatment, and noted specifically how we help patients with special needs.

In particular, Tarzana Treatment Centers understands the importance in making all levels of mental health treatment available to our patients with co-occurring disorders.  We were noted in the report as being “…the most capable program to address co-occurring disorders statewide.  The program is efficient, organized, and well-run despite the fact that they serve some of the most high-needs clients in the state.”

Our alcohol and drug treatment program is also recognized as providing the highest level of care in HIV Services, as mentioned in the report.  These services include education, specialized primary care, housing, and mental health services, among many others.  Patients can be referred to services as early as their first day in our medical detoxification unit.

We are continually enhancing and expanding programs so that patients can count on us for the services they need.  As drug use trends change, drug treatment modules must be altered and added.  It was stated twice in the report that we have an answer to the rise in methamphetamine addiction rates.
 
Cognitive deficits that result from methamphetamine addiction can last up to two years after use is stopped.  While the disease of addiction has many constants where treatment is concerned, meth users need to re-learn memory skills and may require visual cues.  We assess patients entering methamphetamine treatment for needs in these areas and treat accordingly.

Another example in this area that was not on the report is the recent changes in teen drug use trends.  Teen prescription drug abuse is rapidly growing.  At the same time, perceptions among adolescents that these drugs risk little harm are on the rise.  

Tarzana Treatment Centers takes steps to slow these trends through treatment, family groups, and education.  Our expertise in prescription drug detox has proven to be valuable as demand has increased for adolescent drug detox.  The ability to provide both medical detoxification and youth alcohol and drug treatment improves outcomes for long-term recovery.

If you or a loved one needs help with drug addiction or alcohol dependence, you can count on Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles to provide all of the services you need.  Our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare goes far beyond what has been written in this article.  For more information, 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.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides HIV/AIDS services as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  Like anyone else, we would love to see a cure for the virus.  But at this time it is important that individuals with HIV/AIDS can look to us for alcohol and drug detox and treatment, as well as housing and resources that can help them live with the virus.  And hope is always on the horizon.

Individuals who use alcohol and drugs are at high risk of acquiring the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which is virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).  People with alcohol dependence or drug addiction may engage in high risk unprotected sexual behavior or actively share syringes which can transmit the virus from one person to another.  

Although HIV/AIDS is an incurable and fatal disease, modern science has allowed doctors to successfully treat patients, extending life for years and decades.  But there is still no cure. That means there is nothing that modern science can do to ensure that an HIV-positive or AIDS diagnosed person does not die prematurely from HIV/AIDS related causes.

One thing that scientists are looking into is an HIV vaccine. To make the vaccine, scientists take bits of HIV, make changes to the virus, and then use it in a vaccine. There is no whole HIV in the vaccine; you cannot get HIV from the vaccine.

Here are four possible ways the HIV vaccine may work:  

1. Sterilizing Immunity
This is a vaccine that would make it impossible for the vaccinated person to both get HIV, and to pass it on to others. Many routine vaccines work this way.

2. Transient Infection
With this vaccine a person will get HIV, but the body will be able to fight off the virus. It might be possible to give HIV to others for a short period of time. This vaccine would extend lives of people infected with HIV.

3. Long Term Controlled Infection
With this vaccine a person could still get HIV, but it would be a very mild, and would be difficult, or impossible, to give the virus to anyone else. This vaccine would also extend the lives of people infected with HIV

4. Altruistic Vaccine
This vaccine would have no effect for people that were vaccinated, but it would prevent vaccinated people from spreading HIV to others.

The sites below provide more information, as well as clinics where you can get involved in Clinical Trials to test HIV vaccines.

If you want to learn more about HIV and AIDS, look here:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/definitions.htm


If you want to get involved in clinical trials for vaccines, go here:
HIV Vaccine Trial Network  
http://www.hvtn.org/index.html

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, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

Tarzana Treatment Centers is participating in Los Angeles County’s HIV Testing Week.  Our mobile testing unit will be at 2 locations offering free and confidential HIV tests, Monday and Friday.  

The Home Depot, 8326 Balboa Place - Monday, June 22 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Home Depot, 1160 Sherman Way - Friday, June 26 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

CBS2 News in Los Angeles has provided a list of all locations and times where free HIV testing will be available this week.  Link to http://cbs2.com/tv/los.angeles.HIV.2.1054155.html for more information.  Also, stay tuned to CBS2 News this week as they present a 4 part series on HIV Testing Week.

If you are not able to be at any of the locations this week, Tarzana Treatment Centers offers HIV testing at our central facility in Tarzana every week.  Contact us at 800-996-1051 for the schedule and further information.

Tarzana Treatment Centers provides a full range of HIV services to the public.  Along with primary care for HIV/AIDS, we provide alcohol and drug detox and treatment, housing, and mental health treatment.  HIV services are a part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare.

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.