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by James Heller
1. May 2013 09:25
Statistics from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health have confirmed our concerns about prescription drug use. With prescription painkillers (opiates and opioids like Vicodin and Oxycontin) becoming more difficult to obtain, individuals addicted to them are switching to heroin. If you are considering a change like this, we would like to offer an alternative solution that could lead to a better life for you and your family; Methadone Maintenance.
The amount of first-time heroin users had almost doubled from 2007 to 2011. A large part of the increase is due to crossover addicts who previously used prescription drugs. These drugs are quite effective when they are used as prescribed, and if use ceases in the short term. But they are also highly addictive, so it is not uncommon for patients to “doctor shop” or to obtain them illegally when their physician stops prescribing them.
The demand for illegally sold pain killers exploded about a decade ago when they became popular with teens and young adults. Doctors were also prescribing drugs like Vicodin (Hydrocodone) for simple headaches, when it is meant for the relief of more serious pains. When the US Drug Enforcement Administration discovered the flood of illegal opiates on the streets, they started imposing regulations to stem the tide.
As the supply shrank, addicts still needed their opiate fixes. So many of them have turned to heroin because it is easier to find and it’s cheaper. The bad news for them, though, is that they get more shackled into their addiction instead of taking the cue to get help. Many of them have tried to detox several times, but opiate cravings are so strong that they fail every time. So they hopelessly feel that they have no choice but to live a drug-addicted life.
There is hope. Tarzana Treatment Centers provides Methadone Maintenance treatment for qualified individuals who have not been successful in achieving long-term abstinence from opiates. Our services are tailored specifically to those who want to recover from prescription painkiller and heroin addiction. While Methadone treatments reduce your cravings for opiates, our addiction counselors guide you to a comfort level that will enable you to approach abstinence with confidence. When you are ready, you can begin our Medical Detoxification program.
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
14. February 2013 10:36
Cravings are among the most powerful triggers faced by anyone completing opiate detox. The combined force of a psychological need for the drug and chemical reactions in the addict brain makes them at least a distraction and, at worst, a cause for relapse. Whether drug cravings are mild or strong, reduction of them is a good aid to relapse prevention in early recovery.
Tarzana Treatment Centers provides Vivitrol injections for eligible alcohol and drug treatment patients. We have been doing this for several years, and are very pleased with the results so far. Since the beginning, we have interviewed our Vivitrol treatment patients who had been in and out of rehab facilities. Almost all of them reported that the reduced cravings improved their treatment experience and it has lengthened recovery times.
To the unfamiliar, cravings may not seem so threatening. After all, if your mouth waters for a bag of french fries, you can probably enjoy the feeling and forget about it after a few seconds. Addiction doesn’t allow the forgetting, though, and opiate cravings don’t go away easily. Imagine waking up with a craving for french fries and having it with you all day long, knowing that if you eat one fry you won’t be able to stop eating more of them.
Opiate addicts often complete medical detoxification and will go straight to their dealers or doctors to satisfy cravings. Even if they have a safe place to go for treatment, and know very well that they are making a mistake, they get drawn back into the dark world of addiction. The obsession to “feel better” is just too great.
Monthly Vivitrol injections during the first months of recovery free the mind to receive drug treatment and work on core issues. More clean time means more life issues get resolved. So, even if a relapse occurs, the road back to recovery becomes much shorter and recovery times extend. As clean time accumulates, the sense of accomplishment also helps to encourage remaining in recovery. All of this means that Vivitrol is a solution for a great threat to a drug addict’s recovery.
Vivitrol is covered by Medicare and Medi-Cal. So please call even if you are concerned about funding.
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. January 2013 15:29
Tarzana Treatment Centers has been providing Methadone in opiate detox treatment for decades, and we later added Maintenance as a service. Patients in our medical detoxification units are closely monitored by medical staff to ensure their safety. And our Methadone Maintenance program includes addiction counseling. Our goal is to lead you to a life free from all opiates.
Heroin and prescription drug addiction are difficult to overcome. The sad fact is that most opiate addicts that complete treatment will relapse several times, and they may never achieve long-term abstinence. While they are high, there is always a chance that harm will come to them or their loved ones. So the important task is to help them to live without the high.
Methadone can do this by reducing the cravings associated with opiate addiction. It provides addicts with a “narcotic replacement” that does not include the high. Methadone can remain in the body for up to 60 hours, so clients receive doses at the treatment center daily or every two days. It’s because of the long half-life that doses need to be monitored. Methadone overdoses occur when clients take a second dose, thinking the first has cleared because they don’t feel a high, and can be fatal.
When abstinence is the goal, the first course of action should be medical detoxification followed by residential or outpatient treatment. Some addicts will remain clean after one treatment episode. Others may need two or three. The discovery has not yet been made where one can tell who will relapse before treatment begins. A few attempts are made with opiate detox before looking at Maintenance as an option.
We ensure the safety of our detox and Maintenance patients by monitoring their health and by providing a roadmap to long-term abstinence. We work to move clients from Maintenance to detox when they are ready. Methadone treatment is covered by most insurance plans, and you may qualify for Medi-Cal, Medicare, or one of our other publicly funded programs. We want to see everybody recover.
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
16. January 2013 10:29
Setbacks occur for everyone. You can plan ahead for everything you do, and you still can’t guarantee that it will all go your way. For people in recovery, of all ages, it is a daily exercise to deal with this fact, and to avoid relapse. If there is a relapse, the suggested action is to get help right away, especially for seniors.
Individuals in early recovery learn to accept what happens externally so they can better cope with events internally. This is a foreign concept to the alcoholic and addict brain, and it takes years for most of them to put it into regular practice. Even after years of “getting it”, something can happen that breaks down all strength, destroying all coping mechanisms, and leading individuals to drink alcohol or use drugs.
Tarzana Treatment Centers makes relapse recovery accessible and affordable for anyone who needs it. Alcoholism and drug addiction treatment is not as simple as detox and groups anymore. We offer Vivitrol treatment to reduce alcohol and opiate cravings, and telehealth video conferencing for our clients who can’t get to our treatment centers or live far away. If finances are a problem, many of our services are covered by Medicare, Medi-Cal, and other Los Angeles County health care funding programs.
We put great effort into helping you achieve long-term recovery. We also recognize the commonality of relapse and won’t shame you. There are no 100% solutions to substance use disorders. It is rare for anyone to remain clean and sober for life after one treatment episode of any kind. Our goal is to get you back on your feet so you can put your own effort into long-term recovery. We can provide you with the best tools available in substance use treatment to improve your chance at success.
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
16. November 2012 15:15
Employee alcohol and drug abuse is a problem in almost every business category. Management is often faced with weighing the value of substance abusing staff members with the potential problems that their behavior may cause. The decision is not always easy, and the problem is sometimes swept under the rug. There is a solution, though, for employees who are willing to stop drinking and using drugs.
Tarzana Treatment Centers suggests the use of Vivitrol treatment. If you want to keep an employee on staff, and they are willing to get help, this can potentially solve problems for both of you. Vivitrol is a monthly injection of Naltrexone that reduces alcohol cravings and opiate cravings. It is convenient and it works. We have seen many patients achieve long-term sobriety after Vivitrol treatment, when they previously had multiple relapse issues.
Society associates some jobs with alcohol and drug abuse, and we won’t get into examples. You probably can think of a couple of them. The fact is that the problem exists in practically every type of job, including those you would never imagine. Co-workers usually spot the problem before management and business owners discover it, and then those in charge need to decide how to handle the situation.
Stress can often lead high-value employees to abuse alcohol or prescription painkillers. To them, they are relieving stress. To you, they are slowing down and are distracted by issues outside of work. It is up to management to open the lines of communication with these individuals, and let them know they are worth keeping if they will get help. Vivitrol treatment can be an investment in the increased productivity they can give to your company, and their own health.
While “zero tolerance” is a fair enough model, some states and contracts regulate businesses’ ability to terminate employment upon discovery of a substance abuse problem. Since alcohol and drug abuse problems don’t get better without help, keeping these individuals on staff can be a potential hazard to the company. Here is another area where Vivitrol treatment can save costs in the long run when individuals are willing to get help.
If you have an alcohol or drug abuse problem in the workplace, Vivitrol is an option worth investigation. It can potentially improve your company’s bottom line, and it might save a life. Please contact us for more information today.
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
8. November 2012 15:03
Heroin is in a special class of drugs that are highly addictive and very difficult to quit using. Opiates and opioids can spark an addiction with just one use, due to cravings that make the user want more. So an effort to reduce opiate cravings in early recovery makes sense to boost chances of long-term abstinence.
Tarzana Treatment Centers provides Vivitrol for heroin and other opiate craving reduction. Upon successful completion of our medical detoxification program, patients can begin Vivitrol treatment. Vivitrol is Naltrexone in the form of a monthly injection. You don’t need to think about how to reduce opiate cravings anymore, and the treatment is convenient.
The disease of addiction includes psycho-social symptoms that are commonly at the core of an individual’s substance use. Proper treatment of these issues can take some time, so counseling is always recommended after medical detoxification. It is very important for patients to remain as focused as possible on treatment so they can begin to see the benefits of recovery.
Heroin creates a stronger craving than most prescription pain killers, which have varying effects depending on the drug and person. Even so, any opiate craving is a distraction to treatment and can easily send a newly recovering person to relapse. With Vivitrol, patients can explore the issues that make them abuse heroin and painkillers in a more effective mindset. They are less likely to leave treatment early, and more likely to remain drug free for a longer period of time.
Please contact us today even if you question your ability to afford treatment. Tarzana Treatment Centers accepts Medicare, Medi-Cal, and other health care assistance programs.
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
25. October 2012 09:39
Heroin use opens the door to many dangers. The consequences range from internal health issues, to suffering through an addiction, and to the harm addicts can cause to others. Many addicts go through a cycle of treatment and relapse, several times, and can’t seem to get clean. Methadone Maintenance can help these individuals avoid harm by reducing opiate cravings and keeping them from using heroin.
Tarzana Treatment Centers provides Methadone Maintenance treatment for qualified individuals suffering from heroin addiction. As part of our Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program, we will assign you with an addiction counselor and work with you to achieve the goal of total abstinence.
Heroin is an opioid. This synthetic opiate is highly addictive so there are very few casual heroin users. Once hooked, individuals need higher and more frequent doses to get the high that they desire. Using the drug damages vital organs in the body, like the liver, and weakens the immune system. When needles are shared among addicts, they also risk contracting HIV and other blood borne pathogens.
Heroin addicts that don’t get help eventually can’t work. This can lead to homelessness and possible criminal activity, which affects all of society. The problem is that the addiction doesn’t go away on its own. Until heroin addicts get help, they will do whatever they feel is necessary to satisfy the heroin addiction. The trick is to help them get off of the drug and stay off of it.
Methadone Maintenance is a Narcotic Replacement Therapy (NRT). Methadone reduces the opiate cravings that heroin addicts experience when they are not using heroin. It doesn’t get patients high, but it satisfies the need they feel for the drug. Administered properly, as it is at Tarzana Treatment Centers, patients can begin treatment without the distraction of cravings and begin the journey to abstinence. With no need for heroin, the risk of these addicts causing harm to themselves or others is greatly reduced.
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
16. October 2012 11:50
When individuals suffer from addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders, treatment for both becomes a challenge. This is largely due to the double impact of alcohol or drug cravings compounded by a desire to feel “normal”. If the cravings are reduced to a level where they are no longer a trigger, this can greatly improve chances for successful therapy.
Tarzana Treatment Centers has found success in treating dual diagnosis sufferers with Vivitrol. This monthly Naltrexone injection reduces cravings for alcohol or opiates, like heroin or prescription drugs. Patients eligible for Vivitrol treatment have experienced longer terms of sobriety, making therapy more effective.
Substance use and mental health disorders can be difficult to treat on their own. When they co-occur with an individual, both need to be treated as primary problems. Each disorder will work against treatment of the other. So treatment must be equally focused on both disorders or patients will almost certainly fall into a cycle of chronic relapses. They must remain sober and clear-headed during therapy and, at the same time, resist the psychological urge to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs.
Providing medications to treat mental health disorders only works as long as patients are willing to take them. Even if they do take them and begin to feel better, they may decide that they can handle a drink or go back to using drugs. Relapses hinder therapy for mental health disorders because patients might disappear for some time or, at least, they won’t be able to focus on the core issues that make them abuse alcohol or opiates.
Vivitrol is highly effective in this area due to the fact that it only needs to be administered once every 30 days. Patients don’t need to think about it. And, once they get the injection, they can’t decide to stop taking it after a few days. A window of 30 days is open to the patient and therapist where they can make great strides in the work they need to do. And when patients see progress in those 30 days, they are more likely to continue with the monthly injections.
Tarzana Treatment Centers has seen patients achieve several months of sobriety and improved lives after Vivitrol treatment, when they had previously struggled to stay clean and sober for only a couple of weeks. Please contact us today for more information.
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
15. October 2012 11:56
What is Vivitrol?
Vivitrol is a monthly injection of Naltrexone that is FDA approved for alcohol and opiate craving reduction. This treatment reduces your risk of relapse by minimizing one of the major triggers that can lead you back to drinking or using drugs. By clearing the mind of cravings, Vivitrol enables you to focus on treatment and the core issues you need to process. All of this enhances your chance to achieve long-term recovery.
How much does Vivitrol cost?
The best answer to this is: Call us to find out.
As is the case with many medications, it is difficult to provide a solid price in a blog article. How much you pay for Vivitrol at Tarzana Treatment Centers depends on whether you have health care coverage and from which funding source. If you search websites for a price you will see prices varying by over $1000, which does you no good.
Tarzana Treatment Centers accepts Medicare and Medi-Cal for Vivitrol treatment, and other public health programs may pay for it. Also, there are rebate programs that come and go, so it would be irresponsible to publish a set price for individuals who opt to pay cash for the treatment.
What are the side effects of Vivitrol?
The most up-to-date list of side effects can be found on the Home page of the Vivitrol website at http://www.vivitrol.com. It is important for you and your primary care physician to know these facts because, like many helpful medications, you may not be in a position to take Vivitrol.
At Tarzana Treatment Centers, no patients have suffered severe side effects. Minor injection site pain is often reported, along with other minor side effects. They also report that these effects dissipate in a day or two. We’ve also had patients who report no negative side effects at all. It needs to be noted that the great majority of patients starting Vivitrol treatment get their first injection following medical detoxification. So the body is going through changes that can cause pangs of one form or another anyway.
More Questions?
Please contact us today. We will be happy to answer your questions so you or your loved one can get the treatment needed.
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
12. October 2012 07:45
Seniors need to pay close attention to their health and should avoid problems with alcohol and drug abuse. There are times, though, when medications need to be prescribed for anxiety, depression, or pain that may result in an addiction. Thankfully, medically necessary drug addiction treatment for seniors is covered by Medicare.
Tarzana Treatment Centers accepts Medicare for medically necessary drug addiction treatment. Our addiction treatment services include medical detoxification, residential and outpatient treatment, Vivitrol, and mental health treatment for those suffering from co-occurring disorders. We also accept Medicare for preventative services at our clinics in the San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley.
More than ever, seniors are falling into the trap of prescription drug addiction. Through no fault of their own, they will follow doctors’ orders and become dependent on a drug. The result is an addiction to one of several drugs like Xanax, Vicodin, Valium, Ambien, Ativan, or Klonopin. Withdrawal from these drugs can range from uncomfortable to dangerous, so these individuals should find a quality prescription drug addiction treatment center.
Quality addiction treatment for seniors means that counselors and facilities can accommodate their clients’ special needs. Aging minds and bodies react differently to withdrawals. Staff needs to be trained to work with individuals who have decades of life experience, which requires specialized counseling. And, for your safety, the medical staff must know how to administer detoxification medications to seniors.
Tarzana Treatment Centers provides this specialized care for seniors in addiction treatment. Our counselors are friendly, and can help you to understand your addiction. Mental health disorders often go untreated with the senior population due to a stigma fear. Our psychology staff understands this, and is ready to provide you with confidential and sensitive therapy.
Please contact us today for more information.
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.
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