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by James Heller
26. February 2013 15:10
by Charles Yeh, MSW, ASW, CADC II, Project Coordinator
The Valley Tele-Treatment Program (VTP) of Tarzana Treatment Centers utilizes tele-communications (phone, e-mail, and video-conferencing) to assess for substance abuse issues, and provide immediate individual counseling if appropriate. By making access easier and more comfortable, and by combining the role of brief intervention with treatment, VTP can better help individuals at crucial moments concerning the risks and harm related to substance use. Participation may be as brief as one telephone conversation, or extend up to six months, depending on each individuals need.
A first goal of VTP is to reach more individuals, and to reach them sooner, to provide individualized prevention and early intervention for alcohol and substance use before consequences become severe, or individuals become dependent on alcohol or other drugs. Because it is not necessary for individuals to travel to our facility in person, the initial apprehension individuals may feel about speaking with a certified alcohol & drug counselor is greatly reduced. A second goal of VTP is to make treatment more accessible for individuals at all levels of substance use severity. Not only does VTP allow individuals experiencing physical or transportation barriers to more easily access treatment, the flexibility of the program offers broad effectiveness for treatment:
- Low risk for harm—VTP offers a safe and confidential way to explore present issues and help to access the options available for help
- Moderate risk for harm—VTP offers counseling to help build coping skills, and to facilitate participation in an ongoing supportive community for recovery
- Severe risk for harm—VTP offers interim counseling to help maintain motivation and commitment to recovery when individuals are still waiting to receive residential or onsite outpatient treatment
- Already in recovery—VTP offers continuing support to individuals going through a difficult transition
VTP services are available in English and Spanish, and are no cost for qualifying individuals. If you would like to access services, refer someone, or learn more about VTP, please call (818) 654-3821, or email vtp@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
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
27. December 2012 14:49
Are you making a resolution for the New Year? Why wait for and limit yourself to January 1st?
Health issues do not place themselves on hold until a certain date, and neither should you. If you don’t take care of yourself, your health will deteriorate in time. Even when you are in good physical and mental condition, it won’t last forever if you smoke, drink to excess, or don’t eat enough healthy foods. And if you have a need for medical care, or mental or behavioral treatment, your condition will get worse with every day that you wait.
Tarzana Treatment Centers provides Integrated Care services for most of your health needs. Many of our patients come to us for help when problems have resulted from their conditions, especially when the problem is mental health or addiction related. These problems can be avoided with proper preventive care, like the ones we provide for these conditions as well as for medical care. Most of these services are also covered by public funding programs like Medicare, Medi-Cal, and Healthy Way LA.
It’s a fun game we play every December. We promise that, at the start of the New Year, we’ll stop smoking, quit drinking, exercise regularly, eat healthier, or something else that will benefit our individual health. Most of us also break that promise by January 3rd. There are many studies and tips that can be found by Googling “New year’s resolution study”, but our best suggestion is to just make that resolution and get started right now.
The date doesn’t matter, and January 1st is probably the most pressure-filled of the year. So make a December 27th resolution or even an April 12th resolution if you want. The calendar doesn’t care about your good health. The time to improve your current health and future well-being is now. You can form a habit in just seven days. So get started, and Tarzana Treatment Centers will be happy to help you along 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
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
26. October 2012 09:20
It’s very rare for addicts to be monogamous with their drug of choice. They usually abuse alcohol as well. Even if they don’t, alcohol use in early recovery could pave a path back to addiction with the same or another drug. Especially when individuals have had multiple relapse issues, prevention of another could come in the form of alcohol craving reduction.
Tarzana Treatment Centers provides Vivitrol for alcohol and opiate craving reduction. This monthly injection of Naltrexone has helped many who suffer from alcoholism and opiate addiction. They have achieved long-term sobriety when they previously struggled with relapses. Vivitrol works with brain chemistry to minimize the distraction and temptation of this major relapse trigger.
Alcohol is a drug, just like any other. Most addicts abused alcohol before they tried the drug they eventually became addicted to, and either combined the two (or more) or cut back on alcohol. In any of these cases, alcohol holds a psychological connection with dependence on the drug of choice.
In recovery, the suggestion is to remain abstinent from all drugs, including those that were not a part of the problem. This is to avoid the problem of cross addiction. The disease of Addiction causes sufferers to seek an escape mechanism because they can’t cope with normal life occurrences. So, cocaine addicts in recovery might think it is okay to have a glass of wine because alcohol was not a problem before drug rehab.
The addicted mind works in such strange ways that alcohol might not be the biggest threat. Methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine addicts may have a history of being prescribed opiate painkillers from a past injury. This is a great temptation for someone who is desperately trying to remain abstinent. The “pain” mysteriously reappears, quite often, and the addict requests another prescription. Unfortunately, there are far too many doctors who are willing to accommodate.
Whether the hope is to avoid alcohol or opiate abuse, Vivitrol is the solution. After the first 30 days without alcohol or other drugs, recovering addicts of any drug will see the benefits of total abstinence. By eliminating the possibility of cross addiction with alcohol or opiates, and blocking that psychological path to their drug of choice, addicts to any drug have a better chance for long-term recovery.
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
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.
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