Dual diagnosis is a difficult thing to fight through. In fact, it makes the basic task of battling a drug addiction considerably more difficult. It basically involves a diagnosis of another disorder or even multiple disorders, in addiction to the diagnosis of a drug addiction. Also called co-occurring disorders because they happen simultaneously with the drug addiction, these can include such afflictions as schizophrenia, manic depression, or even an eating disorder.

Dual diagnosis is a very complicated phenomenon that can be very difficult to identify and treat. For instance, take the example of schizophrenia and a cocaine addiction. The patient may admit that they have schizophrenia, but deny the cocaine addiction, or vice versa. The schizophrenia could have been triggered by the ongoing drug abuse, or the drug abuse could have stemmed from the frustration of dealing with schizophrenia. Alternatively, the two may not be related at all.

The effects of a person’s drug abuse and the symptoms of a psychological or emotional disorder can be very similar. It can be very difficult to determine at any given time whether the addiction or the other disorder is “acting up” at that moment and causing the depression, anxiety, aggression, etc. Thus, dual diagnosis can be extremely difficult to diagnose accurately, let alone treat. It is an unpredictable, constantly fluctuating battle.

The two parts of a dual diagnosis can be just different enough to aggravate each other, yet cause such similar reactions that it can be nearly impossible to differentiate between the two. Treatment of dual diagnosis requires a highly trained professional, and this person must be able to prescribe the appropriate medications for each disorder. The medications must be able to be taken simultaneously without negative reactions.

Dual diagnosis can affect a person mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. It is an exhausting battle and professional intervention will certainly help. However, there is the distinct possibility that the two parts of a dual diagnosis are not related. In other words, one half of the dual diagnosis was not a contributing factor to the existence of the other part. Because this might be the case, each half of the dual diagnosis should be treated individually and separately. Although both treatments will occur at the same time, professionals should not assume the two disorders are interrelated. A good drug rehab facility will have staff on hand experienced in dealing with the difficult phenomenon known as dual diagnosis.

If a person denies the existence of one half of their dual diagnosis, it can be detrimental to overall recovery. For example, a patient can be in the process of recovering from their drug addiction while a psychological disorder is growing worse. A worsening psychological disorder may cause them to lose heart and confidence, turning once again to drugs and losing ground on their battle to overcome that addiction. Some of the most common afflictions recovering drug addicts face are depression, anxiety and panic attacks. It is important that co-occuring disorders be diagnosed as soon as possible in the drug rehab process, and then treated separately yet simultaneously.

Drug testing should ideally be conducted in a laboratory environment. There the testing methods, samples and results will be most pure and reliable. Usually, a drug testing lab contracts with corporations and organizations to provide the service as often as needed. The labs may test only the newly hired employees of their clients, or sometimes labs will provide random testing of employees. This is useful when there is suspicion or frequency of drug use with one employee or a group of employees. It is also useful when operation of heavy machinery or a motorized vehicle is part of the job description. Typically, in these cases, the employees of the companies and organizations contracting with the lab will visit the lab to undergo drug testing during business hours. Urine sample testing is most commonly used in such labs.

Following an accident or injury, a person might be tested for the presence of drugs in the system. This so-called post-incident testing helps determine whether a person was under the influence at the time of the accident and whether criminal charges or a lawsuit should be filed in the future. In the case of an on-the-job accident, it can determine whether the employee is eligible for workman’s compensation to pay for treatment of their injuries. Whether the accident occurred on the job, on the road or elsewhere, it will most likely involve a blood draw at the hospital’s emergency room. In the case of an accident on the job, the blood sample will most likely undergo toxicology testing at the lab that the company contracts with. In other instances like vehicular accidents, where legal consequences may be involved, the blood sample will most likely undergo toxicology testing at a government laboratory. These labs often have backlogs due to the high number of tests they must handle, so test results can take several weeks. If hospital admission is not needed, like in a vehicular accident, the officer working the scene of the wreck may utilize police training and skills to analyze whether the driver is under the influence of drugs.

The legal system might order a parent to undergo random drug testing in the case of child custody cases, to ensure the safety and well-being of children. This will typically be conducted at a private drug testing facility hired under contract by the government. The legal system might also want to ensure that a patient is not violating their probation in a drug-related criminal case. In addition to employers seeking to minimize on-the-job risk and the legal system seeking to minimize societal threats, drug rehab facilities are also interested in conducting drug testing. Drug rehab programs could include drug testing on-site or with an outside testing facility hired under contract by the rehab center. These parties have a vested interest in knowing whether a person is drug-free. Additionally, drug testing kits are also available for purchase by general consumers, primarily via various Internet web sites. However, this is an amateur approach with unreliable results. Drug testing is best left in the hands of professionals.

Many different scenarios require drug testing. From newly hired employees to parental custody cases, there is a broad range of situations where drug testing may be needed for a variety of reasons. It may not even have anything to do with suspicion of drug use, but it may be standard practice by a company or organization for protection against liability.

First of all, drug testing is typically administered to new employees during the hiring process. This is a good idea to establish a baseline reference point. The drug tests can look back for weeks into the employee’s history to show if they are a drug user. Often, companies will continue drug testing employees randomly throughout the duration of their employment. This is particularly important in professions that involve caring for children, the elderly or the disabled, or if the job requires a lot of driving or operating of heavy machinery. Employee drug testing can help discourage drug use at work and lessen the chance of accidents occurring.

Drug testing may also be given to employees after an on-the-job incident. If it is found that the employee was under the influence of drugs, then this test can provide a defense for the company against lawsuits if the employee or someone else is injured. The company’s case will be further strengthened if it had established a history of conducting random employee drug testing as a preventative measure. Post-incident drug testing can also establish whether an injured employee is eligible for workman’s compensation. Such might not be the case if they were under the influence of drugs at the time of the on-the-job accident. Drug testing is an important tool in protecting companies from liability by association and preventing drug-affected people from injuring innocent members of society.

Drug testing is also typically administered following vehicle accidents or traffic stops by law enforcement. Officers are skilled at picking up on small cues that indicate drug use, and drug paraphernalia is typically present in the vehicle as well. When a vehicular accident is involved, nurses will often draw blood from the vehicle drivers if they happen to visit the emergency room following the accident. These blood samples can be analyzed in a drug lab and may be presented later as part of a private lawsuit or perhaps even a criminal case. If a person is found to be under the influence of drugs when they caused injury or death to another, it can open them up to grave criminal charges and legal liability.

Patients in a drug rehab facility will often undergo drug testing as well. This is critical to identifying whether the program is working for each individual and whether a patient is ready to be released. Additionally, drug testing may be required of a person convicted on drug charges who is released on probation. This is simply to ensure compliance with the law and the conditions of probation. Drug use while on probation would be a violation that can land a person in jail for a long time. Sometimes random drug testing is required of a parent in a custody case as well, to ensure the safety and well-being of children.

Drug testing is most commonly conducted in a testing laboratory. However, there are also a variety of home drug testing kits available, particularly on the Internet. Drug tests are usually fairly simple, although analyzing the results can be a bit more complicated. It takes a trained expert to accurately analyze such factors as the type of drug found in the system and whether anything else could have contributed to that substance being there.

Just as different drug addictions cause different reactions in the body and mind, and require different treatment approaches, so it is with drug testing. Because each individual type of drug has different components, specialized tests are required to pick up on those. For instance, individual drug testing kits are sold to detect marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, etc.

Employees may be tested in their workplace, but more often will drive to the lab for drug testing. This is best because the test will be administered by qualified professionals, the samples will be handled with the utmost care and the risk of “cheating” and tampering with the samples will be greatly reduced. Typically, a company or non-profit organization will contract with a particular laboratory, sending all their employees to that location for random or regularly scheduled drug testing.

Random drug testing is best because the lack of advanced notice may prevent someone from ingesting a product that will skew the test results. There are a wide variety of these types of products available from less than reputable manufacturers. It is actually quite a profitable industry.

Internet web sites selling drug testing kits for use in the home can be tempting for parents or legal guardians who suspect a child in their home may be using drugs. The drug testing kits are affordable at only $10, and are custom-designed to detect a variety of drugs. However, these can be misleading because the kit the buyer thinks they need may not actually be accurate. For example, they may suspect marijuana use, so they buy the marijuana testing kit, when in reality the drug addiction in question is cocaine.

In analyzing the results, a parent may interpret a negative test to mean that their child is not using drugs. Filled with relief, the parent may not stop to think that the negative result could simply indicate that their child is not using the particular drug that kit was designed to test for. On the other side of the coin, a positive test result could be a false positive, triggered by other medication the child may be on, or a host of other contributing factors. The resulting accusations and discipline can do more harm than good, as the child is falsely suspected of doing something illegal and destructive. Parents who suspect their child is involved in drug abuse should first contact a doctor or counselor for advice. These professionals have handled such scenarios before, and will know how to proceed. Above all else, drug testing should be left to qualified professionals.

Drug testing is most often a scientific examination of urine samples to determine whether or not drugs are present in the body. Drug testing can be administered at scheduled times, most often during the process of being hired at a new job. However, drug testing can also be administered randomly, so the person undergoing drug testing will not know when to expect it. This is effective when there is suspicion of or history of drug use in a particular employee or group of employees. If a drug test indicates drug use, a drug rehab program may be appropriate.

Some companies make it standard practice to require employees to undergo random drug testing throughout their time of employment with the company. This is particularly true of companies that require frequent driving or operation of heavy machinery. Random drug testing can also be ordered by the courts or by drug rehabilitation facilities when there is suspicion that someone may still be using drugs.

Drug testing may also be given following incidents like car accidents, DUI arrests or on-the-job accidents. This clarifies whether drugs played a factor in the incident and can be useful in the event of future litigation. The drug testing results can point to more serious legal ramifications, like possible fines or jail time. The results of a drug test can also mean the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony criminal charge.

In addition to drug testing by urine samples, also known as urinalysis, other types of drug testing include: hair, saliva and sweat drug testing. While urinalysis is the most common type of drug testing, hair is the most accurate type. This form of drug testing can go back three months on average. There is, however, a dispute over the hair structure of some ethnic groups falsely creating positive drug testing results. There is also some dispute as to the reliability of drug tests. For instance, urine tests can be “cheated” in a variety of ways, and there are even products on the market to “cleanse” a person’s system or otherwise mask any evidence of drug use in order to beat the test. It is a profitable industry that is highly popular among drug addicts.

The different kinds of tests have different levels of reliability and different lengths of time until results are available. Saliva tests can detect drug use during the previous few days. This highly quick and convenient drug testing method is gaining popularity because there is no way the results can be compromised. Sweat drug testing is a very rarely used method that involves the secure application of a skin patch that registers any drug use over the period of a week or two.

Organizations that enforce mandatory drug testing are required to do so by federal regulations set up during the Ronald Reagan administration in the 1980’s. These include employees of the federal government and occupations regulated by the Department of Transportation. There are five groups of drugs that can be detected by tests. These include marijuana, hashish, cocaine, amphetamines (meth), opiates (heroin, opium, codeine, morphine, etc.), and Phencyclidine (PCP).

Deciding when and how to talk to your kids about drugs can be quite a difficult task. In today’s information-driven society, the earlier, the better. High school and even junior high will probably be late in the game. There is ample opportunity for your child to learn about drugs from the media – particularly Internet, where there is widespread, instant access to information (and misinformation) on a vast array of topics. With more households having a two-parent income, more time is spent away from children, which often leads to less stringent supervision and discipline. Curious minds will wander, and if they are not armed with the correct information, children could easily fall into some pretty tempting traps.

Begin discussions with your children early on about basic concepts like peer pressure, bullies, trust, honesty, physical health, etc. Discuss these topics as young as Kindergarten if you feel it is appropriate, and be sure to use age-appropriate language. Do not lecture, but make it more of an open discussion. For instance, you might ask if your child likes all the children in their class, are there any mean kids, is your child trying to be nice to everyone, etc. Their answers may provide a springboard for further discussion.

For instance, if your child expresses concern about one child’s mean behavior, further probing may uncover what exactly the child is doing to create that image. It could open up a discussion about how not everyone behaves nicely and does the right thing at all times. Encourage your child to seek “nice” friends, while trying to be nice to the “mean” children, without imitating their behavior. Explain that it is OK to tell an adult if the “mean” child is hurting someone or behaving inappropriately. It is important to build trust with adults, but especially in parent-child relationships so the child will feel comfortable discussing anything with the parent at any time.

Most important throughout the school years is to be inquisitive. Ask your child about their day and listen for verbal cues that they are unhappy, frustrated or otherwise upset about something. Try to encourage them to open up and talk about it with you. Encourage and praise their successes, within reason, to build self-esteem. An open parent-child relationship and healthy self-esteem are strong deterrents against negative peer pressure, the leading cause of school-age drug use.

Try to engage in physical activity as a family. It could be anything from hiking to swimming to biking around the neighborhood. Not only will this be a bonding experience to encourage discussion, honesty and trust within the family, but it will also foster an appreciation of physical health. If parents work hard to forge an open, honest relationship with their child, then the child will very likely feel comfortable asking questions in the future. When these questions begin, or whenever the parent feels the time is right and the child is mature enough, talk could sway toward drugs and their negative health effects. Discussion about drugs could begin with generalities, with encouragement for the child to feel free to approach the parent(s) if they have any more questions about drugs in the future. Sometimes a parent may be afraid to discuss their own experiences with drug use, for fear of appearing hypocritical. However, focusing on the negative consequences of the drug use and any drug rehab experiences will be an effective use of that history.

Drug rehabs are very important tools in drug addiction recovery for many reasons. They offer the crucial support and encouragement that may be very difficult to find otherwise. They also can establish lifelong friendships, useful in replacing the drug-centered relationships of the past.

Addiction recovery can also be a difficult time of healing for friends and family members who may have been hurt during the course of the addiction.
It may take these relationships some time to heal, as recovering addicts learn to ask for and accept forgiveness and, more importantly, to forgive themselves. Likewise, they may need to learn to grant forgiveness to friends or family members who have caused pain in the past. This time of change in one’s personal life make it all the more important to establish stable, reliable friendships in drug recovery. It is small wonder these relationships often last a lifetime.

The self-awareness and stress management techniques gained in drug rehab programs also last a lifetime. They will be critical in avoiding relapse in the difficult days ahead, as the recovering addict adjusts to daily life without reliance on substances. Furthermore, the ongoing counseling and therapy services many rehab facilities provide – commonly known as “aftercare” – can help during this adjustment period as well.

It can provide encouragement and accountability to help a recovering addict persevere through the process and successfully achieve that productive, drug-free life of their dreams. Because drug rehab opens up so many new connections and relationships, it can also serve to help a person become physically reestablished after completing the rehab program. Finding a car, home and especially a job can be difficult during this time – particularly for those with any felony convictions on their record. The people met in drug rehab may be able to help open up some doors and make those opportunities possible for all recovering addicts.

Drug rehab programs provide a steady, stable, substance-free environment where a person can focus on their recovery in peace and quiet. If the facility is out of town, it can serve as a buffer from the temptations to join the same crowd and revisit the same old social hangouts where drugs are used. Essentially, the many combined benefits of drug rehab serve to lessen the likelihood of relapse.

Through the intensive therapy and counseling offered in drug rehab, a person will learn more about themselves. This self-awareness is critical to a healthy lifestyle, physically, emotionally and mentally. They may learn more about why they began drug abuse and come to terms with any issues from the past that may have been a contributing cause. Therapy and counseling will also help a recovering addict learn more about their personality, their weaknesses and their limits. These realizations can help that person withstand temptation if they are in a setting where drugs are attainable. Furthermore, life skills classes on such topics as parenting and finances are offered by many rehab facilities. These classes can help a recovering addict learn more about their individual abilities, interests and talents, all things they may never have been free enough and healthy enough to explore before.

Drug rehabs have much to offer the recovering addict, with the full extent of possibilities depending largely on the type of program chosen. There are outpatient, inpatient, long-term care and self-help groups. Each program is different, just like each individual recovering addict’s needs are different. However, there are some basic features that characterize each type of program. All drug rehab programs offer the chance to get a fresh start in life in a drug-free, positive and supportive environment.

Outpatient facilities offer patients the chance to return home each day at the end of treatment. These are also among the most affordable of all drug rehab facilities. The treatment at this type of facility is often going to be less intense and in-depth than at an inpatient or long-term care facility. Sometimes patients only visit an outpatient facility twice a week. It is ideal for people with less severe addictions to milder drugs. People may prefer this option if there are pressing family or work obligations they must tend to. However, the home life to which they will be returning each night should be stable, supportive, and substance-free.

Inpatient facilities offer patients a very intensive drug rehab experience. It often involves life skills educational classes, individual counseling and group therapy. This type of facility will also usually provide medical supervision around the clock. This feature can be particularly important during detoxification, the initial process of ridding the body of all toxins built up during the addiction. This facility can be considerably more expensive than outpatient treatment, but is usually regarded as a necessary tool in quitting harder addictions like cocaine and heroin.

Long-term rehab facilities offer the same basic services as inpatient facilities, but over a longer period of time. Patients can stay in long-term care for anywhere up to a year or more, whereas regular inpatient care is a few days to a month. There are also self-help groups, also known as “12-step programs.” These are often used primarily for recovering alcoholics, although there are support groups targeted specifically at people recovering from certain drugs like meth or cocaine. The narcotics recovery self-help groups are often used as a supplement to a drug rehab program, like during the follow-up phase.

That follow-up phase is where drug rehab facilities can be particularly helpful. Many programs provide aftercare, where ongoing counseling or therapy is provided to ensure that patients adjust capably to daily life without relying on substances. This can help with ongoing accountability, something that will already exist to a great degree with the friendships that will have been formed in drug rehab. These friendships can last a lifetime, as it can make all the difference to have a few close friends who truly understand the drug rehab experience first-hand and can offer encouragement. These friendships can also be useful in re-establishing oneself in society after rehab. This can be particularly helpful if a person has a drug-related felony conviction on their record. This devastating occurrence can make it very difficult for a person to get back on their feet, particularly when it comes to finding gainful employment. Whether it be a car, home, or job, the connections formed in drug rehab could actually help meet that need.

If you or your loved one has decided to enroll in a drug rehab treatment facility, congratulations are in order! This is one of the most important steps in a person’s life, and the first step of a brand new, healthier life. There are, however, many options available. What are the differences and how will you know when you have just toured the right one for your individual situation?

Each person’s experience with drug addiction is unique, so each person will need to decide for themselves what type of facility and treatment program is right for them. However, there are some broad-reaching principles that apply to all programs. The right facility will build up and encourage small victories, not insult and judge program participants. The right facility will also offer the right treatments for your specific drug addiction. Just as it takes different types of drugs to feed different addictions, it also takes different types of treatment to break those addictions. The following are some more specific points to consider when researching drug rehab facilities:

The staff and facility should ideally be certified and licensed. This implies that there is some type of regulatory oversight ensuring that the patient care at that facility is up to a certain standard. It is also a good idea to look at a facility’s track record. How many patients have dropped out? How many have completed the program and maintained their sober, clean lifestyle? These can be difficult numbers to track – particularly in the follow-up phase. Nevertheless, don’t hesitate to inquire about the statistics.

Cost is certainly an important consideration when choosing a drug rehab, but don’t shop on cost alone. An expensive facility does not necessarily indicate a good program. Likewise, a more affordable program does not necessarily indicate low quality. Patients and their families should also remember to look into payment and financing options, like insurance and any financial assistance the facility itself could provide.

Dual diagnosis treatment and aftercare are two services not all drug rehab facilities offer. These are important services for several reasons. Dual diagnosis treatment addresses any physical, psychological, or emotional disorders that may have arisen as a result of the drug addiction. These may also be pre-existing conditions that contributed to the drug addiction forming in the first place. The disorder(s) may not be related to the drug addiction at all, but should be treated alongside the drug addiction. If needed, seek a facility with the experience and capability to treat such disorders simultaneously, yet separately, from the addiction itself. Aftercare simply helps recovering addicts adjust capably to a daily life of sobriety and clean living. This service involves follow-up therapy, counseling and group meetings.

A prospective patient should also inquire about a facility’s philosophy on addiction. Some believe addiction is a disease and others believe it is a choice. This will affect the facility’s treatment approach and particularly their approach to detoxification, the initial process of ridding the body of all toxic chemicals built up by the drug use. Generally, the best approach to finding a drug rehab is thorough questioning on all the aforementioned issues and keying into your own gut instinct.

Drug rehab is the process of starting and staying on the road to recovery from addiction. It is hard work – a daily battle, often filled with temptation and self-doubt. However, through the good days and bad days, a recovering addict must stay focused on their goal. Drug rehab involves a conscious decision day after day to create and maintain a better, healthier, more productive and positive lifestyle.

Drug rehab is structure. Often for the first time in a long time, a recovering addict will experience the structure of a daily schedule that does not involve and revolve around drugs. In fact, the daily schedule will be structured around getting the person to think about anything but drugs. Through activities like social outings, therapy and counseling, a person can keep their mind focused on recovery and away from the temptations of drug abuse. Most drug rehab facilities offer these activities. Maintaining a busy schedule is an excellent way to maintain sobriety, as boredom is one of the leading causes of relapse.

Drug rehab is not just about drugs. It also requires a person to face issues in their life that may have contributed to the drug use in the first place. These may be emotional, physical, mental or psychological disorders – they could stem to issues from the distant or recent past. It may be something as simple as numbing the pain and regret from past life choices and actions. It may be a low-self image and the need to feel accepted in a crowd. For instance, a person may have started smoking crack because they were overweight and the drug caused the weight loss they so desperately wanted in order to feel better about themselves. Drug rehab is the process of admitting those feelings of inferiority, pain, regret, depression, guilt – whatever the issue may be. It is the process of learning to accept and love oneself as is, for better or worse.

Sometimes there are disorders that arise during the course of the addiction as a direct result of the drug abuse. These must also be treated, simultaneously yet separately from the drug addiction itself. Most drug rehab facilities offer treatment for this, which is known as “co-occurring disorders.”

Drug rehab can be in an overnight or outpatient facility, for a period of a couple days up to a year or more. The type of facility and length of treatment depends largely on the type, intensity and duration of the drug addiction. There are also self-help groups, also known as 12-step programs. The term “self-help” is a bit misleading, because it is a group environment and “sponsors” are often provided to mentor participants in their recovery journey. However, the participants in this program can change from week to week and it will not always provide the stability and breadth of services that an inpatient or outpatient drug rehab facility would.

Drug rehab is essentially a complete life overhaul. During the actual drug rehab treatment, it is often a good idea to be treated at a facility some distance from the town where the drug abuse took place. This puts distance between the old hangouts and drug-using friends that can lead to relapse. After treatment is over, drug rehab continues as a continual process of self-discovery about one’s abilities, personality, gifts and talents and weaknesses. This self-awareness is critical to maintaining lifelong health and sobriety.