Who cares what it looks like if it works?
The biggest challange is the addict.
How can they be improved??

I guess everyone responds to treatment differently. I have watched my beautiful 24 year old daughter slowly throw her life away. I spend $30K of my money to try to help her and it didn't work. I guess they have to get tired of living their life that way. That and only that is when it will work for them.

mom of 3 I am not really sure what you are asking here but I tend to agree with the 2 previous answers,money,fancy housing,swimming pools, none of that will be enough to entice a drug addict. Like Grace said the bottom is the only real cure for an addict.

This question was presented to me to ponder for an upcoming meeting in Washington I'm going to. No doubt - it is a difficult question to answer. There are TWO KEY words that were missed by all of you - "SYSTEM" AND "IDEAL". I didn't say private treatment centers and I wasn't talking about the addict, per say.

I have ideas to improve things in the system. Perhaps I should have asked only those who have had children in the system to respond.

If there is anyone who has had their child in the SYSTEM and can think of some ways they feel that could be improved....let me know! Thanks!

What system are you talking about?
Whats Ideal to you?
Ok
The ideal treatment and recovery systems should be free and they should look like a resort.
The biggest challanges they face are money.
They can be improved with more money.
These answers will go over very well in Washington because that's what it's all about there.
Pity us poor taxpayers.

Most of the people in drug treatment facilities, and quite possibly all of them, have blood sugar/dietary needs that are not being met. I know I bring this up in almost all of my posts/responses, but I truly believe that both the Mental Health and the Substance Abuse communities in this country do not "get" this very important point. So my ideal rehab facility would look like a hospital, with Endocrinologists and Nutritionists given equal billing to Psychiatrists and Counselors. Also important is not allowing the addicts to live in a "pack-like" commune setting, but instead to house them in individual hospital rooms, with more structured social time. The drug rehab problem is much like the cancer problem. I think there are solutions out there for many people, however the people in the Rehab business are interested in keeping their rooms full, and dosing medicine, and feeding them institutional food, and blindly sitting people down to go through 12 step programs without any feedback regarding life on the outside other than "go to meetings". Then it's back to antother rehab weeks or months later when they relapse. I can see that baby steps are being made, but we have so far to go.

For me it would be affordable treatment, and I mean really affordable. Many addicts have no insurance and no money. The main rehab facility here is ridiculously high. $8000 for 2 weeks! I get mad every time I think of it. Luckily we had insurance for Gary when he was there, but I'm sure many desperate parents have taken out loans thinking it would help their child. We also don't have enough treatment centers here.

I agree with the introduction of good nutrition.
I also would include mental health assessments.
We agreed to pay for two treatment programs. It wasn't my son's idea each time. He drank the day he got out. The alcohol covered the mental illness very well for many years and we thought that's what we were dealing with. Today, he doesn't drink, can't have any money with him, doesn't leave his apartment,
doesn't work, refuses medication, therapy, meetings, etc., etc.

Until alcoholism and mental illness is spoken about openly nothing will change. Yes, we can support each other through this challenging jouney, but consider the money trail.


Where will be spend our money? Research, genetic research, family support, education, good treatment facilities OR jails, prison and homelessness?

I agree with BubblesDavey! Too many lives are being lost or ruined becasue the dual diagnosis approach is handled inappropriately. I really don't know a solution, but my husband and I are trying to save our son, and if we do, we are committed to trying to spread the word about what we've learned - I cant' speak with confidence, as I don't yet know from day to day what has worked and what has not. This website is a good contribution, though.

I support your goal of trying to save your son. Please support each other along the way in any way you can. Blessings.

Drug Addiction is a serious problem in the united states. you ask about an ideal recovery system. However, it is much easier, less expensive and more effective to focus on Prevention of Drug Abuse, then to try and actually deal with addiction. This requires a multi-prong approach and cooperation with major studios and marketing organizations. Have any of you noticed how difficult it is to find a movie today that does not involve drugs in some way as part of the plot or glamorizing their use? Simply put, how does a series like Weeds get approved for a cable network. Or all the advertisements for pain pills. The real message is - "you need them to function on a daily basis, and it is okay." Today's generation is growing up with the impression that drugs are a fact of life and everyone does them. They are bombarded with messages on a constant basis that put drugs at the forefront of their culture. It requires educating children at a very early age about how incredibly harmful drugs are and the serious issues surrounding addiction without glamorizing or making addicts into heroes. Addiction starts at a very early age and to BAB09's point, if sugar were discovered today - it would be a controlled substance. Not to mention Alcohol or Tabacco. Today the average individuals eats over 300 pounds of processed sugar in a year. 50 years ago that number was 30 pounds. White sugar is metabolized by our system just like alcohol, and alcohol is a poison.... our children are being poisoned on a daily basis. The human body has not evolved to the point it can process that amount of sugar without doing harm to our systems and our brains.
So while it is commendable others are want input on the proper treatment of addiction - I vote for them
addressing the problem of proper education for prevention first.

Mgs1 You are so right. I never go to the pharmacy, but my younger son had oral surgery a couple of days ago and I have to get his prescriptions filled. While I was there 3 different people were getting pain medicine or benzos. Luckily a couple of times the customers were out of luck, because there were messages letting them know that they had to call their doctor's offices. I'm sure they got their dope anyway. One lady was on dilaudid and demerol, yet she was alone and walking around. I have mentioned before that Oxycontin was supposed to have been used for people who were dying, but doctors began giving it to people for back pain and such. I know that banning it, wouldn't get rid of it, but at least people wouldn't be able to get it legally and then sell it on the street, which is what they are doing half the time.

You are also correct about the media, more specifically movies and TV. As smoking and alcohol at one time was glamorized not only in movies, but also shows such as Bewitched, I love Lucy, and Andy Griffith.
I could kick myself now when I think of movies Gary saw when he was younger that would show people smoking pot.

Mgs1 a standing ovation for you. Our children are exposed to far to many movies,tv commersials,video games and music focusing on violence and drugs. What can we expect.It is drilled into their heads from a very young age and the internet has not helped. I dont want to turn this into a political slam but sometimes the politicians spend so much time and money on elaborate economic strategic costly solutions when sometimes the simple ones are the most efficient and cost effective. I read an article the other day regarding our tough economic times and how the government is going to spend billions to help recovery. One young college student came up with a plan that is simple and logistic but I am quite sure we will never see it happen. The plan in simple terms is as follows:

There are 40,000,000 people 50 years and older working. Each one of those people would be given $1,000.000.00 with three conditions
1. They must retire fully from there job opening up 40,000,000 jobs for the younger generation
2. They must purchase a new North American car, therefore creating 40,000,000 orders for new cars and getting the auto workers back in line.
3. They must purchase a new house or pay off the mortgage on there excisting house creating millions more jobs.

Now I realize this sounds a little bizzare but do you think the politicians overthink things sometimes......food for thought

mgs1 - Are you sure you weren't at the meeting? I posed these questions on this forum because I wanted to hear what parents wanted to share before I headed to Washingtion. Fortunately, I had the rare opportunity to voice my thoughts as to how I think the system should be changed at a recent and 1st time Family meeting near Washington. I was a parent rep from my state. 34 states were also represented because of a grant that made this possible to gather and basically brainstorm and come up with a consensus as to what the top needs are. It is recognized that family members are generally not included as part of the system, which is a shame, since the family members an integral piece of the recovery process.

At the conclusion of the two day meeting: Family members identified several challenge areas in treatment and recovery for youth with addiction disorders. The top two: lack of education (for both youth and families) and lack of access to treatment for both youth and families. Other challenges: 1. Lack of integrated treatment for youth w/both addiction and mental disorders. 2.Stigma/lack of understanding of the disease 3. The quality of treatment.

What an opportunity it was and it wasn't just about being able to be HEARD (which was great in itself) but to be with a room full of people who not only understand BUT have the same desire as me to make changes and improve the way things are now.

This meeting as re-energized me to continue on my quest to do something to improve the lack of education (especially among parents) about prevention and knowledge as to what to do their child "crosses the line". I am going to start at the Middle School level because this is a crucial time some of our young people start using. And it so happens, the Principal of our town Middle School is very open and is willing to meet with me! I don't get the same reception at my son's High School. The Principal there is compassionate but is way too busy raising funds for other more important things. So....I'll start where it means the most.

Thanks for your input all!