The recent scandals at the Pasadena Recovery Center have been tragic. As a drug and alcohol counselor myself, it is difficult not to have strong opinions about this; to understand how several patients could overdose, commit suicide and be raped at a high profile facility and within a short period of time. This is the same facility that is featured on the reality show “Celebrity Rehab” with radio and television personality Dr. Drew Pinsky.
I am tired of hearing about expensive out-patient and in-patient recovery centers that offer little more than pre-fab formulas and glorified babysitting of those who truly need to be helped before they are lost forever to the disease of addiction. An addict needs personal care, customized treatment and a counselor that cares more about the addict than they do about corporate policies, television ratings, and upper management bonuses and salaries.
Addicts are very fragile, vulnerable and are in the middle of crisis; like a mountain climber needs a sherpa (guide) to climb Mt. Everest, a person needs an experienced and trained guide to take them through the process of recovery. They should never try to do it on their own; there is always help available.
Certainly not all treatment centers are bad, but I hope the public will continue to scrutinize carefully when considering treatment for their loved ones. The treatment industry is highly profit driven and the grassroots counselors who are doing the heavy lifting are underpaid with tremendous responsibility, which attracts some less than qualified individuals, lacking the level of insight a complicated person needs.
So, what type of treatment is best? Treatment facilities are expensive and a major downside is that when you put a bunch of addicts together, bad things can happen. Addicts know that the easiest place to score drugs is at rehab! Patients who are not trying to stay clean mix with those who are.
A combination of counseling and 12-Step support is usually best. 12-Step fellowships are free and always around. They have a well thought out program for sobriety, however, they are still a “support group” and lack training and objectivity.
Private counseling is discreet, custom and personal. Combined with 12-Step ideas, one-on-one guidance is effective and safe and gets results. Don’t lose someone to addiction, it is never too early to get someone help if they’re using.
Scott Spackey is a CA. Registered Addiction Specialist, Interventionist, Life-Coach and Hypnotherapist. For more information, please call 661-299-1966, visit www.LIFE-MIND.com or email Scott@Life-Mind.com .