To Medicate, Or Not…

Dual diagnosis is . Why else would drug addicts chronically relapse, if not because they had an underlying untreated mental issue standing in the wings and popping out from time to time, making staying off their drug of choice next to impossible. But are these dual diagnosis facilities able to boast better results than just plain  12 step programs, and are they really effectively dealing with the mental aspect?

Now we are seeing more  dual diagnosis facilities, meaning they claim to treat the underlying mental disorder, be it bipolar, schizophrenic, ADHD, or some personality disorder like narcissistic or borderline, along with the addiction. Sounds like a plan indeed, until you examine it, just to discover that the treatment is nothing more than prescription medicine and the ‘management’ of such- standard issues such as mood stabilizers, anti depressants, tranquilizers, and let us not leave out anti-psychotics, doled out in generous portion by psychiatrists  who abandon the concept of  ‘err on the side of caution’ often over medicating, and only see the client once a month. What is worse is that that are cross addicting many addicts who never took pills (but do now), and cross prescribing giving anti-psychotic drugs normally reserved for schizophrenics or bipolar folks, to everyone.  Tegretal, Lithium, Klonopin, Zyprexa and Riperdal are all cross prescribed. I have noticed the same trends in other areas as well- there is a drug I see advertised called Humira, originally said to clear up  skin rashes and such. Now they are billing it as a treatment for Crohn’s disease. And Botox injections are now being used to treat migraines.  Hmmmmmm.

When clients are medicated they are perceived as more stable and more cooperative.  No tech or counselor wants a high maintenance client at rehab.  Night time meds before bed ensure the clients will lay quietly in bed all night- the facility needs to run smoothly at night when there is only 1 staff member on duty.  No worries…there is plenty of Seroquel to go around!! And so this is how the mental/emotional component of the picture is now being treated- it is sedated and subdued with a pill.

Nobody asked me, but this is just outrageous. There are soooo many negatives to these drugs

• cross addiction/dependency
• side effects
• long term damage to organs
• no curative effect

Isn’t it time to  try something different already?  Or at lease add something new into the repertoire, cause folks, we still have drug addicts galore…  I’ve said it before http://thependulist.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/clueless/   and I’ll suggest it again- some new ideas for rehab;

• Astrologists and numerologists would do the primary intake and participate in making both diagnosis and treatment plan
• Homeopaths would select natural medicines as needed for mental and physical imbalances
• Healthy habits and  gratitude exercises would replace drugs and pity parties
• Harm reduction would be offered as an option for those who are unable to abstain entirely

And lastly, here is a list of natural alternatives to some of the hard core drugs given to unsuspecting clients;

• Sai Sanjeevini (a complete healing system self administered) offers dozens of prayer patterns creating change on a deep level.  Let me introduce them at www.saisanjeevini.org .You can make a mega remedy selecting the diseases, body parts, emotional conditions, and spiritual attributes you wish to address, which might include, addiction, whole body, forgiveness, vaccine antidote, right conduct, and whatever else you wish to add.  You can charge up your morning coffee with the mega remedy, or charge up a piece of paper, and slip it into your pillowcase giving you a constant dose as you sleep at night!
• Fish oil is considered a natural cure for bipolar disorder and is an important supplement for people with bipolar depression. Studies have shown omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil stabilizes mood and have effects similar to lithium. http://voices.yahoo.com/natural-cures-bipolar-disorder-8577755.html?cat=5
• Gingko Biloba, American ginseng, lemon balm, homeopathic medicines such as Stamonium and Cina, magnesium, zinc and other vitamins and minerals, biofeedback, and massage, all have significant results reducing the symptoms of ADHD.  Check out this site for home remedies for ADHD  http://www.homemademedicine.com/home-remedies-attention-deficit-disorder-ADD.html
• The homeopathic remedy Apis was  successfully administered to a paranoid schizophrenic, dramatically reducing symptoms and significantly changing the patient’s life. http://www.homeopathy-cures.com/html/mentalproblems.html
• How about DBT, dialectical behavioral therapy, for borderline personality disorder? Or try Aconite followed by Nux   http://abchomeopathy.com/forum2.php/337348/

I could go on all day…