Question: Which has the best recovery rate Christian rehab or rehab that is based on AA?

Iona Health Says...:

My first response to your question is “it depends on whether or not the alcoholic/addict is a Christian?” A really excellent website which makes distinctions between the causes of addiction, the difference in philosophies between AA or 12 Step based treatment programs and Christian-based recovery treatment programs is Alcoholics Victorious. Its website can be found at: http://alcoholicsvictorious.org/faq.html. Check this out and you may be struck with the strong differences in languaging and philosophies between these two different rehab models.

Both Christian Recovery Programs and AA-based treatment programs are both spiritual and effective programs. I think people who want recovery have been able to recover in both treatment formats. From what I have seen, Christians often report strong recovery in Christian-based programs but also can do well in AA-based treatment programs. An observed difference in lower recovery rates appears, sometimes, when alcoholics/addicts from other faith communities enter into Christian drug rehab and are confronted by basic religious and/or philosophical differences. For this reason(s), atheists, agnostics, and members from non-Christian faith communities often have improved recovery experience in AA or 12 Step programs. With many Christian alcoholics, the opposite can be observed. Many Christians report they benefit more from a Christian-based recovery program by having treatment which encourages them to use their belief in Jesus; a strength they can use to broaden their spiritual walk and person recovery.

You offered a very good question. When assessing alcoholics/addicts for treatment, it is common to ask them if they prefer a Christian-based rehab program over a 12 Step-based recovery program. I think it comes down to personal preference. When people are able to exercise their personal preferences and have individualized treatment, they usually perform better and report more satisfactory results.

I hope this response partially or fully addressed your question. If you need anything more from me, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Respectfully yours,

John W. O’Neal, Ed.S, MSW, MA, LPC, NCC

Question: How do I know if I need to go to drug rehab or not? I am addicted to cocaine. I am a technical writer. I lost my largest client of many years last week for what they called erratic performance. It was a shock to me and it has me scrambling to make ends meet. Now I really can’t afford all the coke I’m buying but I am buying it anyway and using my savings to do it. Obviously I have a bigger problem than I thought. I have tried to quit on my own but I cannot last more than a few days. I need to get some help but I am not sure if I need to go to a drug rehab (which would be expensive and embarrassing) or if I can get effective treatment on an outpatient basis. How can I know if I am so addicted that I need the rehab treatment?

Iona Health Says...:

The major issues that I perceive from your request are (1) how serious is my cocaine addiction, (2) how embarrassment and shame can serve as obstacles to seeking help, and (3) after failing to quit on my own, do I really have to seek professional assistance?

According to the mental health clinicians’ Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-IV):

Substance dependence is defined as a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (or more) of the following, occurring any time in the same 12-month period:

1. Tolerance, as defined by either of the following: (a) A need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or the desired effect or (b) Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance.
2. Withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following: (a) The characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance or (b) The same (or closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.
3. The substance is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than intended.
4. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use.
5. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain the substance, use the substance, or recover from its effects.
6. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use.
7. The substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance (for example, current cocaine use despite recognition of cocaine-induced depression or continued drinking despite recognition that an ulcer was made worse by alcohol consumption).
   

If you continue to have doubts about your progressive addiction to cocaine, you may want to take the “Self-Test for Cocaine Addiction.” For this test, go to http://www.ca.org/literature/selftest.htm

Usually with most substance dependency, there is impairment in different areas of the addict’s life; i.e., the physical, emotional, mental, employment, social, friends, family, and spiritual. You have already admitted that your work, work reputation, and finances have suffered as a result of your continued use of cocaine. You mentioned having a strong concern about depleting your saving account due to reduced income and perhaps increased usage. Buying cocaine when you can’t afford it is a sign of progressive addiction to cocaine. When you talk of being “shocked” about the current consequences to your addiction, it may be that you are beginning to become more aware of how much you addiction is costing you in most or all areas of your life. To better understand the cycle and harm of cocaine addiction, please go to this website: http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/cocaine/addiction.htm.

Most addicts live secret lives to some or more degrees. You stated that “embarrassment and shame” would result from you admitting to others and yourself that you have are addicted to cocaine. Most people use this as an obstacle to seeking treatment. However, honesty or honest self-disclosure about an addiction is the first act of recovery. To be able to walk away from your cocaine addiction will require honesty and the help of others. I would encourage you to go to Cocaine Anonymous (CA) , listen to the stories of the members, and see if you think you can do it on your own or not. You can find meetings and other information at http://www.ca.org/index.html. Another option would be for you to have an assessment by a professional addiction counselor. Most treatment centers offer assessments, including the Choose Help website.

I would encourage to strongly consider professional help with your cocaine addiction. One of the main features of addiction is loss of control. By taking action now, you may be able to salvage your health, your peace of mind, regain self-control, reinvigorate your career as a technical writer, restore your finances, and save your life. I hope this answer has been helpful to you but if you need anything else from me, please let me know.

Respectfully,

John W. O’Neal, Ed.S, MSW, MA, LPC, NCC

Question: Are you familiar with Narconon programs? They claim to have very high success rates and what I see on their websites seems to make sense. Is it too good to be true? Do you know of any outside verification of the 80% cure rate I saw they were claiming? I am ready to go to treatment and to give up all drugs and alcohol but I want to get into the best possible program that I can afford to make sure that I succeed and never again have to do this.

Iona Health Says...:

"You may have noticed that society is rapidly going downhill. Inflation, lack of fuel and even war cast deep shadows over the world. And the most serious part of this is that drugs, both medical and street drugs, have disabled a majority of those who could have handled it, including the political leaders, and have even paralyzed the coming generations."

-- L. Ron Hubbard

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Dear Anonymous:

I have little familiarity with Narconon so I cannot recommend or criticize Narconon. According to this Narconon website, http://www.narconon.org/drug-rehab/drug-rehabilitation-services.html the success rate for addicts and alcoholics is 75%. This success rate is considered high in comparison to many other programs, but there is no attached study verifying these impressive statistics. A Narconon program evaluation can be found at http://www.narconon.org/about-narconon/drug-rehabilitation-program-evaluation.html. The obvious strength of this program appears to be drug prevention

For your benefit, I would like to bring forth some facts which may be critical in your decision to enroll in a Narconon Drug Rehabilitation or Drug Education Program. First, this program was developed by William Benitez, an Arizona State prison inmate, who developed this program with L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. Mr. Hubbard is a controversial figure so caution should be implemented when considering a program based on the principles of Scientology. See this website for more info about scientology:

http://www.scientology.org/

http://www.rickross.com/groups/scientology.html

I encourage you to consider both arguments about Scientology by going to critical websites about Scientology. They are:

http://mybillionyearcontract.com/

http://www.scientology-lies.com/whatswrong.html

The most dangerous problem faced by this treatment model is withdrawal and withdrawing safely and with minimal discomfort from alcohol and drugs. The Narconon program adopted treatment procedures to include drug-free withdrawal using vitamins and mineral supplements along with special techniques to ease the mental and physical symptoms. In 1978, this rehab model was named the Narconon® New Life Detoxification Program. This tissue-cleansing regimen of specific vitamin/mineral therapy with cardiovascular exercise, intensive sweating in low heat saunas, adequate replacement of fluids and oils, are interventions which claim to be immensely valuable for reducing the long-term physical and mental effects of drug residuals on people who have taken drugs. For more information about this, see this websites:

http://www.narconon.org/about-narconon/l-ron-hubbard.html

http://www.narconon.org/drug-treatment/narconon-detox.html

For an actual description of drug rehab utilizing this model, see http://www.narconon.org/drug-rehab/drug-rehabilitation-program.html. This model does not consider addiction a disease, does not use the word “patient” but rather “students”, and takes between 4 to 6 months to complete. The central concept is that students, faced with drug and alcohol addiction, need additional education and new tools which will help them to engage in life without the dependency or destructiveness of alcohol and/or drugs.

If you decide to go with this treatment model, which is social education rather than psychiatric or medical, here is where you would go to find a Narconon Drug Rehab or Drug Education Centers: http://www.narconon.org/narconon-centers/

Questions which should be addressed in your decision-making process are:

1. do they treat all substance abusers with the same treatment protocol;
2. what if withdrawal symptoms persist after their nutritional and holistic detox is completed;
3. what kind of education or support does this program offer family or other interested parties;
4. what kind of local support is there for continued recovery;
5. what kind of credentials do staff and centers have to offer drug rehabilitation;
6. does a student have to subscribe to the principles of Scientology;
7. how does the program addresses differences in race, culture, religion, disability, and sexual orientation; and
8. does insurance cover this type of drug rehabilitation?

Although I could not give you a recommendation, I do honor your choice to choose whatever program is a good fit for you. Should you continue to doubt whether or not Narconon is a good program, you might want to consider other alternatives. I would like to direct you to a web-site which offers such alternatives to Narconon. It is:

http://free-from-scientology.blogspot.com/2007/11/safe-alternatives-to-narconon.html

I would encourage you to follow through on your solid plans to address your alcohol and drug addiction. Most programs have people who swear by their type of program or treatment. Caveat emptor. i.e., let the buyer beware.

I hope this information has been helpful in your decision-making process. Please do not exclude local resources, e.g., substance abuse treatment professionals or programs, when making a final decision. If you need any other assistance from me, please contact me at your convenience.

Best of luck to you and your recovery,

John W. O’Neal, Ed.S., MSW, MA, LPC, NCC