Treatment Assessment and Levels of Care

Assesing Treatment Needs

When assesing whether or not someone has a drug or alcohol problem treatment professionals are best to help to determine to what degree or if at all a person has a drug or alcohol dependence that deserves professional treatment. It is important that a full assement be taken by a trained and qualified couselor. While most people have a very firm belief in what deems use, misuse and abuse, the lines are very clear and are best determined when a full client history can be taken. The sociological background, psychological makeup, educational and work history, family and marriage difficulties and medical issues all have to be taken into account and weighed carefully against specific criteria that determine the prevalance of a chemical dependency problem.

In many cases where all of these factors and histories can be documented and reviewed by a counselor, the need for screening inventories does not weigh as heavily, but in the short term can give the professional a good idea of whether a chemical dependency issue is at heart of the clients' problems.

Once a full assessment is taken, client needs are assessed and a treatment plan is drawn together, usually upon admittance to a treatment program, where length, type and intensity of treatment are determined with a team of professionals.

Levels of Care

Detox

Safe, medically supervised Detoxification takes place at Support Systems Homes Residential Treatment Facilities in the Bay Area. Our detox program works closely with our other services to maintain the highest standards of quality and treatment. Detoxification is designed to support clients during withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs and usually lasts from 3-7 days. Detox clients are monitored by qualified, experienced staff 24 hours a day. Our staff physician completes a detailed medical history and health examination for each client, and prescribes any necessary detox medications. During the detoxification period, we make every effort to engage the client in appropriate treatment and make their withdrawal from alcohol and drugs as comfortable as possible.

Complete Information Here

Residential Treatment

Residential Treatment at Support Systems Homes drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers offers support and structure for men and women seeking treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction. Participants reside at one of our two residential treatment facilities for the course of the program, lengths of stay are flexible and individualized, and our expert clinical and counseling staff is dedicated to providing services that consistently demonstrate long-term, tangible results.

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Outpatient Care

The ultimate goal of our outpatient treatment program is long-term abstinence from drugs and alcohol. This is achieved by educating and treating clients so that they may re-enter society and lead responsible, successful drug and alcohol free lives by using our proven tools of recovery. We recognize and fulfill each client’s needs by helping them attain a thorough understanding of themselves and the recovery process.

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Sober Living

Sober living plays a critical role in the process of recovering from drug and alcohol abuse. Support Systems has 18 Sober Living/Transitional Housing Units which provide clean, safe, drug-free living environments. This extensive network is available to assist clients transitioning from residential treatment and other individuals seeking a safe, supportive, drug-free sober living environment.

At Support Systems sober living homes residents safely experience the transition from higher levels of care back into the community and day-to-day life with a group of individuals doing the same. Homes are supervised by a House Manager and assistant who ensure that the sober living environments offer structure and strong peer support. Clients work, attend treatment, or attend school during the day and engage in recovery activities in the evenings.

Support Systems Homes has highly trained, professional, compassionate staff members who are experienced in the recovery process.

Some special needs that we are available to assist with include:

• Referral to a vast network of community resources
• Professional Counseling
• Court Liaison Services
• Long-term Aftercare and Recovery planning
• Extensive drug and alcohol education and relapse prevention counseling

Support Systems Homes has Sober Living Environment homes in Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Milpitas, San Jose, Santa Clara, San Leandro, and Fresno, California.

An extensive directory of our Sober Living Environments and Recovery Homes is located at Recovery-Homes.com

Behavioral Change Through Treatment

Originally Published at http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/behavchange.html

Recovery from the disease of drug addiction is often a long-term process, involving multiple relapses before a patient achieves prolonged abstinence. Many behavioral therapies have been shown to help patients achieve initial abstinence and maintain prolonged abstinence. One frequently used therapy is cognitive behavioral relapse prevention in which patients are taught new ways of acting and thinking that will help them stay off drugs. For example, patients are urged to avoid situations that lead to drug use and to practice drug refusal skills. They also are taught to think of the occasional relapse as a "slip" rather than as a failure. Cognitive behavioral relapse prevention has proven to be a useful and lasting therapy for many drug addicted individuals.

One of the more well-developed behavioral techniques in drug abuse treatment is contingency management, a system of rewards and punishments to make abstinence attractive and drug use unattractive. Ultimately, the aim of contingency management programs is to make a drug-free, pro-social lifestyle more rewarding than a drug-using lifestyle. The community reinforcement approach is a comprehensive contingency management approach that has proven to be extremely helpful in promoting initial abstinence in cocaine addicts.

Once drug use is under control, education and job rehabilitation become crucial. Rewarding lifestyle options must be found for people in drug recovery to prevent their return to the old environment and way of life.