Sunday, September 9, 2012
THE HILLS CLINIC
Addiction Treatment
The Hills Clinic offers a range of group and individual addictiontreatment programs to help people who wish to recover from an addiction. The program offers patients the support and skills to prevent relapse. Based on the latest evidence, treatment programs are delivered by enthusiastic and non-judgmental clinicians with expertise in the field.
The Hills Clinic is unique in its approach to treating addiction as we take into consideration each individuals’ personal needs, addressing addiction related co-morbidity and providing a high level of continuity of care throughout the program.
The addiction treatment program has five components offering comprehensive support for those struggling with addictions.
21 Day Inpatient Program
Weekly Smart Recovery Group
6 week Step down Outpatient Program
12 Week Maintenance Outpatient Program
Individual Therapy
The basis of all the programs is cognitive behavioural therapy and it runs parrallel with the SMART Recovery Program. Patients are empowered to gain control of their addictions and correct errors that continues to enable their addiction to control their life.
SMART Recovery®
SM is the leading self-empowering addiction recovery support group. Patients learn tools for addiction recovery based on the latest scientific research and participate in a world-wide community which includes free, self-empowering, secular and science-based, mutual-help support groups.
SMART Recovery® helps people recover from all types of addiction and addictive behaviours, including: alcoholism, drug abuse, drug addiction, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, gambling addiction, cocaine addiction, and addiction to other substances and activities. SMART Recovery® currently sponsors more than 600+ face-to-face meetings around the world, and 18+ online meetings per week. In addition, our online message board is an excellent forum to learn about SMART Recovery® and obtain addiction recovery support.
SMART Recovery Teaches Self-Empowerment and Self-Reliance
SMART Recovery does not use the disease model.
Teaches practical tools and techniques for self-directed change.
Encourages individuals to recover and live healthy satisfying lives.
Meetings include open and interactive discussions and can be educational.
Works on addictions/compulsions/dependence as complex maladaptive behaviours.
Advocates the appropriate use of prescribed medications and psychological treatments, such as anti-depressants, Methadone, Buprenorphine.
SMART’s 4-Point Program
SMART Recovery is based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). The group helps people to understand, manage and change their irrational thoughts and actions.
The SMART Recovery program is comprised of 4 key points.
Building and Maintaining Motivation
Coping with Urges
Problem Solving
Lifestyle Balance
The Hills Clinic Addiction Program Treatment Principles
Cognitive Behavioural Framework
Similar to other cognitive behavioural approaches, this program is based on social learning principles. It conceptualises the client’s drug taking behaviours as learned maladaptive coping strategies related to major difficulties in their lives. People with addictive behaviours often present with co-morbid mental health issues, a fragile and unstable sense of self, health problems, and chaos in their relationships due to their substance use/gambling/impulsive behaviour.
The aim of treatment is to overcome these deficits through skills training in identified areas. Skills are built through examining underlying beliefs and thoughts and teaching specific cognitive and behavioural techniques for managing difficult situations. Skills building attempts to reduce the pressure/stress on the client and increase the client’s sense of control over their addiction and their life.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness meditation is a core part of our treatment program, and underlies the application of most skills and strategies. Numerous studies have shown the benefits of mindfulness practice in reducing impulsiveness, improving concentration and attention, reducing stress and improving immune function. Most importantly, for people with addiction, mindfulness has the quality of helping to notice thoughts and urges without reacting to them in destructive ways (such as substance abuse).
Interpersonal Approach
By the time individuals reach substance abuse treatment, their relationships are generally in turmoil. Our program aims at teaching clients interpersonal skills to manage triggers and reduce stress.
Building and repairing relationships is an important part of this treatment program, and exploration of clients attachment style and ways of relating in the groups are focused upon to increase insight and awareness and allow the development of new interpersonal skills. Group programs also provide an excellent environment for participants to practice interpersonal skills and different ways of relating to others.
Respect for the client
An empathic/non-judgmental attitude is held by the therapist in order to foster engagement and establish a working therapeutic relationship in which the client feels respected and understood.
The clinician communicates respect for the client, and supports the person’s self-worth and sense of competence. Strategies used to foster an empathic, respectful approach include reflective listening, a focus on the client’s perception of issues, and a collaborative approach to counselling.
Strengths based approach
The program takes a strengths-based approach by reinforcing and building upon client’s strengths and resources for change. This is facilitated by assisting clients to recall past successful strategies at coping with difficult situations, and commenting on the client’s strengths and successes.
Motivational Approach
Clinicians utilise general strategies that enhance motivation for behavioural change. These include
Pointing out client’s self responsibility for actions
“This is really for you to decide. Nobody can make that decision for you.”
Eliciting motivational statements
“What made you realise that you had a problem? How do you know you are ready for taking this step?”
Exploring ambivalences
“Your drug use worked for you as a way of avoiding conflict in your relationship, but it makes you both extremely uncomfortable.”
Rolling with resistance
“You want to continue drinking because it relaxes you.”
Saturday, September 8, 2012
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Only two weeks to go
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Team Captains Are in High Gear--
So Which Team Is Ahead?
With only about two weeks left, Team Captains are busy in the race for the great prize being offered for the Team Captain whose team has collected the most in donations. You may remember our announcement of this fantastic prize:
The honor of throwing out the first pitch at the 2013 National Recovery Month Baseball Game!
A 2013 pre-game tour of Citizens Park for four (4) people
Four (4) complimentary field-level seats
Their picture on Phanavision
An electronic disc showing them throwing out the first pitch in September 2013
Team Nancy Elaine Kammeyer-Difrancesca currently has the most money raised so far with $450.00. Let's go Team Captains--you've still got two weeks! The winning total will include all donations made up to and including the day of the Walk. The names of the winning Team Captain and team will be announced from the stage that day.
And remember, all donations gathered for Recovery Walks make it possible for PRO-ACT to continue to provide recovery support services. Your donations will help us to offer hope and healing to those wishing to initiate, stabilize, and sustain long-term recovery from addiction.
PRO-ACT RECOVERY WALKS! 2012
Saturday, September 22, 2012--Penn's Landing, Philadelphia
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE WALK!
And if you have 10+ years of recovery, please sign up for the Honor Guard
Currently, the Walk will be led by an Honor Guard with
1,426 collective years of recovery!
Recovery Day Rally - Sunday, September 30th
Sunday, September 30, 2012
12:00pm until 3:00pm in PDT
Mayor Gregor Robertson officially proclaims Sunday, September 30th Recovery Day.
People in recovery:
Please join us Sunday, Sept 30th at the Vancouver Art Gallery from noon - 3 pm to rally and show the "solution" to substance use disorders vs. the “problem".
Highlights:
Downtown March, Live Music, Recovery Countdown, Gratitude Shares, Speeches, Moment of Silence, Information Booths
BRING YOUR BEST RECOVERY SIGN OR BANNER
Prize for best looking sign
Description
Recovery (Day) 2012 is committed to mobilizing and organizing Canadians in recovery from alcohol and other substance use disorders, our families, friends and allies to change public perceptions of recovery, end discrimination and keep a focus on the fact that recovery works and is making life better for millions of people.
Supporting Links:
-USA Recovery Celebrations: http://www.recoverymonth.gov/
-Planned Documentary on Recovery Day celebrations: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/342545630/the-anonymous-people
Friday, September 7, 2012
Study Finds Elevated Death Rates Shortly After Hospitalization for Substance Abuse
By Join Together Staff | September 6, 2012 | 4 Comments | Filed in Addiction,Alcohol, Drugs, Mental Health, Research & Treatment
A new study finds elevated rates of suicides and overdose deaths in the month after people have been released from the hospital for substance abuse treatment. Researchers found death rates were substantially higher for those who had been out of the hospital for less than one month, compared with those who had been out for at least one year.
The study of almost 70,000 people who had been treated for some type of substance abuse found overdose deaths and suicides were most common during hospitalization, Reuters reports. Even after discharge, the death rates remained high, the article notes. In the first month, there were 21 drug-related deaths per 1,000 people each year, compared with 4.2 per 1,000 people a year or more later.
“Like prison-release, hospital discharge marks the start of a well-defined period of heightened vulnerability for drug-treatment clients,” Elizabeth Merrall of the MRC Biostatistics Unit in Cambridge wrote in the journal Addiction.
According to Dr. Patrick G. O’Connor of the Yale School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study, some drug users may start binging once they are released from the hospital, or may lose some of their drug tolerance in the hospital, which makes it easier to overdose.
Hospitalization may not be enough for some people struggling with substance abuse, he noted. They also may need jobs, housing and psychiatric care. “For drug users who leave the hospital, we need to be able to provide instantaneous and tight linkages for these patients to at least three services: primary care services, social services and drug treatment services,” he noted.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Survey Finds 17% of High School Students Abuse Substances During School Day
By Join Together Staff | September 5, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed inAlcohol, Drugs, Marketing And Media, Parenting & Youth
A new survey finds an estimated 17 percent of American high school students say they drink, smoke or use drugs during the school day. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University found 86 percent of teens say they know which of their peers are abusing substances at school, CNN reports.
The findings come from an annual telephone survey of about 1,000 students ages 12 to 17. According to the survey, 60 percent of high school students say drugs are available on school grounds, and 44 percent know a classmate who sells drugs at school. Marijuana is the most commonly sold drug at school. Prescription drugs, cocaine and Ecstasy are also available.
Social media plays a role in peer pressure to use drugs and alcohol, the study found. Three-quarters of students said they are encouraged to use marijuana or alcohol when they see images of their peers doing so. The survey found 45 percent said they have seen photos online of their classmates drinking, using drugs or passing out, up 5 percent since last year.
For the first time in the history of the survey, a majority of private school students—54 percent—said their school was “drug-infected.” In 2011, that figure was 36 percent.
Teens are more likely to use drugs or alcohol if they have been left alone overnight, and are less likely to do so if they regularly attend religious services, the survey found.
“The take away from this survey for parents is to talk to their children and get engaged in their children’s lives,” Emily Feinstein, project director of the teen survey, said in a news release. “They should ask their children what they’re seeing at school and online. It takes a teen to know what’s going on in the teen world, but it takes parents to help their children navigate that world.”
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