Maine Substance Abuse Case Study

When the info-graphics site Visually was hired to put together information related to drug abuse in the state, one could only imagine the startling information that was discovered. To begin with, drug is considered the #1 cause of accidental deaths with 11 people dying everyday from a drug overdose. Each year, an estimated 40,000 emergency room visits are drug related, and 3 of every 10 auto accident fatalities are as a result of drug use. Sadly, only 15% of the state's addicts are said to ever receive treatment. These numbers point out the need for educating residents about the availability of outpatient and inpatient addiction treatment services (drug and alcohol rehab) throughout the state and other parts of the country.

Fisher and Harrison (2009), explain that inpatient treatment is positive for social interactions and decreased isolation. When touring the facility the patients were spending time together showing decreased isolation between them. The patients frequently have outings to activities such as a ropes course or attending community AA or NA meetings. Lakeside Milam has 24 hour care for its patients which make it less likely that the patients will use a substance while in treatment (Fisher & Harrison, 2009).

According to an article on wcax.com, “more Vermonters died from opiate overdoses last year [2011] than murders and traffic fatalities combined.” Some opiates have medically valid uses, while others are recreational drugs of abuse. All are physically addictive, and it has become evident that many people have begun to abuse them. Pharmaceutical drugs have taken over the minds of many Vermonters.

Atlanta is a vibrant hub of activity, and a city that is well educated on the desperate problems related to drugs and alcohol. The addiction treatment centers in Atlanta, Georgia, and the areas surrounding the city, are especially attuned to the needs of those that find themselves caught-up in addiction. If you live in the Atlanta area, or are thinking about visiting or relocating while entering treatment, the following information provided about the addiction treatment centers in Atlanta, Georgia will be of interest to you.

Shannon, Havens, Mateyoke-Scrivner, & Walker, (2009) reviewed the various types of substances used by women going into treatment who were of the rural Appalachian and non-Appalachian areas of Kentucky. Shannon et al. sampled 2,786 women who were going into treatment in Kentucky. The state of Kentucky sponsored the drug abuse program. The participants were evaluated for their use of opiates, alcohol, stimulants, cocaine, sedatives, and tranquilizers over 12 months as well as lifetime use. Findings showed that rural Appalachian women going into drug treatment had higher use of opiates than non-Appalachian women did.

Following this even further, the Montford unit offers services to admitted patients regardless if they are offenders or general medical issues for individuals. The services that are provided is “550 psychiatric beds, a 48 bed general medical and surgical unit, gardens for the Lubbock food bank, housing stables, and roads located on 120 acres of land” (Hills, Siegfried, and Ickowitz, 2004, p. 86). All of these services help offenders because everything is done in house regardless of the issue. They have food, roof of over their head; they can provide assistance to others by helping box up food items for the homeless or low-income families. They could also do nontraditional activities such as “art therapy, music therapy, occupational therapy, and recreational therapy” (Hills, Siegfried, and Ickowitz, 2004, p. 86). The activities will keep their mind active and thinking constantly. It could even lead to a hobby that can turn into a business.

The federal and local community resources dedicated to the treatment and prevention of substance use, has become a valuable tool in the process of recovery. Chemically dependent individuals often have a variety of psychosocial problems in addiction to addiction, such as financial, housing, criminal, and poor social support that often leads to poor treatment retention and higher risk of relapse according to Krupski, et. al. (2009). Therefor the need for community resources is critical to the success of the original treatment. When investigating into the federal resources available, there becomes a view into a larger problem with chemical dependency as government agencies compile statistical data of therapeutic approaches, cultural diversity,

National Church Residences specializes in rehabilitation therapy. Their outpatient services are designed to maximize healing and accelerate the recovery process. With flexible treatment schedules, patients are allowed to come and go as they please.

North Eastern Mental Health Facility is a 250 beds, long term mental residential health facility for adults located right in the center of Palm Beach County. The facility aids those in the community who suffer psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, and dissociative disorders. The facility provides room, board, meals, and counseling and therapy as well as directing patients to where medications can be received. North Eastern also has licensed physicians and psychologists on site who diagnose and determine the appropriate path of treatment needed in order to prepare patients for the outside world and maintain mental health. It is also a place where patients can grow and heal by offering one on one interaction with providers. The facility puts its patients first and is a not-for-profit organization funded by donations and money from the local and state government. This facility is selective about the number of patients admitted yearly. At North Eastern, patients must be hospitalized and diagnosed with a psychological disorder by a licensed care provider with proper documentation before admittance into the facility.

Opioid use disorder, most often touted as opioid abuse, tolerance and addiction are all manifestations of this chronic relapsing disease that can be developed when an individual is repeatedly exposed to illicit drugs. Opioid addiction and overdose is a global issue that is rapidly sweeping across our nation. There is irrefutable evidence suggesting that we are in an opioid addiction epidemic. Over a ten-year time-span, drug overdose has become the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. (American Society of Addiction Medicine, 2016) Rhode Island, the smallest state in the nation with a population of a little over one million, has been the hardest hit. It is claiming lives, destroying families and threatening the quality of

Over the past several years marijuana addiction rates have escalated in South Carolina. Statistics from the Treatment Episode Data Set noted that in 2010, close to 55% of all South Carolina drug rehab admissions cited marijuana addiction as their primary reason for seeking treatment. This is a drastic increase from previous years when the percentage of marijuana addiction cases totaled just over 30% in 2006 and nearly 40% in 2008. Likewise, other substances of abuse resulting in South Carolina drug rehab enrollments during 2010 included cocaine and crack addiction (close to 20%), other opiates addiction (close to 20%) and stimulant addiction (around 5%).

The psychiatric clinical rotation at Clinch Mountain House was a very prodigious experience. This facility is unique because of the role it plays in the community; it serves to provide daily recreation for the members of the community who suffer from mental illnesses. This facility focuses on providing essential social skills to this community and accomplishes this goal by providing social interaction, a structured schedule, and daily assignments for each member.

Its HSE area is mid Leinster. It is the mental health service for Longford and Westmeath. There are four wards in the hospital; Admission Unit which takes in 24 clients at a time, St. Edna’s ward, St. Brigid’s ward and St.Marie Goretti ward. There are 81 beds in the hospital. Each resident has an individual care plan which is done by the social care worker. The client would stay here for as long as they need under the supervision of doctors, nurses and social care workers. Also, if they are taking some medication prescribed by a doctor, they are under the supervision of staff.

The Stevens Treatment Home is located on 26-acres of land within a historic section of a rural community. There are 8 buildings in use for the benefit of services of the clients: an administration building, special education school and separate library and gymnasium, a training building for staff, and 3 cottages for the daily living of residents. The campus provides a country-like setting with its expanse of land and pond for the clients as well as modern amenities such as the softball field, and the volleyball and basketball courts. The facilities are accessible to the clients accepted to the program, however, the facilities are not available for handicap access.

“Our aim with this facility is to provide an alternative environment here that is more flexible in its approach to care and which mirrors a home environment. This better supports the needs of our long-term patients and is more conducive to ensuring they remain integrated with family and friends and the community.”