An article references a recent study that compared treatments for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD) and childhood sexual abuse (CSA).

Researchers found that a one-size fits all approach is not the best scenario to use when treating patients with one or all of these disorders.

Part of the problem is that many patients who suffer from these types of medical issues do not receive the proper medical care to begin with. The doctors they see may not specialize in one of the disorders or they see their primary doctor who focuses on general medicine, so they do not get the treatment they really need.

The patients do not realize they are not getting the right treatment and may believe that they have to live with the side effects and do not realize that there is actually help available. Whether it is simply a lack of access to good healthcare or that people do not realize where they need to go to get the best help for their certain ailment happens more and more.

You have to be an advocate and do research for yourself before you seek medical attention and can really get the treatment you deserve. The more patients learn and seek out for themselves or loved ones could make all the difference for a positive diagnosis. Not every diagnosis is the same for every patient. It takes a doctor who is willing to dig deeper to find the root of the problem as well as the patient who is seeking the help.

Gaga admits that initially cocaine seemed glamorous and intrigued her. She associated it in some way with being artistic and creative. She finally understood that mentality it was going to get her nowhere.

In the interview, Gaga reveals that there is nothing romantic about doing drugs. In the end, she actually felt like a loser. Once she came to the realization that her perception of drugs was flawed, she found the strength to get clean.

Gaga also described her lonely start in New York. In contrast to the bustling energy of the city, she would come home to a quiet, empty apartment and sit alone. The loneliness she felt was compounded by depression.

Gaga admits to leaving the TV on, just to have another voice in the room. It comforted her and made her feel like someone was with her. It was during this dark period of her early twenties that she turned to cocaine for solace.

But the life she had on cocaine was hollow and fake. She finally hit rock bottom and recalls finding herself in the shower drinking Nyquil after binging on cocaine. Feeling terrible, she realized that drugs were taking a toll on her personal life and career.

She knew she had to quit cold turkey if she wanted to attain her goals as an artist. Shortly thereafter, she did and threw herself whole heartedly into her music.

To look at Gaga’s success now is to realize what a powerful mind and clear head can do. For those who consider Gaga a role model, the take home message is that you can achieve your dreams, but it takes determination and hard work. Drugs only serve to derail that path.

Experts estimate that as many as four percent of American women use illegal drugs, including meth and cocaine while pregnant.

It can be difficult enough to admit one has a problem with substance abuse, let alone substance abuse while pregnant. Many women will deny using while pregnant even if they actually do. Therefore, it may be hard to get an accurate picture as to exactly how many women are exposing their babies to these harmful elements.

Researchers at the University of Maryland have been studying this issue for quite some time. The results of the study were presented last month at the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) conference.

It has been shown that there is a direct link between smoking and the use of illicit drugs. There is also a high instance of cigarette smoking among those suffering from mental illnesses such as depression and general anxiety disorder.

Researchers studied the medical charts of 397 pregnant women over the course of a year to determine the role that smoking might have, especially as a predictor of substance abuse as well as how it relates to mental disorders.

Interestingly enough, only four percent of women stated that they drank alcohol. However, researchers discovered that more than a third of patients studied admitted to smoking and illegal drug use.

Those who smoked were four times as likely to engage in substance abuse as those who didn’t smoke. The potential link between smoking and psychiatric disorders during pregnancy warrants further study.

The results of the study are important for clinicians because it shows that cigarette smoking amongst pregnant women might be an indicator of other substance abuse. This information may prove helpful in developing prevention education materials, and also teaches healthcare providers to be vigilant with pregnant patients who choose to smoke.

In some areas of the country one fourth of the babies in the neonatal unit are experiencing withdrawal symptoms. The problem has escalated along with drug addiction in the adult population, meaning more and more babies are born having been exposed to prescription drugs, hard drugs and marijuana.

The problem has become serious enough to warrant government attention and has led the American Academy of Pediatrics to update its guidelines for treating infant drug withdrawal.

Information drawn from the recent report on the subject recently appeared in an online article explaining what infant withdrawal looks like and what can be done.

Babies experiencing withdrawal are more irritable, fail to suck well, may undergo tremors or seizures, and may have bouts of vomiting and diarrhea. Pre-birth exposure to drugs also leaves these little ones vulnerable to problems which they will not outgrow such as birth defects, unhealthy growth patterns or behavioral disorders.

Other long-term impacts of prenatal drug exposure are still unknown.

What NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) units can do for these hurting babies is create an environment that is as comforting as possible. That includes dimming lights and keeping sounds to a muffled minimum. Plenty of loving touch and rocking is encouraged as is keeping babies swaddled for warmth and a sense of security.

Drug-exposed babies can be expected to spend more time in the hospital immediately and will require monitoring after they leave.

The dilemma comes in the desire to medicate infants so they won’t experience the pain of withdrawal balanced against the risks for later narcotic addictions as a result. The problem of drug-addicted newborns will continue to mirror the adult problem of adults. Ideally, when the plight of the vulnerable is more widely known, the motivation to end addiction will also spread.

The report estimated that between 40 and 60 percent of all student athletes who are football players use marijuana. The story was based on 19 interviews with former or current Oregon officials and players, according to USA Today.

State law in Oregon prevents the ability to randomly drug test people but the school has a policy that allows testing if there is reasonable suspicion.

Mullens released a statement saying that Oregon continues to work carefully to make student athletes aware of the dangers of illegal substances and the impact they can have on them and their career.

The university has been clear to carefully articulate their policies when it comes to illegal substance use policies among their student athletes. They have clearly stated rules for what happens if a student athlete’s test comes up positive, Mullens adds.

If an athlete does test positive for drugs, they must receive some counseling and further education. Should they have a second test that is positive, it will result in a behavior modification agreement between the coach and the student athlete.

Unfortunately, if an athlete fails a third drug test, they will become ineligible for one half of the season. Their scholarship will then be dropped if they have a fourth violation and they will be dropped from the team.

An online report says that American teens are more likely to binge drink, experiment with drugs and die a violent death compared to other Western countries. According to the report, teens in the United States are four times more likely to be killed by violence than the next country in the survey which was Israel.

In the category of U.S. males aged 15 to 19, 17 boys per every 100,000 are killed every year in this country. Four boys per 100,000 were killed in Israel and Switzerland, followed by Canada, Ireland and New Zealand with three, Estonia and Sweden with two and one in the United Kingdom.

According to the survey, teen girls in the U.S. were more likely to binge drink than any other adolescent population in the countries included in the study.

While American teens are more likely to exercise, the obesity rate among the same population is the highest in this country.

So what is attributing to the high number of violent deaths, the high rate of underage binge drinking and drug abuse? Are there additional pressures on American teens compared to other countries? Is our culture what is contributing to the increase in such statistics?

This data would lead us to believe that there is not enough being done to either educate or help young teens in their lives so they do not feel that they have to turn to drugs and alcohol at such a young age.

Collins is himself a recovered sex and porn addict. The author’s somewhat unique position as both a recovered sex addict and a sex addiction treatment counselor allows him to understand and present complicated material in a way that is accessible to both a recovering and a clinical audience, though the recovering audience is clearly his target.

Sex and porn addicts new to recovery are likely to find this book particularly helpful for a trio of reasons. First, Collins presents many useful techniques for recognizing, halting, and overcoming sexual addiction. Second, he illustrates his techniques with concrete, real-world stories that sexually addicted readers will easily identify with. Third, each chapter ends with an exercise or exercises designed to help the reader implement the technique he’s just read about.

The book opens with a chapter on identifying problematic sexual behaviors and understanding the consequences of those actions. Basically, Collins walks readers through step one of 12 step sex addiction recovery programs. In this material he drops the first of many “truisms” that will resonate for sex and porn addicts—you can’t get enough of what won’t satisfy you—telling readers that if they keep trying to get that “something,” whatever it is that they get over and over while remaining unsatisfied, they’re an addict. It’s a simple concept, but one that is shockingly new to sexually addicted individuals who’ve not yet been exposed to recovery.

Collins then moves into techniques for understanding the basis of sexual addiction, identifying triggers, and developing techniques to intervene with and stop sexual acting out. He begins with the concept of “identifying the voices in your amphitheater,” asking readers to look at the sub-personalities that live in the amphitheater of their mind. The sub-personality he is most concerned with is the one that urges the individual to behave in sexually compulsive ways. Collins’ idea is that the addict can identify that sub-personality, recognize that it is not the essential part of the addict’s life, and converse with it in ways that lessen its power over the addict’s behavior.

Next on Collins’ agenda is recognizing triggers to sexual acting out and developing ways to intervene in the process. His biggest and best suggestion is for addicts to remember that they always have a choice. They don’t have to give in to their addicted sub-personality. Instead, they can say, “What else? What else would I rather be doing?” In this way, addicts realize they have options—everything from mountain climbing to starting a new career to getting into an actual intimate relationship that is far more rewarding than the fake sexual fantasies of addiction.

The most enjoyable parts of the book are when Collins describes his escapades as a therapist intervening in clients’ fantasies. In one episode, he travels with a client to a seedy part of town, has the client pick up a prostitute, then pays the prostitute to be honest about her life and how she feels about men. In another, he travels with a client to the client’s favorite dirty bookstore, asking in a loud voice where the bondage section is (his client was into bondage magazines) and then discussing, in an equally loud voice, how the woman in one image looks like she might have a bad case of hemorrhoids. In both cases, Collins was able to introduce reality into the client’s sexual fantasy, thereby taking away the power of that fantasy.

At no point in the book does Collins stress the need for sex addicts to seek professional counseling, nor does he stress the need for or efficacy of 12 step sexual recovery programs. Instead he seems to believe that sex addicts can read his book, do the exercises, and fully recover. And perhaps some can. Certainly sex addicts will be better off for having read the book, and if they take seriously and do the exercises he suggests, they might be a lot better off. But to think this will work for all readers seems a bit naïve. Nevertheless, in conjunction with professional counseling and/or a 12 step sexual recovery program, Collins’ clearly described, no nonsense methodologies can absolutely be helpful implements in a sex addict’s recovery tool box.

Pena Neito emphasized listening to suggestions from various parts of the world and strengthening his country’s economy, but made it clear that legalization would not happen under his watch. According to him, giving the green light to ‘soft drugs’, far from deterring drug problems, would make the use of harder drugs all the more likely.

Sr. Pena Nieto is not a novice to dealing with the violence and other problems associated with trafficking and warring drug cartels. He is the former governor of a major Mexican state who during his tenure earned a reputation as a pragmatic problem solver. According to him, legalization does not provide a real solution but represents the position of surrender among those who see no other plan. In a recent article in The Washington Post, Pena Nieto voiced support for current President Calderon’s aggressive build-up of state and national police forces along with renewed efforts at interrupting money laundering activity.

Some find it hard to find any real point of difference between Calderon’s & Pena Nieto’s approach to the problem of drug violence. Sr. Pena Nieto places great emphasis on building Mexico’s economy as a key stroke in the plan to combat drugs in Mexico. To make that happen he encourages strengthening economic ties with Mexico’s northern neighbors, Canada and the U.S. Critics point out that Mexico’s economy would not only rise with its neighbors¸ but would be subject to their economic pitfalls as well. Apparently, Mexicans are not as eager to be tied to American drug policies because as the U.S. moves toward laxness, the heated battleground of Mexico remains committed to the fight.

Pantoliano refers to such celebrities as Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse and how it was not the drugs that took their lives. He believes when you become dependent on any behavior or substance you have developed a mental disease. In order to treat the disease you begin to self medicate in the form of abusing drugs, alcohol, sex or food. People treat their own symptoms of each of these overindulgences in the way they see most fitting for themselves.

It is an interesting spin on addiction and that it is not the compulsiveness that keeps you coming back, it is the feeling you receive from overuse. People feed their addictions because they are filling a void in their own lives, whether it is family or financial problems, etc.

Thinking of addiction in that way makes it somewhat understandable as to how people can get sucked into addiction. It is a rarity when you hear that a person has led the perfect life without any problems and has turned to drugs. Typically, you hear of an underlying factor that drives them to that lifestyle.

That must be what adds to the difficulty of kicking the habit because the person who is addicted does not want to go back to feeling how they felt before they began self-medicating. The obsession becomes their safety net and their feeling determiner, so to go without could be quite scary.

Rehabilitation addresses many of these issues and that is why it is not a short process. It takes time to get to the root of the problem and what has caused a person to allow their life to spiral so out of control. It is not something that has happened overnight, it takes time and commitment for a person to return to an addiction-free life.

12 Step Alone or in Combination With Other Treatments Is Key to Recovery Success

The most popular treatment model at detox and rehab centers is the 12-Step program. This time-proven method is employed by both inpatient and outpatient centers and often carries on after formal treatment ends. There are other treatment philosophies, however. Some centers specialize in a non-pharmacological or homeopathic approach, some offer single gender treatment options, and some are strong faith or spirituality based programs. Whichever type of treatment you choose, get acquainted with the 12 Steps can boost your likelihood of success.

Normal Treatment Progression

Detox. There is a standard progression that most treatment programs will follow. It begins with detox. This phase of treatment is usually conducted inpatient and lasts from one week to ten days. During detox the person’s body is allowed to rid itself of harmful toxins associated with drug or alcohol abuse. This cleansing period is closely monitored for safety and for comfort.

Residential Drug Rehab. Following your detox you enter into next step of treatment. One choice is inpatient treatment programs that can last anywhere from three weeks to six months depending upon the person and the extent of the substance dependency. During this time, the person is fed healthy foods, helped to form regular sleeping habits and provided with several types of therapies throughout the day. Individual and group counseling, exercise and addiction education are common components of residential addiction treatment.

Outpatient Addiction Treatment. Another option is outpatient programs, which includes services and therapies provided to individuals who are maintaining a more normal daily regimen of work and family. Obviously, the scope of services is smaller, but usually includes counseling and education. This level of care is ideal for those who can maintain their sobriety with support and have a home environment conducive to recovery. In many cases, patients participate in outpatient care after completing a stay in residential drug rehab.

Aftercare. Following outpatient or residential inpatient detox and rehab treatment, it will be important to continue working on recovery. This can be accomplished through regular aftercare either in support groups or through weekly counseling. Re-entering life as a sober person will be an adjustment and continuing to receive support from others dedicated to helping you live sober is a key part of lifelong success.

Which Drug Rehab Is Right for You?

In deciding which treatment option is right for you, you will have several things to consider, including:

• Cost – Drug rehab can be a costly investment, but it is one that is worth doing right. While you need to find a program that fits your budget, you may also want to consider learning more about insurance coverage, personal loans and other options to make sure you have access to a high-quality program and sufficient length of stay to support your recovery.
• Time commitment – People are often reluctant to leave work and family for one month or more. In some cases, outpatient treatment may meet all of your needs. More often, it’s a matter of calling on friends and family for support and making changes so that you can prioritize your health and the long-term well-being of the people you care about.
• Treatment philosophy – Research supports the efficacy of 12-Step recovery and holistic addiction treatment, which includes yoga, acupuncture, nutritional therapy and other therapies that address mind, body and spirit. When choosing a drug or alcohol rehab, make sure the treatment philosophy is both effective and aligns with your personal philosophy.
• Types of therapies offered – Cognitive-behavioral therapy, individual, group and family therapy, and education are all core components of most drug and alcohol rehabs. Look for a program that offers these plus alternative therapies such as adventure therapy, equine therapy, EMDR and others. This way, you’ll be more likely to find one that works for you.
• Professional recognition/licensure – Licensure and accreditation are reliable indicators that a program is committed to quality treatment and client care. Equally important are the qualifications of staff and the program’s reputation in the community. Has it been around for many years? Does the program receive high praise from alumni, other professionals and the media?
• Aftercare options – Treatment is an important part of recovery, but it is only the beginning. A program that helps you create a plan for what happens after treatment will be most supportive of your long-term success. Aftercare may include counseling and 12-Step meetings, outpatient treatment, a sober living environment or other supports.

Learn as much as you can about each treatment center you’re considering and, if possible, visit several centers. Take along someone you trust and get their input. Many drug rehabs will allow you to speak with alumni for recommendations. There are plenty of options and the one that is right for you is out there. Through treatment, you can start over – this time, on your own terms.