The pending closure of important Georgia drug treatment programs aimed at helping women break free from drug addiction has a number of people worried. Because the need for addiction treatment has not lessened, many are concerned about the impact to the community when help is no longer available – as well as the impact to the women themselves and the wellbeing of their families.

The good news is that private rehabilitation is available and can provide an even more comprehensive level of care and treatment for women who are ready to stop drinking and abusing drugs.

Federal Funding Cuts

Federal funding provides the backbone of support to a number of treatment facilities in Georgia and with the revocation of those funds, many will be unable to keep their doors open. The ones that advocate for female addicts and their children are in the spotlight right now because their far-reaching programs extend beyond the addict herself to the family she supports. Such programs offer long lasting results and could potentially save the state – and the country – hundreds of thousands of dollars in the future when mother and children get the help they need early on.

In total, about 14 outpatient programs and 80 openings in residential treatment programs may be cut from Georgia rehabilitation centers.

Neil Kaltenecker is the executive director of the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse. Kaltenecker says: “Nationally, we know that about 13 percent of all state costs are because of addiction, whether that’s crime, whether that’s emergency room visits, healthcare, kids in foster care, unemployment, homelessness, all of those sort of social costs. That safety net just [will not be] there for these folks.

“We know that addiction is a family illness, it affects the families. So what we do in these programs is have therapeutic childcare where you’re teaching kids [and] kind of shoring up their strengths so they don’t have to go down the same road [of addiction].”

The Private Drug Rehab Option

Many who qualify for treatment at facilities that rely heavily upon federal funding may not think that they would be able to afford care at a private drug rehab. The fact is, scholarship programs are available as is sliding scale treatment for those with middle to low incomes. There are also financing options for those who can afford some now but prefer to make payments on treatment later.

If you are interested in traveling to The Orchid and experiencing our drug rehabilitation programs for women here in Florida, contact us today for information about how you can get started on the enrollment process.

Kristie Constantinoff was recently arrested on multiple charges of fraud – she pleaded guilty on all counts because, according to her attorney, her crystal meth addiction drove her to it.

The woman’s fraud of choice was to find receipts in the parking lot of major stores like Wal-Mart, then go in and steal some of the items on the receipt and return them for a refund. She defrauded more than $2000 in 2010 using this method.

Crime to Pay for Crystal Meth

According to Constantinoff, her crystal meth addiction cost her about $100 each day and the money she got from her fraudulent dealings went toward the support of that addiction. It’s not an uncommon reason behind crime; in fact, many communities notice a rise in the rate of drug addiction that parallels the rise in rate of drug dependence and abuse. The down side is that it can ultimately mean incarceration for people who would better benefit from drug rehab. The up side is that, in cases where the penalty is small or where drug courts are available, arrest can help those who need it get into addiction treatment and walk away from both crime and addiction forever

Repaying Debts Incurred During Active Addiction

Since the time of her arrest, Constantinoff has undergone drug rehab and gotten back on track. She is even employed now and would like to repay her debt. Her ability to pay was a big part of how her sentence was determined and her rehab experience as well as her demonstrated ability to remain sober and employed are likely what will keep her out of jail.

The ability to repay debts incurred during an active addiction is a healing act on many fronts. It can help the addict to assuage feelings of guilt or regret and give the victim an opportunity to heal as well. In some cases, it can even kick start the process of repairing broken relationships. At the very least, the person in recovery can learn how to have positive interactions with others, and going through the act of apologizing and making amends can be a good practice of humility that will benefit the patient going forward.

The Process of Healing

When crystal meth addiction is causing life changing problems, patients can begin the healing process by enrolling in a crystal meth rehab. Contact us at The Orchid today to learn more about the drug addiction treatment program options we have available for women. Call now.

Multiple drug charges can add up to exponential amounts of trouble, and even in districts where there are drug courts to help offenders with an obvious drug and alcohol addiction problem, getting in trouble with the law on several occasions can make it harder to get a sentence that is more treatment than punishment.

One man in Auburn lost out on a plea deal for drug dealing because it came to light that he had been charged with possessing heroin just two weeks prior to his arrest for the current charges. When he was offered the four-year prison time over a longer sentence, the judge told him to stay out of trouble – but the offenders issues with addiction made it impossible for him to follow those directions without treatment and he was inevitably caught. His ultimate sentence? Seven years in prison.

Getting Drug Addiction Help While Incarceration

The hope is that those who are living with a drug and alcohol addiction problem and arrested for their crimes will get drug addiction treatment assistance through the prison system. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of money in the state budget for comprehensive care and many who are incarcerated fall through the cracks. Though they can often stay clean and sober due to a lack of drugs and alcohol, most will relapse almost immediately after leaving prison.

Getting Help for Drug Addiction Before You End up in Court

The problem with drug addiction is that it causes patients to do desperate things, including criminal acts, in an effort to maintain their addiction. This can mean stealing to pay for drugs or committing fraud by getting duplicate prescriptions. It can also mean a lack of control that leads to domestic violence or assault, hurting someone while driving under the influence, and other charges that can mean incarceration rather than treatment even if drug court is an option – drug court is only for nonviolent offenders. Violent offenders receive incarceration rather than treatment even if their actions were instigated or fueled by addiction problems.

The best way to avoid the problem of fighting with the courts to get the help that you need for addiction is to enroll in rehab before you end up in front of judge for any reason. Women who choose a woman-only drug rehab can increase their chances of success in treatment when they actively engage in therapy and other treatment options. Contact us at The Orchid to learn more about the options available to you in drug addiction treatment.

Women are more likely to develop an addiction to drugs and alcohol than are men when they begin to experiment or abuse drugs casually, and they tend to develop that addiction more quickly and on lesser amount of their drug of choice. That’s the bad news. The worse news is that women are less likely to seek treatment than are men who are living with similar drug and alcohol addictions. Why? Perhaps it’s the stigma of drug addiction that they wish to avoid. Maybe it’s because they feel that they can’t leave children who are dependent upon them. No matter what the reason, the hardest part for women is recognizing that they have an addiction issue that is significant and requires drug rehab and then getting them the drug addiction treatment they need to heal.

But what about after drug rehab? What chances does a woman have at full recovery after addiction? What kind of life can she create for herself after addiction?

Statistics Show that Women Succeed in Drug Addiction Recovery

The good news for women battling a drug or alcohol addiction is they are more likely to recover if they seriously seek treatment. Research has proven that the relapse rates for women are less than for the male population. Experts speculate this is due to the fact that women are more likely to use the group therapy offered in rehab to their advantage. Women are better able to form bonds and create a support network with their peers in counseling than men. These statistics demonstrate that relapse prevention needs to be approached differently between the genders in rehab.

The Benefits of a Network of Support in Drug Addiction Recovery

It’s true that women fare better after drug rehab when they have a group of gals to lean on. In general, women are social creatures by nature and get more from the benefits of sharing their feelings or venting and thus avoiding a relapse and/ or being there for others in a supportive capacity. Creating a community in recovery can help patients to remain accountable for their actions and their commitment to staying clean and sober. It can be extremely positive, and though the mechanism of group therapy and support groups are helpful for men as well, they are an especially positive choice for women in recovery.

Drug Rehab for Women

Many drug rehabs offer extended care for female graduates, woman-centered therapies, and women-only treatment. Orchid offers drug addiction treatment solely for women. Contact us today to find out more about our program.

Hormones play a huge part in menstruation and menopause, and they also play a large part in the development of and treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. These issues alter the course of recovery and create certain issues that men will never have to deal with. Through Hormone Therapy, women learn exactly what is happening in their body, what they can expect with the hormonal shifts and changes that occur naturally, and how it will affect their drug addiction and recovery. Knowledge is power, and knowing how to handle stumbling blocks before they arise can keep them from becoming a problem that throws your recovery off track.

Menstruation and Menopause as a Cause of Drug Addiction

Whether you are experiencing monthly hormonal shifts due to menstruation or are entering into peri-menopause, menopause or post-menopause, the feelings and physical symptoms associated with these shifts can create emotional and physiological chaos. Not feeling well is always an issue that can cause drug addiction – many self-medicate to feel better mentally and physically. Hormones increase the emotional response, making small events that much more difficult to deal with and difficult events even more overwhelming. The problems that result are often another reason to get high or drink, either to escape the situation or numb the pain associated with it.

Hormonal Therapy: What it is and How it Can Help

Hormone Therapy does not stop the function of hormones in the system or in any way change the symptoms that you experience. It does, however, prepare women for what to expect in terms of hormonal changes as they grow older and what those changes will mean in terms of temptation to relapse during recovery. Specific tactics that do not include addictive drugs and alcohol that can help mitigate the symptoms associated with hormonal shifts are discussed and women develop preparedness plans to successfully handle menstruation and menopausal changes. Women are encouraged to share their personal experience and come up with individualized plans that address their unique symptoms.

Hormonal Therapy at The Orchid

At The Orchid, our entire focus is on women in recovery. From the initial phase of detox through extensive addiction treatment that addresses multiple aspects of experience with drugs, addiction and recovery, our staff professionals are trained to assist with the specific needs of each individual. Each woman experiences a unique treatment plan that addresses her own drug history, history of trauma, co-occurring disorders and other issues. Our Hormone Therapy Program is completely unique in that it was developed by professionals at The Orchid and is implemented at no other drug rehab in the country. Call now to learn more about how we can help you or a woman you love to break free from addiction.