Above It All Treatment Center Advocates for Parity in Addiction Treatment and Insurance Coverage

Above It All Treatment Center advocates for its clients and the industry as a whole against insurance restrictions that make it more difficult for individuals to access the addiction treatment that they need. The facility supports parity acts that treat substance use and mental health disorders with the same seriousness and coverage as other health conditions. Through underpayment for services, unreasonable demands placed on clients, and other obstacles, insurance providers continue to make it more difficult for individuals to enter addiction treatment and afford these services. Above It All is actively involved in fighting back against disparities and promoting public awareness regarding these issues. The facility works with clients and insurance companies to provide affordable, high quality care for substance use and mental health disorders for individuals throughout the country.

[cta]For more information visit PR Web.[/cta]

Above It All Treatment Center Celebrates Joint Commission Accreditation by CareForward Health

PR Web

Above It All Treatment Center is proud to announce that CareForward Health, its sister facility that provides intensive outpatient (IOP) and partial hospitalization (PHP) programs as part of a comprehensive addiction treatment program, has been awarded Joint Commission Accreditation. This honor recognizes the organization for its commitment to high standards of quality and safety in client care. Organizations are not required to hold this designation, but CareForward has done so to reassure clients and staff that their well-being is a top priority. With this newly acquired accreditation, CareForward will focus on maintaining high standards of care and safety and providing exceptional experiences for its clients.

[cta]For more information visit PR Web.[/cta]

Above It All Treatment Center’s Clinical Director Honored with Patriot Award for Military Support

The Daily Bulletin

Above It All Treatment Center is proud to announce that Donna Hugh, clinical director, was presented with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve’s Patriot Award for her commitment to providing exceptional support to military employees. The award was presented by the United States Secretary of Defense. In addition, Above It All received an honorable mention and was nominated for the Freedom Award, which will be selected later this year, for its support of the military. Hugh strives to ensure that scheduling and responsibilities are conducive to both an effective work environment and the mission requirements of military members. Staff joins together to fill in any gaps in the military member’s absence and create a supportive and respective culture. Above It All Treatment Center is proud to support the United States Military and its members.

[cta]To see the press release visit the Daily Bulletin.[/cta]

Above It All Treatment Center Admissions Team Takes Part in Heroes in Recovery 6K

Sacramento Bee

Above It All Treatment Center is dedicated to supporting recovery efforts on an individual and national level. The facility is pleased to announce that the Above It All Admissions Team, will be running in the Heroes in Recovery 6K in Palm Springs on February 6, 2016, to help break the stigma of addiction and raise awareness about addiction recovery. Dispelling myths and stigmas about addiction encourages individuals to seek treatment and promotes greater understanding and support from families and communities. It is these misconceptions that often hold people back from getting the help they need and impacts support in recovery. The race follows National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week: Shatter the Myths, which will be held January 25-31, 2016. The staff at Above It All is passionate about advancing education and advocacy for addiction recovery in all they do, and the Admissions Team is just one example of putting this vision into action.

More information can be found at Sacramento Bee.

Above It All Takes Part in ‘Intervention’ Television Program

In an episode titled Samantha, Above It All recently worked with the producers of the A&E television reality show “Intervention.” The show was an excellent opportunity to educate and inform the public about the hope and help offered by addiction intervention and treatment.

Working with Ken Seeley, a professional interventionist from Intervention911, and A&E productions, we are helping to get the word out about the help that is available to families and friends of addicts who want to encourage their loved ones to seek treatment. We understand the desperation that families and friends feel when they love someone who is suffering from the disease of addiction. We understand the feelings of shame and guilt causes by the chaos of an addict’s behavior. We are here to reach out when they believe they have exhausted every possible method to encourage their loved ones seek help. We connect families with a license professional who will work with them in approaching the addict with compassionate caring. The interventionist listens to each family’s individual needs and then helps to devise a plan for a face-to-face meeting to address the facts of the addict’s behavior.

Family Treatment Helps Increase Success of Recovery

When an alcoholic or addict agrees to enter a treatment program, the first step is detox. Detox provides a time for medical and psychiatric evaluation. The time spent in detox varies from individual to individual, depending on the substances used and the duration of use. When clients have achieved enough physical and emotional balance to move on, residential treatment helps them address underlying issues that have contributed to their addiction. Family members join the treatment process to learn about the disease of addiction and their role in it. We help clients and their families develop new, more effective methods of communication as they all work together toward a new chance at life free from the chains of alcohol or drug addiction.

[cta]Continue the discussion on Facebook and learn more ways to strengthen the road to recovery.[/cta]

May Your Troubled Soul Rest in Peace, Robin Williams

Robin Williams touched our lives. Through generations of entertainment, he earned our admiration and our respect. He earned our devotion and our affection. He brought us laughter, and he induced our tears. He brought wisdom, and he brought hope.

On August 11, 2014, he brought us despair, and he left us with questions, so very many questions. They are questions without answers.

Family, friends, and worldwide admirers never will know the last thoughts, the last feelings, that drove him to commit his final fatal act. This is the agonizing truth of any suicide. We are left wounded and distraught. We so fiercely want answers.

Instead of answers, we have a legacy. We have a timeless treasure trove of comedy and drama performed over decades by one of the greatest talents in the entertainment industry. As soon as news broke that Williams had hanged himself, social media and newscasts exploded not only with reactions to his death, but also with clips of sentimental favorite performances. No doubt, those clips will be in the forefront in days and weeks to come. They give us a way to keep him close, to hold his memory dear. They keep his spirit alive as we deal with our shock and grief.

Actor Brought Social Issues to Forefront

In some of his more notable roles, Robin Williams brought attention to serious societal issues – homelessness in “The Fisher King,” war and censorship in “Good Morning, Vietnam,” gender identity in “The Birdcage,” domestic violence in “Good Will Hunting.” In real life, Williams, without fanfare and without a desire for publicity, supported his own personal passions – the San Diego-based Challenged Athletes Foundation and the National Coalition for the Homeless. In many photos of his acting roles and of his charitable work, his eyes make no secret of his vulnerability and compassion. It may be this very sensitivity — the extreme sensitivity of those dealing with depression and addiction — that turned into one of his demons.

Suicide Opens Door To Discussions Of Depression and Substance Abuse

If good can come from this tragedy, it is open discussions that have arisen about the diseases of depression, bipolar disorder and addiction. Despite medical advances and social awareness, these diseases still bear a stigma. Sufferers and their loved ones often go to any lengths to hide their guilt and shame. People in the substance abuse recovery community understand those feelings. We understand the torment of a mind that tells lies of unworthiness; we understand the depths of despair. While we will never know the innermost self of Robin Williams, we get him. We get him, and we can share our experience, strength and hope with others as a way to honor our brother whose diseases drove him to his tragic end.

 

New Affordable Care Act Offers Access To Long-term Drug Rehab Programs

It’s no secret that the need for long term drug rehab is great. Doctors have now concluded that this is a disease that needs treatment, but it still does not get the funding required to deal with the number of people requiring services to break from its hold over their life.

The problem of addiction is not confined to homeless people living on the street or to low income groups. It can, and does affect teens and young adults, middle-aged people and seniors. Clients who seek help at long term recovery programs come from many different backgrounds. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, only about 1 in 10 of the 23 million Americans who have drug or alcohol problems receives treatment. Part of the problem is that this disease still carries a sense of shame and stigma, but lack of coverage is another important issue.

Insurance Coverage For Low And Middle-Income Earners

The new Affordable Care Act will help to provide insurance for many lower and middle-income earners. People in this income group looking for services from long term drug treatment centers may find it difficult to get the help they need because they may not be covered under an employer benefit program or qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. If private coverage is not affordable, then the cost of paying for addiction treatment may not fit into their budget.

The new law will provide subsidies for people to buy private insurance coverage. This will make it easier for people who need addiction treatment to be able to take the time they need to get well. The disease of addiction did not develop overnight, and the appropriate time for treatment will take some time as well.

In-patient Treatment For Drug And Alcohol Addiction

When a client enters a long term care facility with a 12 step program to get help for a drug or alcohol problem, he or she may need to start by going through detoxification (detox) before starting treatment for the addiction itself. Each client’s needs are evaluated individually, and a treatment plan is made to address them.

With a long-term stay, clients can get counseling, participate in group activities, and go to 12-step program meetings. They can take the time to delve into the underlying reasons why they became addicted and learn new behaviors while they have the support of the staff at the treatment facility. This work is a necessary part of the process to achieve the goal of long-term sobriety, especially if the addiction has been a part of the client’s life for a number of years. Taking the time to address this illness carefully is time well spent, and it pays off in lower relapse rates and more serenity, joy, and peace for addicted individuals.

Watauga School Board Considering Drug Testing For Student Athletes

The Watauga School Board is considering a proposal which would allow random drug testing of student athletes attending a Watauga High School (located in North Carolina). If the policy is approved at the Board’s August meeting, it will take effect in September for the upcoming school year. Student athletes and their parents would have to sign consent forms before the teens would be allowed to participate in school sport programs.

The Board of Education would pay for the cost of the drug tests, and at least 5% of athletes would be tested each year. The tests would be performed to detect alcohol and controlled substances. They would also be ordered if an athlete is suspected of using drugs or alcohol.

Consequences of Positive Test Results

If a student tests positive on one of the urine tests for drugs or alcohol, he or she will not be suspended from school or reported to the police. The goal of the Drug Screening for Student Athletes Program is to provide assistance and counseling to students who are making poor choices, not to punish them.

The first time a student tests positive, a mandatory 15-day suspension from the team is imposed, and his or her parents are notified. If the student tests positive a second time, the suspension is 30 days in length. A third positive drug test would carry a full calendar year suspension from participating in sports.

Students with Drug and Alcohol Addiction Issues

At this point, a student is identified as having a serious drug problem. The ban on participation in sports will remain in place until he or she can present a certificate from a licensed drug counselor indicating that the student is clean.

Will this trend carry over and across the United States on a more massive scale?  Time will tell.

If you are located in the California area and your student athlete needs help overcoming a drug or alcohol problem, a California drug rehab center can provide the type of professional, caring support to help that a teen needs to get on the right track by helping the young person learn better ways to cope with the stresses of life.

The Above It All Treatment Center offers a comprehensive treatment program that includes counseling to uncover and deal with the underlying reasons for the addiction. It also includes a number of sober activities to build confidence and give clients the skills they need to build a life in recovery, one day at a time.

The Candy Debate

We all remember the downfall of candy cigarettes; Once big tobacco finally admitted to the evils of their products, these little novelty candies quickly vanished from store shelves ice cream trucks. Public outcry supporting the removal argued, quite vehemently, that these sugary products set the stage for tobacco use in users later in life. But the question remains: Do mock behaviors in children really dictate future behaviors? Playing cowboys and Indians in your parent’s basement does not necessarily place you on the fast track to Navajo chiefdom (follow your dreams, man!); 200 hours spent on 1st person shooter games does not make you a skilled assassin. So how big of an influence can candy cigarettes, alcohol, and pills have on future behaviors?

Without question, we, as a society know the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. THEY ARE BAD FOR YOU. Slogans, programs, and classes are rammed down our throats early in life to ensure that each and every one of us has the opportunity to live clean, sober, and happy for the rest of our days. But… as with most things that are inherently bad for us, curiosity often wins out. The issue here, friends, is how that curiosity affects our choices down the road.

The Nitty Gritty

A child who hurts another child on the playground is scolded and punished for their actions. As such, the child learns not to repeat these types of behaviors.

A child who is given candy packaged in a pillbox will experience enjoyment when consuming the product. The behavior is not punished because, well… it’s candy. As such, the child may be less inhibited by the idea of prescription drug use.

Does pill-like candy consumption place children at higher risk for prescription drug use later in life? The answer is unclear. However, the mere presence of doubt is enough for many critics to demonize their sale… and for good reason:

As children, we live by experience and the actions we are taught. A behavior learned and rewarded early in life will often translate to repetitive actions down the road. Though candy is certainly an innocent topic, it is that same innocence that creates worry among parents whose children are introduced to negative behaviors and habits on its behalf. Without over analyzing the topic ad nauseam, it may be safe to close the argument in saying that these types of products serve little use in ensuring a positive and productive path for children to follow.

Comments? Anyone? Bueller?

We at Above It All Treatment Center are always up for a good discussion. Post your thoughts and ideas on this topic below!

Fatboy Slim on Recovery

Center stage, atop of gigantic glowing octopus, British DJ, Fatboy Slim reintroduced millions of worldwide viewers to “The Rockafeller Skank”. Rising to worldwide prominence in the late 90’s, Mr. Slim’s appearance at the 2012 London Olympic Games Closing Ceremonies would not appear a shock to many, had it not been on the heels of a difficult ‘bout with alcoholism.

Just prior to the performance, Fatboy Slim (real name: Norman Cook) spoke with media sources regarding his 2009 recovery and rehab experience:

“I gave up drinking three years and I’ve run Brighton Marathon… Everything you do is a lot easier to deal with when you go to bed after a show rather than party for two days.”

Fatboy Slim’s performance followed British comedian Russell Brand’s appearance on a psychedelic tour bus. Amidst a sold-out stadium, the vehicle was transformed into an illuminated octopus, as Fatboy Slim rose from the center to perform two of his better-known hits, ‘The Rockafeller Skank” and “Right Here, Right Now”.

Despite receiving 10 MTV Video Music Awards and 2 Brit Awards in previous years, the DJ is quick to say that he is uninterested in a return to the recording studio.

“I listen to current dance music and I think, do I even fit in here” I really don’t feel drawn to the studio. I much prefer to focus on DJing.”

In recent years, a great number of celebrities have shown difficulty kicking their respective habits under a watchful public eye. From movie and TV stars to musicians, one can only hope that a valuable lesson has been learned from repeat episodes of VH1’s Behind the Music and A&E’s Biography.

With the media focus affixed to ailing addicts and troubled celebs, it’s refreshing to find a story of triumph and determination among the wreckage. As younger generations often mimic the behaviors of their idols, the benefit of Norman Cook’s struggles and perseverance is not one to be taken lightly.

There will always be the potential for happy outcomes. There will always be obstacles on the way. How we choose to deal with these trials will ultimately make our goals sweeter once they are within our grasp. Regardless of where your journey currently keeps you, a commitment to perpetual betterment is one that will only serve you well. To sum up the point: You will get there… if only you want it.

If you or someone you know is evaluating recovery options, our Above It All addiction specialists are available to address your questions and concerns. Give us a call today, and find out how you can get on track towards the happy, fulfilling, and productive life you and your loved ones deserve. Your potential will thank you.