St. Louis, Missouri Drug Rehab Information

Abuse occurs when a drug, alcohol, or other substance is used to the detriment of the users health, family relations, finances, career, etc. The detriments may be slight at the beginning of abuse but generally escalates quite quickly into cravings (mental or physical) for the drug, alcohol, or substance. This is followed in short order by a marked rise in feeling of guilt and depression as the individual starts sacrificing quality of life for self and others in the more and more single-minded pursuit of the drugs and alcohol. Once abuse has set it the whole process of addiction picks up speed as does the damage done to health, families, career, etc. The sooner this dwindling spiral is halted and addressed with effective drug and alcohol rehabilitation the better.

Substance abuse treatment on any type begins to be more and more effective as the addict or alcoholic becomes more and more willing to be helped and to help themselves. Most interventions prior to treatment have this goal in mind, to get at least some willingness on the part of the addict. This willingness is often tenuous and fleeting at the start of substance abuse treatment. Part of effective withdrawal would be the actions taken to extrovert the addict from current pains and discomforts that can and do play havoc with any willingness. At Narconon Arrowhead our substance abuse treatment continually involves fortifying the existing willingness of the participant as well as actions designed to increase willingness all along the way. The being himself always is seeking to do better and beat the addiction despite any appearances, statements, or actions to the contrary. The more the addict wins at the battles of addiction the more willing he becomes and the more energy he will expend on his own survival. Substance abuse treatment is about much more than simply ceasing drug or alcohol use.

Cravings (both mental and physical) for increasing and continuing use of drugs and alcohol. Guilt as a result of all the harm and damage done to self, loved ones, and others. Depression resulting from failed hopes and dreams, and the feelings of being trapped in a vicious cycle with no escape. These are the points that must be handled by a drug and alcohol rehab center if that treatment is to be effective and create change for a lifetime. An effective drug and alcohol rehab center knows there is much more to treatment than merely getting someone to quit using. At Narconon Arrowhead we know there are only three paths available once addiction or alcoholism has set in – jail, death, or sobriety. A drug and alcohol free life is possible without constant worry of relapse.

Counseling is a generally misunderstood word. It is often interpreted as some evaluating for another and telling them what to think or do. Someone else’s opinion or evaluation is simply that, and gives no certainty of anything to the recipient. This is a very limited view of the concept and it has very limited workability as well. Counseling ideally should involve getting the individual to confront and communicate with and about the situations in life that they feel they have no control, or reduced control over. Counseling should offer tools and life skills that the individual can use for themselves and observe for themselves whether they work. More importantly, do they work for the individual himself?