Our professional clinical staff possesses decades of addiction treatment experience which continues to provide our patients with successful long term sober recovery outcomes. Many 12 step drug alcohol rehab centers will offer their clients minimum one to one therapy, and utilize outside AA meetings that are free to the public as the rehab center's modality of addiction treatment.
Many people initially feel uncomfortable in this foreign setting and although we do not discourage people from attending AA, NA, CA and Ala-non meetings, we just think it best to undergo professional addiction treatment first, in a safe therapeutic and serene setting
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Why alcoholism is not a disease.
Med J Aust. 1992 Feb 3;156(3):212-5.
Why alcoholism is not a disease.
Heather N.
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Kensington.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To expound the argument that alcoholism (or "problem drinking") is not best regarded as a disease.
SUMMARY: Excessive drinking can cause physical disease and involve physical dependence without therefore being a disease itself. The "disease concept" of alcoholism is not needed to justify medical intervention or a caring approach to those who are dependent on alcohol. There is a specific and a general version of the disease concept of alcoholism. The specific disease concept, associated mainly with the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, is contradicted by empirical evidence and unhelpful for preventive and treatment responses to problem drinking, especially for the effort to detect and modify problem drinking at an early stage. The more general disease concept shares these disadvantages and is also ineffective in engendering sympathetic attitudes towards problem drinkers among the general public. It is more useful to view problem drinking as the result of the interaction between the individual's personality and the social context in which he or she has learned how to drink.
CONCLUSION: For an effective and compassionate societal response to problem drinking, the disease model of alcoholism should be replaced by a social learning perspective.
PMID: 1545723 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Why alcoholism is not a disease.
Heather N.
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Kensington.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To expound the argument that alcoholism (or "problem drinking") is not best regarded as a disease.
SUMMARY: Excessive drinking can cause physical disease and involve physical dependence without therefore being a disease itself. The "disease concept" of alcoholism is not needed to justify medical intervention or a caring approach to those who are dependent on alcohol. There is a specific and a general version of the disease concept of alcoholism. The specific disease concept, associated mainly with the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, is contradicted by empirical evidence and unhelpful for preventive and treatment responses to problem drinking, especially for the effort to detect and modify problem drinking at an early stage. The more general disease concept shares these disadvantages and is also ineffective in engendering sympathetic attitudes towards problem drinkers among the general public. It is more useful to view problem drinking as the result of the interaction between the individual's personality and the social context in which he or she has learned how to drink.
CONCLUSION: For an effective and compassionate societal response to problem drinking, the disease model of alcoholism should be replaced by a social learning perspective.
PMID: 1545723 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Alcoholism
The current mainstream scientific and medical view is that alcoholism is a disease, although some debate on this topic still occurs.
In 2004, the World Health Organization published a detailed report on alcohol and other psychoactive substances entitled "Neuroscience of psychoactive substance use and dependence". It stated that this was the "first attempt by WHO to provide a comprehensive overview of the biological factors related to substance use and dependence by summarizing the vast amount of knowledge gained in the last 20-30 years. The report highlights the current state of knowledge of the mechanisms of action of different types of psychoactive substances, and explains how the use of these substances can lead to the development of dependence syndrome."
The report states that "dependence has not previously been recognized as a disorder of the brain, in the same way that psychiatric and mental illnesses were not previously viewed as being a result of a disorder of the brain. However, with recent advances in neuroscience, it is clear that dependence is as much a disorder of the brain as any other neurological or psychiatric illness."
The American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Medical Association both maintain extensive policy regarding alcoholism. The American Psychiatric Association recognizes the existence of "alcoholism" as the equivalent of alcohol dependence. The American Hospital Association, the American Public Health Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the American College of Physicians classify "alcoholism" as a disease.
The debate continues, but the real question is not whether alcoholism is a disease or not, but if alcohol is interfering with your life, how do you incorporate life style changes and ideas that support a substance free life? We believe we can help you with that
In 2004, the World Health Organization published a detailed report on alcohol and other psychoactive substances entitled "Neuroscience of psychoactive substance use and dependence". It stated that this was the "first attempt by WHO to provide a comprehensive overview of the biological factors related to substance use and dependence by summarizing the vast amount of knowledge gained in the last 20-30 years. The report highlights the current state of knowledge of the mechanisms of action of different types of psychoactive substances, and explains how the use of these substances can lead to the development of dependence syndrome."
The report states that "dependence has not previously been recognized as a disorder of the brain, in the same way that psychiatric and mental illnesses were not previously viewed as being a result of a disorder of the brain. However, with recent advances in neuroscience, it is clear that dependence is as much a disorder of the brain as any other neurological or psychiatric illness."
The American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Medical Association both maintain extensive policy regarding alcoholism. The American Psychiatric Association recognizes the existence of "alcoholism" as the equivalent of alcohol dependence. The American Hospital Association, the American Public Health Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the American College of Physicians classify "alcoholism" as a disease.
The debate continues, but the real question is not whether alcoholism is a disease or not, but if alcohol is interfering with your life, how do you incorporate life style changes and ideas that support a substance free life? We believe we can help you with that
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Non 12 Step Does Not Mean Without a Spiritual Component
Many believe that spirituality is a religious activity. Although we are a non 12 step treatment program, we do believe that man's spirit is part of the trilogy in recovery, but not the only piece of the recovery process.
Unseen chains that bind the spirit, are drug and alcohol addiction. Some of our clients express initial feelings of deep sadness, hopelessness, and fear when they come to us.
By first freeing the chains of addiction to substances, the opportunity to explore the spirit then becomes available, but not before. Spirit is a vital realization for our patients and is introduced gently as physical and mental healing takes place.
We encourage our patients to contemplate higher ideals and thought concepts that have been therapeutic for those who are struggling to find peace and recovery in their life. We believe it to be a critical factor in achieving new ways of dealing with life on life's terms. These higher contemplative styles of thinking and awareness are not possible until drugs and alcohol have been removed from the body and brain chemistry.
Most of our clients are surprised and reassured to learn that one of the most "spiritual" things they can do each day, is to practice kindness. Being kind to everyone they encounter is one of the most "spiritual" things they can ever do. It is that simple, and that difficult.
Spirituality is not a black or white issue, and at Prominence Treatment Center we believe that understanding this concept is core to spiritual evolution and recovery. This is the beginning of understanding spirit and results in a feeling of freedom-or enlarged awareness.
Unseen chains that bind the spirit, are drug and alcohol addiction. Some of our clients express initial feelings of deep sadness, hopelessness, and fear when they come to us.
By first freeing the chains of addiction to substances, the opportunity to explore the spirit then becomes available, but not before. Spirit is a vital realization for our patients and is introduced gently as physical and mental healing takes place.
We encourage our patients to contemplate higher ideals and thought concepts that have been therapeutic for those who are struggling to find peace and recovery in their life. We believe it to be a critical factor in achieving new ways of dealing with life on life's terms. These higher contemplative styles of thinking and awareness are not possible until drugs and alcohol have been removed from the body and brain chemistry.
Most of our clients are surprised and reassured to learn that one of the most "spiritual" things they can do each day, is to practice kindness. Being kind to everyone they encounter is one of the most "spiritual" things they can ever do. It is that simple, and that difficult.
Spirituality is not a black or white issue, and at Prominence Treatment Center we believe that understanding this concept is core to spiritual evolution and recovery. This is the beginning of understanding spirit and results in a feeling of freedom-or enlarged awareness.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Welcome to No Steps to Recovery and Sobriety
Prominence Treatment Center is a non 12 step based substance abuse and chemical dependency addiction treatment center. We offer a recovery program which is not based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. However, we do have a great deal of respect and honor for the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. We recognize that many have been helped by the 12 step program and principles.
Prior to attending Prominence Treatment Center, many of our clients have attended drug rehabs and addiction treatment centers based on the 12 step recovery model. Unfortunately however, and for whatever reason, they had not been able to stay sober and enjoy and lasting sobriety.
Prominence Treatment Center's non 12 step addiction treatment recovery program is clinically therapeutic and holistic in nature. Our professional treatment team is credentialed and trained in chemical dependency, and our focus is to identify and address the underlying issues and/or trauma in each individual patient's life, that is now precipitating their addiction
Prior to attending Prominence Treatment Center, many of our clients have attended drug rehabs and addiction treatment centers based on the 12 step recovery model. Unfortunately however, and for whatever reason, they had not been able to stay sober and enjoy and lasting sobriety.
Prominence Treatment Center's non 12 step addiction treatment recovery program is clinically therapeutic and holistic in nature. Our professional treatment team is credentialed and trained in chemical dependency, and our focus is to identify and address the underlying issues and/or trauma in each individual patient's life, that is now precipitating their addiction
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