Treatment Online

High Profile Failures Do Disservice to Addiction Treatment
> 7/27/2007 12:56:36 PM

In response to their over-saturated news coverage, US addition experts are speaking out against entertainers like singer, Britney Spears and actress, Lindsay Lohan for making a mockery of alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs. Within the past year, both entertainers have entered and left rehab numerous times showing little improvement, and have continued to fall back into their dangerous habits�all in the public spotlight.

As the media frenzy into celebrities� daily activities continues to intensify, experts fear their failures at sobriety could misrepresent the positive benefits and successes of rehabilitation programs.

Harris Stratyner, a psychologist with Caron, a non-profit addiction treatment organization, lashed out at celebrities for not taking rehab seriously and devaluating its' ability to change people�s lives. Speaking to CNN Health he said:

"In some ways it's starting to make rehabs look like a joke and that's very sad because hundreds of thousands of people a year are saved."

Experts warn that the public should not measure the success of any rehab program, solely based on the indiscretions of public figures. One of the biggest challenges in overcoming any addiction is trying to avoid situations and people where a relapse can occur. Reducing the amount of stress in a person�s life can also be a major contributing factor that can lower the incidence of a relapse. With Lohan and Spears� latest round of relapses, some counselors fear they will become an example of how rehabilitation can fail, and dissuade others from seeking treatment.

While some experts are angered by these celebrities� perceived lack of sincerity in rehab, others such as, Dr. Jon Morgenstern, of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, see things differently. Reiterating the severity of addition, Morgenstern explains that what may appear to be the continual waltzing in and out of rehab, is symptomatic of a deeper problem. Statistics show that 50% of patients treated for addictive diseases will relapse. Morgenstern told CNN Health:

"I would hope that people understand that addiction is a very serious illness and that the perception in the public mind doesn't become that this is all a joke. In the last 30 years, because high-profile people have sought treatment, it's become more socially acceptable that people do have alcohol and drug problems and need to get help. I hope that tide is not turning against us."

The fast paced world of high profile individuals will continue to dominate the airwaves and the web. The trouble is that whether they choose to be or not, celebrities are role models and their actions many times become the standard by which numerous people judge themselves. In situations like this people need to think for themselves and not allow the failures of young and obviously sick individuals to cloud their judgement when deciding on treatment options for an addition. Allowing oneself to get caught up in the lives of celebrities will yield no long-term benefits. People must remember they have to take care of themselves and seek the best treatment in helping secure the most positive result possible.

Comments
Thus, the reasons behind Traditions 11 and 12 of A.A.
URL: http://texandave.blogspot.com
Posted by: Dave 7/29/2007 4:21:03 AM
"Prevention is always better than cure."

Posted by: andre 2/26/2008 8:57:23 AM