Substance Abuse/Dependence Treatment Info
Treatment Information
Addiction Treatment is more of an art than it is science. Observationally, there are methods that appear to work and others that appear not to work. Research methodology in addictions work has made it difficult to really identify the essentials of “good” treatment and even more confounding is the overall lack of definition in seemingly simple terms like “Success”.
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At TownsendARC we define “Success” as realizing contentment and happiness with abstinence so that each individual’s quality of life can be maximized and their personal potential can be achieved, in “all” aspects of life.
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At TownsendARC Addiction Recovery Center, we utilize the few “known’s” in addiction treatment such as; success in treatment is known, to be linked to the overall time spent in treatment. Another “known” is success is linked to personal and community support. Also, Fun, Happiness and Contentment are related to Success.
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Another “known” is that there must be access to treatment when someone is ready to engage in the recovery process. Nowhere else is the idiom “strike while the iron is hot” so true. When the opportunity to get help arises, there better be immediate access to that help.
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To these “Known’s” and others, TownsendARC Addiction Recovery Center has developed an Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program.
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Time In Treatment
The TownsendARC Addiction Recovery Center recognizes that the longer a person is in treatment of some sort the better the outcomes are for the individual. TownsendARC has developed a Relapse Prevention Group that meets twice per week on Tuesdays and Thrusdays from 6:00-7:30 PM and lasts 12 weeks. The Relapse Prevention program is partly structured work and assignments, and partly discussion. Traditionally, inpatient treatment is 4 weeks long. Intensive Outpatient treatment is usually 4 weeks with 9 hours of treatment per week or more. These forms of treatment are often neccessary for stabilization and education but generally don't provide indepth Relapse Prevention. Addiction/Alcoholism is a chronic, and often, relapsing disease which needs more than just stabilization. Our Relapse Prevention Program (RPP) lasts for approximately 8 weeks, and when a person has successfully completed they are welcome “any” time to return without cost. TARC also has an AfterCare meeting once per week that is separate from the RPP group and everyone that completes treatment is encouraged to continue attending AfterCare. As stated anyone who completes treatment is also welcomed in treatment group for booster sessions on an as needed basis.
Personal and Community Support
The TownsendARC Addiction Recovery Center realizes that support is necessary for success. Few succeed without the support of family and/or friends. It’s not only a question of support but often “how to support” that is at issue. Since TownsendARC is a local, community based treatment center, we can offer family involvement in both individual and group settings. TownsendARC also encourages outside participation in support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery, and Alanon. Attendance at these support groups are not mandatory, but encouraged as a part of whole person recovery. Also, because the providers at TARC have extensive experience in additions treatment and are long term Tallahassee residents, there is extensive knowledge of local resources.
Fun, Happiness and Contentment
The TownsendARC Addiction Recovery Center knows that chemical dependency is a chronic, and often terminal brain disease and a deathly serious matter. With this being said, experience shows that because of the biological, psychological and neurological changes that take place in the brain; if a person cannot find fun, happiness and contentment in recovery they will be irresistibly be pulled back into substance use. This happens despite all the adverse consequences they have experienced. At TownsendARC we spend ample time addressing fun, happiness and contentment so that clients are drawn to recovery rather than relapse. Treatment is serious but there has to be an element of excitement and fun about it as well.
Access To Treatment
In a perfect world everyone would be able to experience the comfort and intense education available at an inpatient treatment program. Inpatient would then be transition to Relapse Prevention Treatment then transitioning to Individual counseling for a period of time. This would be the winning scenario for comprehensive treatment and keeping someone in the treatment process for a reasonable period of time with appropriate accountability and structure. Unfortunately few insurance companies will pay for this, few individuals can afford this either financially or time wise. Both Inpatient treatment and IOP have their distinct advantages and disadvantages.
At TownsendARC we can get someone in for an initial evaluation often the same day as the first phone call, always within 24 hours. When a person meets the clinical criteria for RPP they usually start treatment the same or the first treatment day following. Because the TownsendARC RPP meets in the evening most people can easily attend without any job or family interruption. TownsendARC is located in Tallahassee. Because we are locally owned and operated we can do things that large corporate organizations can’t; like work with you in all respect and with all issues. We are ready when you are.
Mutual Responsibilty
The TownsendARC Addiction Recovery Center accepts the responsibility to be a motivating force for recovery. When someone doesn’t appear to be improving in treatment we don’t blame the client. We review our part in the matter. While the client has the responsibility to do the work, we have the responsibility to provide motivation and the tools. No one is asked to leave treatment because they have used again. If this happens we review our part in the problem with the client and make needed changes. The client reviews their responsibilities, and in a team approach we attempt to resolve the problem.
Problems other than Alcohol/Drugs
Few people who have suffered the ravages of addiction come to treatment with no other problems besides drugs/alcohol. The TARC philosophy is to treatment the whole person. We work closely with physicians, psychiatrists and other providers to ensure continuity of care. The treatment groups address significant issues that affect our clients and problems other than alcohol/drugs are addressed in individual counseling. Statistically, over 50% of addiction and mental health patients have a co-occurring disorder. Research has clearly shown that when someone is dealing with a Mental Health concern and an Addiction problem, both issues need to be addressed simultaneously by the same provider for effective resolution. Research has shown that sequential treatment (treating one problem then the other) or parallel treatment (one provider treating one disorder and another provider working with the other) doesn’t work. TownsendARC’s seasoned providers are experienced in co-occurring disorders and are all licensed therapists in the State of Florida.
Who we Are
The TownsendARC Addiction Recovery Center’s owner and providers are all long standing members of the Tallahassee Community with deep roots in this area. We are committed to being the best, most effective addiction’s treatment center in this area. If there is a need for treatment in your family or circle of friends please contact us for a free evaluation.
