Think of all of the illegal drugs that you can. Which ones come to mind? What’s funny is that most of the drugs that come to mind have probably been around for a long time, and have been used medicinally for most of that time. It’s no secret that using any illegal drugs you can think of can result in addiction, but what happens after that? Clearly, there isn’t just one answer to this question – the threadbare answer is ‘everybody’s body is different.’ We all know one face of drug abuse, and it’s often attached to homelessness.
But there are so many different types of people living with addiction to drugs and alcohol, there should be just as many options as is necessary to make sure that every person living with addiction has a chance to get clean and sober. Fortunately, there are options. There are options for drug and alcohol rehab no matter your age, race, or level of income. For some, though, special considerations must be taken if a person is a public figure, an executive, an older person, or a member of a legally protected group. As with everything in life, a person’s circumstances can determine the care that they need, and it is important, always, to consider the unique offerings of each drug and alcohol addiction treatment center.
First Things First
Intervention is an important early step, and an extremely delicate step. The popular television show, ‘Intervention,’ exposed the world to another side of drug and alcohol addiction: those who help those in need. Unless a person is gifted with the foresight to check themselves in, an intervention is almost always necessary. While family and friends certainly have the capability to stage an Intervention, it is a process best left to a trained professional. The psychological and emotional dependence on drugs and alcohol can alter a person’s reasoning skills, and Interventionists understand how to work with deep psychological disturbances.
First Responders
People whose job is to protect the public deal with an enormous amount of pressure. First and foremost, their lives are on the line. While that may simply be the duty of a First Responder, this still understandably has a very strong effect on a person. Some estimate that as many as a quarter of the total police force in the United States are living with a dependency on drugs and alcohol. A high number of firefighters are admitted to drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs every year. Nurses and EMTs are constantly responsible for saving lives for extended periods of time. It’s not difficult to understand why someone could have a difficult time processing and accepting everything that they experience as the first to answer the call. For First Responders, getting the right kind of good-quality care is essential to winning the battle against addiction.
Executives
Being a leader is never easy. When you’re in a middle management position, the stress can be unbearable, but a high-stakes position has even less freedom, less time, and even more responsibility. Whether you’re an executive in finance, sales, public relations, or any field, living with drug and alcohol addiction can be very risky. It’s sometimes it’s the case that a business may not want to invest or continue to work with another business if they feel one of the senior partners is volatile, and unreliable. While the concern is certainly valid, this is just one example of the importance of both discretion and strict confidentiality. Part of choosing a good fit for rehab is the assurance that this positive step you’re taking for yourself is taking you to a place that fully understands your needs. This could mean choosing a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center that offers an office, or allows you to bring your work with you. It’s always ideal to focus on your treatment, and feeling better, but it’s also understood that the world pauses for no one.
Celebrities and Public Figures
A group of people who understand the need for discretion as well as executives are celebrities. While some celebrities’ trips to drug and alcohol rehab have been well-documented in the media, others have purposefully remained quiet about their struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. For celebrities, if news of a drug problem, or a trip to rehab, gets out, this could mean weeks or months of aggressive and unwanted press. While no facility is at liberty to disclose the names of their residents, considering a facility that specializes in discreet care can be enormously beneficial to a person who lives in the public eye. Politicians, too, may want to find a very private place to deal with addiction to drugs and alcohol. A leader of any large group of people will inevitably feel unmanageable stress, and in today’s world, one decision could move someone to make an attempt on their life. While many politicians exist to do good things for their communities, just as many choose to prioritize progress and policy change. This all comes with a demanding schedule, and life in the public eye.
PTSD
While you don’t have to be a veteran to experience PTSD, many veterans are strongly affected by PTSD. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychological disorder that can often lead a person to abuse drugs and alcohol. Veterans are the most commonly-referred cases for the visibility of the illness, but many people live with PTSD, and aren’t even aware of what it is. Long-term frightening or life-threatening situations may result in a person living with PTSD. The treatments for PTSD vary, but thorough counseling with an experienced therapist is always a large component of treating PTSD. What’s wonderful about treating PTSD is the success of people living with both PTSD and addiction to drugs and alcohol is that the addiction to drugs and alcohol is often very successful on a long-term basis in addicted PTSD patients. Drug rehab is a place where veterans, for once, may receive the treatment that they deserve.
