Welcome to Drug and Alcohol Treatment
| ||
Gambling Addiction Treatment Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Gambling Addiction Treatment. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
from:
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Services are Ineffective for the GLBT Population in a Drug Rehab
By Jonathan Huttner
Most drug rehab services, including alcohol treatment programs, are geared towards serving a white, heterosexual, male, client. Unless great effort has been put into awareness training, developing knowledge about the experiences and circumstances of minority groups, and the establishment of programs to deal with the special needs of different groups of oppressed people, services will simply perpetuate institutional discrimination.
Gay Alcohol Treatment Programs Not Adequate
U.S. researchers Lohrenz et al (1978) found that 37% of homosexuals experienced discrimination from alcohol treatment program staff while Fifield, De Crescenzo & Latham (1975) discovered that 75% of homosexuals who are recovering from alcoholism believe that mainstream drug rehab and alcohol rehab program are not geared to treating homosexuals and do not provide an accepting and supportive environment. Because of discrimination homosexuals are less likely to attend an alcohol treatment program and drug addiction treatment program unless, that is, they are 'passing.' In this case, if the clinician does not bring up the subject, one of the major causes of their problems will be ignored. Rofes (1989) says: By ignoring the special problems that a lesbian alcoholic, for example, presents, an alcohol treatment program will be doing a service to no one. Their alcoholism treatment of the individual will be less than adequate and may tend to intensify the woman's feelings of isolation and 'difference.' Only by bringing the issue into the open and addressing the woman's lesbianism as an aspect of her life which she needs to feel positively about, will the program be truly effective.
Avoiding Coming Out
Shernoff & Finnegan (1991) discuss the case of a lesbian who is hiding her sexuality, then stress: It is the responsibility of each alcoholism treatment counselor to take the lead in this area the same way alcohol treatment counselors routinely question early family history, dynamics of shame, denial and spirituality. By omitting questions about sexual orientation, or the more subtle questions about sexual or affectional feelings or fantasies for a person of the same sex, the counselor is not obtaining information about all the possible contributing factors for achieving and maintaining sobriety. While Hellman et al (1989) note: Therapists may fear causing anxiety by asking patients about sexual orientation because of discomfort with the subject. However, this questioning can be essential in helping to overcome the secrecy and denial that are hall marks of the struggle with both alcoholism and homosexuality. Of course, if a worker is ignorant about homosexuality s/he is likely to make the situation worse:
Problems Faced In Gay Alcohol Treatment Programs
American surveys, referred to by Hellman et al (1989), reveal a list of complaints about mainstream provision ranging from
· heterosexual bias in alcoholism treatment and evaluation (including either focusing primarily on sexual orientation when inappropriate or ignoring important factors linked with sexuality)
· ignorance about lesbian/gay issues and discomfort at approaching matters of sexuality
· ignorance about the inter-relation of homosexuality and alcohol abuse
. Neisen & Sandall (1990) worked at a program designed to offer alcohol treatment to chemically dependent lesbians and gays. They list their clients' experiences of non-gay drug rehab or non gay alcohol rehab, which include:
some were forced to disclose their sexual orientation
as soon as their sexuality was known, some were discharged
some said that after disclosure the alcohol treatment they received was different due to an atmosphere of condemnation
some feared that if their sexual orientation was known about this would receive more emphasis than their chemical dependency
some addiction treatment programs were not happy having their partner attend a family program.
Citing Morales & Graves (1983) and Hellman, Stanton, Lee, Tytun and Vachon (1989), O'Hanlan (1996) notes:
· the majority of detox and drug rehabilitation and alcohol rehab programs were insensitive to issues of sexual orientation and did not, generally, encourage its disclosure
· homophobia limits the success of recovery and alcohol treatment for lesbian substance abusers (Hall, 1990; de Monteflores, 1986)
· failure to acknowledge sexual orientation makes relapse more likely (Cabaj, 1992)
· lesbians were more likely to attend alcohol treatment program services which address lesbian social issues and provide lesbian counsellors (Hall,1986, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994; Morales & Graves, 1983).
Family Treatment In Gay Alcohol Treatment Programs
Inclusion of families in addiction treatment and alcohol rehab program is now an acceptable way of supporting those coming off alcohol dependency (Nardi, 1982; Shernoff & Finnegan, 1991). This would be problematic for the homosexual client, partly because many will have been rejected by their families and those families who do not reject their offspring rarely want to discuss anything connected with homosexuality. Yet it is the ignorance and lack of acceptance of families which is one of the main reasons why homosexuals are vulnerable to alcohol abuse and drug abuse. Alcoholism treatment does work!
A gay alcohol treatment program, drug rehab or gay friendly dual diagnosis treatment program, can be found at a web site located at www.lakeviewhealth.com or you can call the dual diagnosis national helpline at 1-800-511-9225 to locate a dual diagnosis treatment program in your local area.
Jonathan Huttner is a principal with Lakeview Health Systems, which treats drug addiction and alcohol addiction in a gay friendly environment. Lakeview also operates a nationally recognized dual diagnosis treatment program.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Huttner
http://EzineArticles.com/?Dual-Diagnosis-Treatment-Services-are-Ineffective-for-the-GLBT-Population-in-a-Drug-Rehab&id=385778
Gambling Addiction Treatment Specific links
Gambling Addiction Treatment News
Gambling expansion bill moves through Ohio legislature despite disagreement over money for addiction
Changes to the bill with broad support include an amendment to keep open until 2 a.m. bingo games at charitable gaming facilities. State law currently shuts games down at midnight. Another approved change would make public certain information about employees of casino operators.
Read more...Inspire Malibu's Drug Addiction Treatment Authority Dr. Akikur Mohammad Cautions Public About Addiction Transference
Addiction transference is running rampant in the post-bartiatric surgery community and beyond.Malibu, CA (PRWEB) February 07, 2012 February 6, 2012 – Dr. Akikur Mohammad, Founder of Inspire Malibu, recognized by many as the top addiction treatment center in Malibu, California and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California ...
Read more...‘Exchange Bandit’ speaks out on gambling addiction
In 2008, Kevin Pinto walked away from his high-paying job at Paradigm Capital to gamble full-time. His criminal behaviour began out of a need to fund his increasing gambling addiction.
Read more...Slew of gambling regulations approved
A legislative committee overwhelmingly approved a wide-ranging update of gambling regulations today, but not before fighting over an attempt to designate more money toward addiction services. The House State Government and Elections Committee OK’d about 20 amendments to the bill, including allowing bingo halls to stay open until 2 a.m. instead of midnight and letting charities pay poker dealers.
Read more...Chasing the Win: Eastern Iowan speaks out about gambling addiction
Casino gambling in Iowa has been legal for more than two decades. Industry officials say casinos provide a $1 billion impact to the state and pay $340 million in state taxes but some say gambling has ruined lives.
Read more...Area gambling support group formed
A new support group for people who struggle with gambling addiction is now meeting every other week in Lewisburg.
Read more...New report looks at addiction, gambling
Addiction and problem gambling are the issues addressed in the newest report from the United Way’s Social Research and Planning Council.
Read more...National Problem Gambling Awareness
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime. is the theme for the next National Problem Gambling Awareness Week (NPGAW) March 4-10, 2012. This is the 10th annual grassroots campaign, sponsored by the National Council on Problem Gambling, to educate the public about the warning signs of problem gambling and the resources available for treatment.
Read more...Social service group joins fight to aid problem gamblers
United Community and Family Services Inc. is starting a five-student internship program for help in treating gambling addiction. The initiative is expected to begin operating in March, which includes National Problem Gambling Awareness Week.
Read more...Ohio House panel OKs bill on casino regulations
An Ohio bill that makes broad changes to the state's gambling laws cleared a legislative panel Wednesday with bipartisan approval, though state lawmakers were split over whether to devote additional money ...
Read more...