Students
who have drug problems and realize they need help might select assistance based
on the services available on campus or in the surrounding community and the
costs they are willing top pay for treatment services.
One approach to convince drug-dependent people to
enter treatment programs is the use of confrontation. People who live or work with chemically dependent
people are being encouraged to confront them directly about their
addiction. Direct confrontation helps
chemically dependent people realize the effect their behavior has on
others. Once chemically dependent people
realize that others will no longer tolerate their behavior, the likelihood of
their entering treatment programs increases significantly. Although effective, this approach is very
stressful for family members and friends and requires the assistance of
professionals in the field of chemical dependence. These professionals can be contacted at a
drug treatment center in your area.
Treatment
Comprehensive drug treatment programs are available
in very few college or university health centers. College settings for drug dependence programs
are more commonly found in the university counseling center. At such a center the emphasis will probably
be not on the medical management of dependence but on the behavioral dimensions
of drug abuse. Trained counselors and psychologists
who specialize in chemical dependence counseling will not work with students to
(1) analyze their particular concerns, (2) establish constructive ways to cope
with stress, and (3) search for alternative ways to achieve new “highs”.
Medical treatment for the management of drug
problems may need to be obtained through the services of a community treatment
facility administered by a local health department, community mental health
center, private clinic, or local hospital.
Treatment may be on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Medical management might include
detoxification, treatment of secondary health complications and nutritional deficiencies,
and therapeutic counseling for chemical dependence.
Some communities have voluntary health agencies
that deliver services and treatment programs for drug dependent people. Check your telephone book for listings of
drug-treatment facilities. Some communities
have drug hot lines that offer advice for people with questions about drugs.
Costs of
Treatment for Dependence
Drug-treatment
programs that are administered by colleges and universities for faculty and
students usually require no fees. Local agencies
may provide either free services or services based on a sliding scale. Private hospitals, physicians, and clinics
are the most expensive forms of treatment.
Inpatient treatment at a private facility may cost as much as $1000 per
day. Since the length of inpatient
treatment averages 3 to 4 weeks, a patient can quickly accumulate a very large
bill. However, with many types of health
insurance policies now providing coverage for alcohol and other drug
dependencies, even these services may not require additional out-of-pocket
expenses.
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