Designer Drug Treatment Program
Brewed in crude labs, many designer drugs are chemical cousins to legitimate medicines. These drugs are usually similar drugs in the amphetamine family. As with any upper, cessation after prolonged use leaves the individual exhausted and irritable. Another major type of designer drugs is synthetic opioid derivatives, the use of which can result in liver and kidney damage, even death. No matter the substance in question, the goal of Phase I treatment at Morningside is to teach clients to avoid the extreme reactions, behaviors and lifestyles that lead to drug abuse.
Our Phase goals were developed by experienced clinicians to ensure a level of care that exceeds industry standards. Clients at Morningside progress through Phase I at clinically appropriate rates, as opposed to the arbitrary constraints of insurance-driven care. Phase I treatment is individualized, with any necessary medication combined with exercise, nutrition and therapy. In this early phase of recovery, clients begin to develop a sense of purpose and formulate a sense of community. Clients learn to think rationally about common difficulties, and to change their thought patterns and the way they react to situations.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is very useful in treating designer drug addiction because it is a cooperative process directed at the client’s specific issues. CBT is flexible, specific and compatible with any medications a client may receive. CBT helps clients re-establish goals in their lives, and it can help clients reconnect with the activities they previously enjoyed. For some, it can be rediscovering a hobby or sport. Others in Phase I have taken advantage of Morningside’s academic programs.
Medication can make therapy more effective because if a client is too ill to communicate, he or she won’t benefit from therapy or counseling. Medications for clients with a dual-diagnosis or co-occurring mood disorder usually consist of low doses of antidepressants. All counseling is structured at Morningside to emphasize that the way a client thinks affects the way he or she feels. For example, clients learn to gauge their reactions to situations. One client explained: “Looking back on it, I realized that at my worst I was a lab rat for drug dealers. Sometimes my kidneys would ache after taking pills. I was ashamed and felt guilty about risking my health that way, but I couldn’t stop using. After therapy and going to meetings, I’m beginning to see how I was seeking relief from drugs.”
A big part of therapy is the structured daily schedule. Clients have a plan each day to stay busy. For example, the serene setting in Newport Beach has many opportunities for exercise. One client explained: “Before coming to Morningside I would stay up all night. Sometimes after a binge, I would be sick for days. Now I run three mornings a week on the beach and go to the gym.” Exercise, improved nutrition and therapy in Phase I are a big part of recovery. Clients learn to develop skilled and realistic thinking. Clients set goals, which can include reuniting with family members, securing sobriety-supportive housing, or attending one of the many great colleges in the local area.
Families and close friends of clients are always invited to learn about the disease of addiction so they can be supportive and understanding. Education gives friends and family new hope for the suffering loved one.
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