Posts Tagged ‘men’

Are All Drug Addicts Homeless?

June 17th, 2011

Homelessness amongst Drug Addicts

The correlation between homelessness and drug addiction is a controversial topic that many can not agree upon. Of course, if you are taking a look solely at the homeless population, you will see there is a high number of them who are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Further looking into the subject however, the addiction can not always explain the reason for the fact that the person has lost everything – and some of the homeless do not even try drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with their problems until they are already in a homeless situation. The truth of the matter is that the majority of those who are addicted to alcohol or drugs never hit a point where they are homeless. The addicts who are most at risk, which should be common sense, are those who are poor to begin with. Clearly if you do not have a lot of money, and you choose to spend what you do have to support your addiction, it is much easier to lose your home to your addiction and end up on the streets.

When you think about the homeless, who are they? Records show that the majority of them are made up of mostly men, ages 18 to 35 and women ages 16 to 30 who are single parents. Many of them are minorities and local to the area where they grew up – not exactly the transients that people think they are. Also surprisingly, the majority of them have been on the streets for less than a year. Today’s homeless people are a diverse mixture of emotionally dysfunctional and mentally ill, some who are even at risk in a medical way with diseases such as AIDS or HIV. Some of them are actually drug and alcohol addicts who are dependent on a plethora of different substances. Statistics show that the number one cause of homelessness is mental illness. With all of this information, you can clearly see that there are just as many reasons that people end up homeless as there are homeless people living on the streets.

Research among the homeless shows that about two-thirds of them struggle with alcoholism and about half of homeless adults are dealing with a drug addiction in some form or another. Additionally, about a third of homeless adults suffer from severe psychiatric disorders, many of whom are dually diagnosed – that is – struggling with addiction and mental disorders at the same time.

At the end of the day, what people label as homelessness can really be described as a total alienation from human relationships and the support systems that most people can maintain. If they are addicts in addiction to being homeless, more than likely their relationships with family and friends were already dysfunctional. Broken homes and dysfunctional families are some of the root causes of those who become homeless – and it does not always have to do with drug or alcohol addiction.

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Individualized Drug Rehabilitation for Men

September 3rd, 2009

Drug rehabilitation facilities for mature men seeking sobriety offer comfort and security in a professional atmosphere. Men and women differ in many attributes, both physical and psychological. Case studies have proven that men are more susceptible to alcohol and or illicit drug abuse. In fact statistics show that men are twice as likely to become dependent on or addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. It is important that these differences are recognized and the appropriate course of treatment is applied.
Recent studies indicate that men relapse after treatment more often than women. One reason addiction therapy specialists believe this happens is because men less frequently attend group counseling sessions. Another important reason is it that drug abuse effects men and women differently. Treatment approaches for men may vary from those of women to ensure that the maximum results are achieved. A trained medical staff will be prepared to help patients contend with addiction to most every drug, including but not limited to alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and prescription medications such as opiates (pain killers), barbiturates, and tranquilizers.
Treatment facilities for men offer relaxing and reassuring environments to provide comfort and stability throughout their rehabilitation experience. Once an individual assessment with a medical professional is attained, a course of routine therapy will be recommended according to the patient’s needs. Therapy may include medication to help minimize painful withdrawal symptoms if necessary and attendance of group and individual counseling sessions will most likely be required. However, most facilities will also offer physical and educational activities that are not only enjoyable but will help teach patients how to re-enter society as healthy, sober, and productive individuals.
Family support plays a crucial role in a successful recovery. Patients will most often be denied visitations for the first 2 weeks of treatment but after that initial phase, family participation will be welcomed and highly encouraged. A strong support system can often make the difference between success and failure of substance abuse recovery. It is important that this support remains available after returning home to help prevent a relapse.
A rehabilitation treatment facility for males only allows men to focus solely on their treatment and recovery without the distraction of women. This type of privacy may help to expedite the attainment of sobriety. Counseling will focus on the individual needs of men which can also accelerate the healing process and increase chances of maintaining a drug-free lifestyle.

We can help, simply call our free confidential helpline at (888) 842-3167