Drug Addiction in Young Girls

I have been watching a soap opera called Emmerdale and there is a character in it called Holly, a 19 year old girl who is addicted to heroin. I think that the storyline is very effective.

Holly was at art college and had a very promising future ahead of her until she got involved in taking drugs. She was kicked out of college and since then she went living with a drug dealer boyfriend until he threw her out and she was forced to return to her parent's farm. Holly attended the GP who directed that she should attend a methadone clinic, get a prescription for the pharmacy and take her methadone on the premises. Her parents were trying to keep a close eye on her but they are farmers and it proved impossible to watch her all the time. One day she went into Hotten, the local town and she sold her body to a horrible old man in order to get the price of the drugs.

Then she was found sitting at the side of the road in the dark by some neighbours who nearly ran over her because they did not see her. They brought her home to her parents and the mother said to the father "What are we going to do? We can't afford to pay for Rehab". The father replied " She was on methadone and she still went out looking to score some heroin. We will deal with this ourselves" and then they decided to lock the girl in her bedroom in order to detox. They took most of the furniture out of the room so that she could not harm herself,.

I think that this is totally crazy. Locking someone up is a breach of their human rights, but more importantly I doubt very much that this method of punishment would actually cure someone of drug dependence/drug addiction. The girl is more likely to be worse off as a result of this treatment.

When I was about 13 our English teacher told us about a book called "Dear Alice". It was written by a 15 year old drug addicted American girl who talked about tearing her own flesh out because she thought that her skin was crawling with worms. It was truly horrific but it had the desired effect of putting me off drugs for life.

Like all parents I worry about the future of my own children. Alcohol is something that is widely accepted/tolerated in Irish society but drugs are all around us, even in small towns and villages. I sincerely hope that I never have to deal with drug addiction/dependence in the family.

Drug & Alcohol Rehab Program

Knowing when to seek treatment from a drug abuse rehab may be hard. You may notice that you are using drugs and alcohol on a regular basis, or that you seem to need more of the drugs or alcohol to feel the same effects. These signs are a common way that you can tell whether you need treatment, but you may also want to seek the advice of your friends and family.

Often, your friends and family will be able to spot the signs of a drug or alcohol addiction before you are aware of the problem. You may also ask the advice of the drug abuse rehab. Many drug abuse rehab centers offer assessments that allow you to identify and treat any problems.

Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Addiction

The treatment you receive from the drug rehab centers in your area will depend on the severity of your addiction. If you have a short term addiction to drugs and alcohol, you may be able to take advantage of the outpatient treatment programs offered by your drug abuse rehab.

Long term and chronic addictions to drugs and alcohol are often treated with a residential or inpatient treatment program. Inpatient treatment at your drug abuse rehab will typically last from thirty to ninety days, although the time frame is often different for each person.

Finding the Right Drug and Alcohol Rehab

Searching for the right drug and alcohol rehab program can be difficult, especially if are not sure what you are looking for. The best drug rehab clinics have on site medical staff, and therapist or counselors who are available during the day.

You will also want to find a drug abuse rehab that is in a nice location, with comfortable rooms and space for exercise. Making sure that you are in a comfortable drug abuse rehab may seem trivial, but it is important to find a drug abuse rehab that you are comfortable with since you will be spending a month or more in the rehab. You will also want to note whether the drug rehab offers private or semi private rooms before you choose the rehab you want to use.

Treatment Options

The best drug rehab centers offer treatment for all aspects of addiction, including basic living skills. For example, it is common to find nutrition classes being offered in drug rehab centers across the nation. You will also find basic treatment options such as family therapy and group therapy sessions in drug rehab centers.

Your therapist and the staff at the drug rehab center you choose will help you set up a treatment plan after your initial assessment. It is important that you become an active participant in your recovery, which can take several months.