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Treatment Services
Treatment Services – Townsend
An Innovative Approach
By using our innovative approach of individualized treatment, we are unlike other rehabilitation programs.
The first stage of drug rehab treatment is medically managed drug detox. At Townsend, a medical team, in collaboration with addiction professionals, ensure that detox takes place in the safest and most comfortable manner possible. 24 hour care and a warm and caring bedside manner, with a personal eye for each client’s progress, are signatures of the Townsend Louisiana Detox drug program. Our program is the very best in the NOLA Detox landscape.
We offer Outpatient and Residential Treatment programs with customized treatment. We get to the root of your addiction and provide opportunity for better life and sustained remission from the disease of drug and alcohol addiction. At our treatment facilities in Louisiana, Townsend offers comprehensive addiction care for adult men and women struggling with the chronic, progressive brain disease of addiction.
Townsend Facilities
Townsend facilities service many surrounding areas including:
– Townsend Detox
– Baton Rouge, LA
– Houma, LA
– Lafayette, LA
– Lake Charles, LA
Alcohol Trends
Binge Drinking
In 2013, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 24.6 percent of people 18 and older admitted to binge drinking in the past month.
Traffic Deaths
According to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), about ONE-THIRD of traffic deaths in the state of Louisiana have involved someone driving whose blood alcohol content (BAC) is over the legal limit of .08 percent.
Louisiana Drinking
Alcohol is big business in the U.S. but the culture in Louisiana can be particularly relaxed about drinking problems. For people who struggle with alcohol addiction, our state can be a particularly difficult place to stay sober because of the festive atmosphere of celebrations that some with an abundance of alcohol. The state is famous for Mardi Gras excesses, dozens of seasonal festivals, crawfish boils, and we also have drive-through daiquiri shops. At Townsend facilities, we understand the unique challenges faced by living in this Gulf Coast region and make recovery locally accessible in communities and parishes across South Louisiana.
Why Seek Treatment?
Drinking and driving is just one of the many ways that your problem with alcohol can affect others. Alcoholism affects your health, work, and the people around you.
Addiction affects your close relationships including family, romantic partners, and children. The cost of addiction goes far beyond the bar tab and beer belly; there can be devastating consequences for your health and the well-being of those closest to you. Alcoholism leads to problems with the heart, liver, pancreas, and immune system, even increasing the risk of certain cancers. Within the family, alcohol addiction can contribute to stress, depression, abuse, and other problems in the household.
Warning Signs
Alcohol Addiction
Drinking alone and regularly blacking out are two significant warning signs. Patterns that can be harder to notice include lying about your drinking and drinking to relax. While enough alcohol affects everyone’s judgment and self-control, being unable to stop drinking is a sign that you have lost control of your own behavior.
Physical Dependence
When a person who has become dependent attempts to stop cold turkey, they can experience withdrawal symptoms like shakiness and anxiety for up to a week. In some cases, people can experience hallucinations or seizures and delirium tremens, which can be life-threatening. People who repeatedly return to alcohol after periods of detoxification can experience kindling, where withdrawal symptoms become worse than they were on previous occasions
The Townsend Difference
Townsend facilities offers outpatient addiction care that fits most schedules and allows patients to begin the recovery process without having to leave their jobs or families. With outpatient detox and treatment, it’s possible for working professionals, busy parents, and students to get the help they need without interrupting their lives. With treatment that fits your schedule, you can enter drug and alcohol recovery by getting help at Townsend.
Patient Needs
Our program is informed by evaluations that help us gain understanding for each patient’s specific needs. Townsend treats our patients as individuals who require customized treatment plans. We believe in empowering our patients with a variety of different tools to help them deal with addiction.
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Commonly Abused Drugs in Louisiana
Higher Rates
According to whitehouse.gov, Louisiana is one of the top ten states for drug use in several categories. These include a higher death rate caused by drug use than the national average, increased cocaine use among people 12 and over, and higher than average use of methamphetamines and benzodiazepines.
Cocaine
Cocaine is a stimulant that is frequently inhaled as a fine powder or injected into the bloodstream. Cocaine increases the dopamine levels in the brain bringing about a pleasurable effect. Possible side effects of abuse include erratic or violent behavior, paranoia, auditory hallucinations, loss of sense of smell, and heart rhythm problems. Cocaine use may also include risk of stroke, coma, seizure, and death of bowel tissue. When used in combination with alcohol and other drugs, cocaine users are at especially high risk of fatal overdose when “speedballing,” or using a combination of cocaine and heroin. Additionally, injection brings an increased risk of blood-borne diseases including HIV and hepatitis C.
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine, also known as “speed” or “crank,” is an extremely addictive stimulant. Long-term use can lead to violent behavior, hallucinations, delusions, intense itching, and severe dental problems. Methamphetamine-related scratching can result in skin sores, and sharing needles can result in blood-borne illnesses. Because it masks the effects of alcohol, a depressant, the combination of methamphetamine and alcohol increases the risk of overdose.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are a commonly prescribed category of tranquilizers that includes Valium, Ativan, and Xanax. As tranquilizers, benzodiazepines are prescribed in small doses for insomnia, anxiety, seizures, and other legitimate medical conditions. Many individuals who become addicted to benzodiazepines began taking it as prescribed by their physicians. Benzodiazepine abuse can result in drowsiness, confusion, lack of coordination, and dizziness. Symptoms of chronic abuse include anxiety, headaches, irritability, and hostility.
Dangers of Drug Addiction
The disease of drug addiction affects not only individuals but also their family members and loved ones. Drug addiction to prescription and illicit drugs can lead to loss of control over one’s own life, medical complications or overdose from prolonged use. Other negative consequences and reckless behaviors may include driving under the influence while impaired puts others at risk of physical danger and increases the chance of legal repercussions.
Cocaine
Cocaine is a stimulant that is frequently inhaled as a fine powder or injected into the bloodstream. Cocaine increases the dopamine levels in the brain bringing about a pleasurable effect. Possible side effects of abuse include erratic or violent behavior, paranoia, auditory hallucinations, loss of sense of smell, and heart rhythm problems. Cocaine use may also include risk of stroke, coma, seizure, and death of bowel tissue. When used in combination with alcohol and other drugs, cocaine users are at especially high risk of fatal overdose when “speedballing,” or using a combination of cocaine and heroin. Additionally, injection brings an increased risk of blood-borne diseases including HIV and hepatitis C.
Helping a Loved One
It can be hard for those struggling with addiction to see the gravity of their situation. This skewed perspective caused by cycles of drug use may obscure problems with relationships, performance issues at work, and their own health issues.
At Townsend, we address underlying aspects of the patient’s problem that go beyond mere patterns of behavior. If someone you know is showing signs of addiction, let them know about your concern, and consider talking to mutual friends about having an intervention before they hit rock bottom.
Getting Help at Townsend
Townsend offers comprehensive and innovative substance abuse rehabilitation at our 9 addiction treatment facilities throughout South Louisiana. In our Outpatient facilities, we provide medical detox, withdrawal, and stabilization on an outpatient basis. For those who require residential treatment and 24/7 care for a period of time, our Townsend Recovery Centers in New Orleans can help.
THC Addiction in Louisiana
THC (Marijuana) Addiction
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), marijuana use can result in THC dependence for many types of users:
- 9% percent of adult marijuana users become dependent
- 17% percent of adolescent users become dependent
- 25–50% of daily marijuana users will become dependent
The compulsion to habitually smoke marijuana can damage relationships and derail careers. While many people are able to smoke recreationally and easily quit, THC addiction is a very real problem for a sizeable minority.
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the active ingredient in marijuana and the chemical responsible for most of the psychological effects of the drug. THC stimulates brain receptors associated with memory, thought, coordination, pleasure, and perception of time. The average concentration of THC is a measure of the marijuana’s potency and has increased over the decades. For researchers of THC addiction, there is concern about the potential for long-term damage from THC use, particularly among young users.
Warning Signs of THC Addiction
Behavioral signs of THC addiction include:
- Difficulties with problem solving, memory, learning, and coordination
- General loss of control
- Avoidance of responsibilities
- Spend a lot of time getting high
Some long-term marijuana smokers report using this drug to relieve stress, but then the drug itself becomes a way to avoid bigger problems. Eventually, many users say that using THC is the only way they can relax. Using marijuana can can shape the way they choose friends, and they eventually spend more time with those who won’t be critical of their habit. Individuals who attempt to quit using THC after a long period of use may experience cravings, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, and decreased appetite.
The Townsend Model
The Townsend program is designed even for people who feel they have hit rock bottom. Rather than waiting until you’ve lost complete control of your life, consider getting help for any behavior you are unable to stop on your own. Our flexible treatment program is designed for parents and working professionals so that you can get help without disrupting your career or other important parts of your life.
Our innovative treatment model lets you feel better fast. With outpatient medical detox, you don’t have to go away to rehab. You’ll have the support of local peers who are also struggling with addiction, and outpatient treatment means less of a disruption for your job and family.
Pain Pills & Addiction
Treating Pain Pills Addiction in Louisiana
The incidence of addiction to opioid painkillers continues to increase throughout the U.S. and the state of Louisiana is no exception. Townsend facilities can help you or your loved one escape from the personal and family chaos that an opioid addiction creates. With our outpatient and residential detox services, we will ensure a safe withdrawal environment and medical stabilization for you or your loved one.
How do pain pills work?
Doctors prescribe painkillers for short term use in the treatment of severe pain. These medications work on the brain by disrupting the way our bodies perceive pain. However, many of these medications also stimulate parts of the brain associated with pleasure. The more powerful prescription pain pills are opioids, which act in a way similar to morphine. While many opioids are artificially produced, rather than being naturally derived from opium poppies, they nevertheless come with the same potential for pain pill addiction. Like other forms of addiction, abuse of pain pills can lead to a buildup of tolerance and progressively more dangerous behavior.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “One in 15 people who take non-medical prescription pain relievers will try heroin within 10 years.” When acquiring opioids through physician prescriptions and other means becomes too difficult or expensive, some users turn to the street alternative, heroin.
The Townsend Model
The Townsend program is designed even for people who feel they have hit rock bottom. Rather than waiting until you’ve lost complete control of your life, consider getting help for any behavior you are unable to stop on your own. Our flexible treatment program is designed for parents and working professionals so that you can get help without disrupting your career or other important parts of your life.
Our innovative treatment model lets you feel better fast. With outpatient medical detox, you don’t have to go away to rehab. You’ll have the support of local peers who are also struggling with addiction, and outpatient treatment means less of a disruption for your job and family.
Medications with high potential for abuse include:
Oxycodone
While aspirin, acetaminophen, and other over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics may help alleviate many types of minor pain, they are often ineffective in treating moderate and severe pain experienced by some patients. Oxycodone is a powerful synthetic narcotic that comes in several different forms. It is a highly addictive opioid medication whether taken alone or in the form of a drug such as Percocet, which is a combination of both oxycodone and acetaminophen.
OxyContin is the trade name for a time-released form of oxycodone that is sometimes prescribed for pain associated with arthritis, injuries, and cancer.
Side effects of oxycodone addiction include: Drowsiness, euphoria, itching, sweating, headaches, nausea, low blood pressure, and constipation. While taking oxycodone can result in the pupils constricting, the dilation or widening of pupils may indicate an overdose. Oxycodone can slow or stop a person’s breathing, especially when combined with alcohol or other drugs.
Opiate Withdrawal
For patients who require going through detox for pain pill dependency, Townsend can assist you or your loved ones with Outpatient Detox or Residential Detox services. Townsend’s medical team will ensure the patient undergoes the clinically appropriate detox process in a safe environment that includes medical monitoring and 24/7 supervision.
Hydrocodone & Hydromorphone
Other derivatives and semi-synthetic narcotics are also dangerous. Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic narcotic derived from codeine but less powerful than oxycodone at equal doses. Other narcotics such as Vicodin and Lortab are both forms of hydrocodone that also contain acetaminophen. Hydromorphone is also a semi-synthetic narcotic, and also a derivative of morphine. Dilaudid is a common trade name of hydromorphone. Both of these opioids have a high potential for abuse, addiction, and dangerous side effects for the user.
Abuse of hydrocodone or hydromorphone is dangerous and results in physical reactions such as: Anxiety, drowsiness, itching, headache, blurred vision, dry mouth, and ringing in the ears. More serious side effects that may potentially be fatal include: Trouble breathing, rapid heartbeat, and slowed heartbeat. An overdose of these and all opioids could result in death. As with all opioids, alcohol can increase the severity of side effects and increase the risk of overdose.
Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms
Symptoms of opiate withdrawals can include mood swings, intense cravings, depression, insomnia, and more. When detoxification is attempted without professional help, there is a greater risk for complications such as overdose. A relapse is particularly risky after a person has lost their tolerance for the drug in question.
Medication Assisted Treatment
When it comes to patients who are struggling with a serious addiction to opiates, we sometimes use the drug Suboxone, which contains buprenorphine and naloxone. Some people are understandably skeptical about the idea of trading one pill for another, but we make a distinction between addiction and dependence.
To make this distinction clearer, we like to ask three questions:
1. Does taking pills make you want to take more pills?
2. Does taking pills get you high?
3. Does taking pills make you do things you later regret?
Our addiction treatment includes counseling that includes individual, group, and family therapy. We focus on providing individualized care for patients based on their addiction circumstances, co-occurring mental health disorders, and any ongoing medical condition.
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