Inhalant Treatment Program
One client shared her story about inhalant addiction: “I went to rehab when I was nineteen for alcohol. I guess the only reason I quit drinking was to avoid conflict with my parents. About six months after that rehab I started sniffing felt-tip markers, whipped cream cans, nitrous oxide, cleaning fluid, and pretty much anything. It wasn’t until I got to Morningside and took therapy seriously that I realized that I was trying to cover up my pain and numb my emotions.” The treatment staff in Phase I at Morningside makes an assessment that considers many factors, including the client’s previous treatment history, any medical issues and organic mood disorders.
Phase I is a comprehensive program customized for each client. For example, residential treatment features a variety of living arrangements, including a house where clients can bring their small pet. We have found Newport Beach and the surrounding Orange County area to be an optimal area for recovery; it is our belief that recovery should occur within a vibrant community instead of an isolated retreat. In this way, clients deal with daily living such as going to the gym or the beach, yet remain secure from immediate temptations.
Morningside’s Phase I program features an ongoing, comprehensive assessment of a client’s needs. This process includes psychiatric and psychological evaluations to determine a client’s current status and to help the treatment team maintain a dynamic, individualized plan. Phase I also includes working with a primary therapist. Individual and group sessions specifically focus on the needs of the client. Groups are facilitated by clinical psychologists and licensed therapists and are intended to allow the client to focus on building skills, and address any residual issues from inhalant use.
Major emphasis is placed on educational seminars and individual and group therapy sessions that concentrate on real-life situations. For example, Morningside therapists are experts in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). Research has demonstrated that CBT is effective at treating the mind damaged by inhalant use. In particular, clients find that CBT provides not only the personal insight they were perhaps seeking with drugs, but offers tools to use in everyday life. CBT is also flexible and specific, which is helpful for individuals recovering from inhalants because these clients may have difficulty processing new information for weeks afterward, the very skill a person needs to make the most of treatment. CBT is also compatible with the use of various medications, such as antidepressants.
Clients continue to meet with their addiction case manager on a weekly basis to discuss treatment plans, progress and other issues a client might face. As clients progress through Phase I, individualized treatment continues. One client shared, “When I first got to Morningside I was like ‘the ocean’s too cold and the internet connection’s not fast enough.’ All I did was complain. But everybody was so patient with me. Looking back on it, I realize how ungrateful I was. I feel like in just three months I’ve grown up like ten years.”
Testimonials
