Substance Abuse Treatment Programs and Resources in North Central Texas

Substance use disorders can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. Recovery Resource Council has been providing North Texas with a pathway for substance abuse screening and mental and behavioral health treatment services since 1946, with a focus on low-income, uninsured, or underinsured individuals. The physician's responsibility to the patient does not end with the start of formal treatment; rather, the doctor can become a collaborative part of the treatment team or, at the very least, continue to treat the patient's medical conditions during specialized treatment, encourage continued participation in the program, and schedule follow-up visits after treatment is finished to monitor progress and help prevent relapse. The first step in understanding local resources is to gather information about specialized drug and alcohol treatment currently available in the community.

GoVa. The.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. MHMR provides comprehensive treatment for recovery through their Substance Use Disorder Services, one of the oldest and largest providers of trauma-sensitive substance use treatment in and around Tarrant County. MHMR offers ongoing care for both adults and adolescents, including those with limited resources.

Preliminary studies on multidimensional family therapy (MFT), a multicomponent family intervention for parents and adolescents who abuse substances, have demonstrated an improvement in parenting skills and associated abstinence in adolescents up to one year after the intervention (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 199).Treatment programs must make substantial efforts to help patients improve these problems so that they can assume appropriate and responsible roles in society. In addition, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) involves the use of FDA-approved medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a comprehensive patient approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. The principles of group dynamics often extend beyond therapy in the treatment of substance abuse, in educational presentations and debates about substances consumed, their effects on the body and psychosocial functioning, the prevention of HIV infection and infection through sexual contact and injecting drug use, and many other topics related to substance abuse (Institute of Medicine, 1990; American Psychiatric Association, 199).In the absence of a confirmed psychiatric diagnosis, it is not advisable for primary care physicians and other doctors participating in substance abuse treatment programs to prescribe medications for insomnia, anxiety, or depression (especially benzodiazepines with a high potential for abuse) to patients who have alcohol- or other drug-related disorders. Many residential centers offer medical detoxification monitoring and are appropriate for people who need that level of care but do not need treatment for other medical or psychiatric problems. The terminology that describes the different elements of treatment and care for people with substance use disorders has evolved as specialized systems have developed and as treatment has adapted to changes in the health care system and funding arrangements.

Each state has a single state authority on alcohol and other drugs which generally has the licensing and program review authority for all treatment programs in the state and often publishes a state directory of all alcohol and drug treatment programs authorized in the state. Involved family members can help ensure medication compliance and assistance, plan treatment strategies, and control withdrawal while therapy focused on improving dysfunctional family dynamics and restructuring poor communication patterns can help establish a more appropriate environment and support system for the recovering person. All primary care physicians have an important role to play in identifying, detecting and referring patients with substance use (disorders) for in-depth evaluation or treatment and in providing brief interventions for patients with milder substance-related problems. These medications must also be dispensed in limited quantities and closely monitored (Institute of Medicine, 1990; Schuckit, 1994; American Psychiatric Association, 1995; Landry, 199).

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