A Breif History Of Inpatient Drug Treatment And Rehabilitation Methods

Inpatient drug treatment has been a source of mixed information over the last few decades that is seemingly unchanging for the most part. Success in addiction recovery now seems to require being diagnosed with a mental illness and put on mind altering psychiatric drugs. Actually successfully regaining control of life and taking mind altering drugs as prescribed in many inpatient drug treatment programs is a contradiction in and of itself. Nothing could be further from the truth.

For decades mental health professionals have battled addiction and abuse issues in society of one kind or another. Back in the mid to late 19th century Inpatient drug treatment consisted of psychiatric units in hospitals or insane asylums. Expectations for substance abuse and mental health problems at that time were, if not for full cures, then for healing that focused on inpatient treatment and care in a healthy controlled environment. Many of those who suffered mental health or addiction problems who could not afford asylum care were hidden away in cages, pens and even barns right along with animals. Often the animals were treated better.

The 20th century brought forth a somewhat more significant Marijuana Withdrawal symptoms effort to actually achieve success with addiction recovery. In 1939 the 12 step method of treatment was borne and later on many residential treatment programs adopted this method of rehabilitation with a little better success. This program was developed for alcoholics and then implemented into other narcotic treatment facilities.

A long-term Christian program was developed in 1958 by followers of the Assembly of God faith known as Teen Challenge. It is a 12-18 month inpatient treatment program implemented to assist drug and alcohol addicts, alcoholics, gang members, prostitutes and others with life controlling compulsions detrimental to survival and spiritual awakening.

The Narconon program was developed in 1966 by Arizona inmate William Benitez, a heroin addict who had several failed attempts at overcoming addiction. The Narconon program is now worldwide with over 150 drug education and rehabilitation centers in 50 countries.

In the early 1980’s physicians and psychiatrist in what appears to be an effort to monopolize the addiction treatment field employed the dual diagnosis philosophy. Those in the psychiatric community falsely claimed that those with addiction or compulsion to consume toxic substances were “self medicating”. This led to billions of dollars in profits for the psychiatric field and inpatient drug treatment programs worldwide, not to mention the pharmaceutical industry actually made things far worse.

There are other inpatient rehab programs throughout the country of various kinds like wilderness programs and equine therapy, which can be good if there is an interest in the tasks at hand greater than the desire to use drugs. Many theories surround drug and alcohol addiction, and with over a 100 year history one would think better results would be attained. Unfortunately more insurance providers and state assisted programs will only back medically based inpatient drug rehab programs.