Articles

Celebrity deaths grab the public’s attention like almost no other news story. The loss can be mourned by millions, and a certain voyeuristic opportunity emerges that tempts many to learn more about the private lives of famous people. These elements are especially true when drug and alcohol abuse are involved. Sadly, though, the important lessons from these are skimmed at best.

Corey Monteith, of Glee fame, died from a drug overdose after a recent stay in rehab. He had problems with substance use since he was a teen, and was quite public about it. So his latest treatment episode would come as no surprise to drug treatment professionals, which goes the same for the overdose. Heroin addiction is driven by cravings that can arise at any time for years into recovery, and very few individuals can stay clean for life.

Mr. Monteith’s relapse-rehab-death journey is similar to many overdoses. It doesn’t always follow the same pattern or involve the same drug, but the accident occurs based on the same science. It’s called an accident because the recovering alcoholic or drug addict has no intention of overdosing; they are only trying to satisfy a craving. They will drink as much alcohol or use the same dosage of drugs they did “safely” before rehab, but the body is no longer tolerant of the substance.

Tolerance to alcohol and drugs builds slowly over time with increased use and is lost very quickly after medical detoxification. The body returns to somewhat normal operations because it doesn’t need to counteract the effects of substances. It can’t just snap back to the former state of tolerance. So, when an addict in recovery suddenly hits the body with the same amount of alcohol or drugs that they last used, the body can’t adjust quickly enough and will shut down in one way or another.

Heroin is a major culprit in overdoses, mainly because opiate cravings can be overwhelming for addicts in recovery. That’s the bad news. The good news is that Medication Assisted Treatments (MAT) are available to reduce cravings and minimize overdoses in early recovery. Methadone Maintenance helps addicts with multiple relapses to focus more on recovery, with a goal of abstinence. Vivitrol treatment reduces cravings after medical detoxification so abstinence can be maintained.

Tarzana Treatment Centers provides Medication Assisted Treatment services that include Methadone Maintenance and Vivitrol treatment. Clients are assigned addiction counselors who will guide them toward a life of long-term abstinence.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides a full array of health care services including adult and youth alcohol and drug treatment. We specialize in treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, and have two primary medical care clinics in the San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley and specialized services for HIV/AIDS care. If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence, drug addiction, or co-occurring mental health disorders or from other services we offer, please call us now at 888-777-8565 or contact us using our secure contact form.

Telemedicine services are also available with online medical care, online mental health treatment, and online alcohol and drug treatment.

Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.