Options for healthy lifestyles, rehab prevalent in Long Beach

By Michelle Matthe ws, On-line Forty-Niner

May 14,1998

 

Rehabilitation by definition is to restore one's reputation, and to put back, in good condition, an individual's physical and mental state. Once a person's health is revived, constructive activity in their lives can occur again.

 

Although Cal State Long Beach does not have a rehabilitation program, Student Health Services and a program called OPTIONS, offer drug and alcohol assistance to students through assessment and prevention.

 

OPTIONS is an ongoing drug prevention program on campus by students and volunteers. The program advertises the positive aspects of leading a drug and alcohol free life, and sponsors drug and alcohol-free activities on and off campus, said Renee Twigg, director of Student Health Services.

 

OPTIONS began seven years ago through a grant. The person who had been directing the program is no longer with CSULB and a replacement has not been made yet, according to Twigg.

 

Students who need drug or alcohol related treatment may also find help at Student Health Services. The campus also has a psychiatrist, Dr. David Scarpino, who is available three times a week.

 

If a student comes to him with problems that are tied to drugs or alcohol, Scarpino refers them to other counselors on campus, or if necessary, will help the student obtain further outside treatment, Twigg said.

The goal of having a health center, counselors and a psychiatrist on campus is not to run a full-fledged rehabilitation program," Twigg said. We offer more assessment, rather then treatment in these cases."

 

One reason for this approach is that there are so many students with health needs and the center wants to be able to benefit every individual with the given amount of time in each day, she said.

 

The Associated Students Inc. sponsors a student insurance policy. At the present time, one year of medical coverage costs $486.00. If a student were to purchase an outside plan they would be spending approximately $150 a month.

 

This cost is comparatively low. This fall the price is expected to go down from the present $486, according to Twigg.

 

If a student has a drug or alcohol related problem this insurance policy does offer and cover, a limited amount of mental health therapy visits.

 

If the options offered by CSULB do not suffice for an individual, the community of Long Beach has a number of rehabilitation programs to help.

 

The Alcoholism and Drug Center, located at 6335 Myrtle Avenue, in Long Beach, is a facility, which focuses on a variety of techniques in the rehabilitation process.

 

There are three locations for this program; the Grand (this is the main center, which comprises the largest staff), the Central and the North.

"Clients are usually admitted to our program through some sort of intervention process," said North facility case manager, Peter Hall.

* OPTIONS is a drug prevention program on campus by

students and volunteers.

We provide a 12-month, out-patient program, which includes individual counseling, educational discussion groups and random drug screenings, Hall said.

 

The two main courses of intervention usually occur by the Department of Child and Family Services or through SB538.

 

SB538 is a delayed judgment program for first time drug and alcohol offenders. If a client successfully completes the program, then the charges against that individual will be removed from their record, according to Hall.

 

The facility has clients who come in three to four times a week. The patients' ages range from 18 to 64. But the majority of the clients we treat are between the ages of 24 to 39, Hall said.

 

"Our methods of therapy do not include medication. If a patient requires medication, due to symptoms such as withdrawal, we will then refer them to the proper detoxification facilities," Hall said.

 

Depending on the individual's level of addiction or the severity of their case, detoxification can take anywhere from 7 to 28 days, Hall said.

 

Two different kinds of discussion groups are implemented at each facility.

 

The first is called a process group, which focuses on the client's feelings and deals with the affective side of the case. The second group is called a didactic group. This group focuses on the cognitive side of the case.

 

With this process, the facility centers on the needs and understandings of the patient.

 

"There are no more than 16 individuals in a group at one given time," Hall said. "This allows for a more personalized discussion to occur."

 

The programs ensure that clients are not abusing drugs or alcohol by random screenings. This is done under close observation, through the use of urine samples.

 

Another way to ensure our success is through our highly aware staff. There are general indications from clients that signal when they are abusing the system. The indications can be as simple as alcohol on the breath, to dilated pupils, Hall said.

 

Although Hall said the facility he works at does not have any longitudinal studies to determine if a patient remains rehabilitated after being released, he said, "Our experience with success rates are as good as the next program."

 

Hall said two of the positive sides to the program are the cost and the waiting period.

 

There is no waiting period to be admitted to the program. Generally, the program, has 60 to 65 patients at one time.

 

"But we have been known to exceed those numbers," Hall said.

The cost of the program is based on a sliding scale, which means the income of the individual is what determines the cost of admittance.

 

"Although we do treat university level students at our facility, I would be remiss to say if any of those persons attend CSULB," Hall said.

 

The Alcoholism & Drug Treatment Center is operated by the City of Los Angeles. Client fees also fund the program.

 

"The success of any rehabilitation program is based on what the individual brings to it," Hall said.

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