An increasing number of individuals seeking treatment have a history of a substance abuse along with a primary diagnosis of a disabling psychiatric condition. When an individual has an underlying psychiatric disorder, substance abuse is often an attempt to self-medicate in order to ease or avoid the pain.

Wellspring does not provide a detoxification program, but accepts individuals with a history of substance abuse who are not in an active phase of addiction, in order to treat their primary psychiatric condition. In both the adult and adolescent programs, treatment of underlying psychiatric disorders is provided while maintaining clear and adequate structures for supporting abstinence from drugs and alcohol.

Substance Abuse Education and Treatment Goals:

• To increase awareness about the physical, psychological, mental and spiritual effects of substance abuse on an individual and also on the family and community at large.
• To improve the motivation of the client to make choices that will enhance their lives in more holistic, balanced, positive and healthy ways, decreasing the probability of choosing an addictive life style.
• To instill hope in those who are already addicted that there are options to achieve change and to empower them to make those changes.
• To provide the client access to self-help support networks such as the various 12-step programs to assist them in the recovery process.

Objectives

Each client will:

• Understand the disease concept of addiction
• Recognize the symptoms of abuse

This is accomplished through discussions, participation in 12-Step programs, journal work, personal sharing in group, individual session, family therapy and involvement in the therapeutic milieu. There is a specific weekly schedule for the substance abuse track.