Drug Rehab Alternative Program

Drug Rehabilitation, Drug Addiction Treatment, What is it and who really needs it?

Do you need a drug rehab? Does a loved one of yours need a drug rehabilitation program? This is a question people ask everyday in America. Somewhere, right now, someone is feeling lost, lonely, powerless, and on the ragged edge of depression, anxiety and fear. These same individuals firmly believe they or their loved one must go to a treatment program. The American phenomenon known as drug and alcohol treatment is an industry that is based on making you feel as if you will never have control. Don't believe this nonsense! No one needs drug rehab. Rather, those in crisis need empowerment and a feeling of hope, and a promise that things can change for the better, coupled with a proven program that has a track record of producing these specific life changing results. The St. Jude Retreats is not treatment because we do not teach you that misery is expected. Treatment assumes you and every living person alive today has a disorder beyond human control. Is this really what you are looking for? Or, are you more interested in finding hope and a permanent solution that does not define you as an addict or an alcoholic for the rest of your life. If that sounds better than the nonsense that treatment programs provide, then read on - you need to know the difference between drug and alcohol rehabilitation (treatment) and the St. Jude Program offered here at the St. Jude Retreats - the original creators of the non 12 step, non disease based program model now being copied worldwide. Remember all treatment programs worldwide define you as powerless, St. Jude's on the other side of the industry, empowers; the differences could not be any more apparent.

At St. Jude's, people call us everyday and ask, "I need a rehab, and where should I go for the best program." Or "What makes your program so different." To answer these questions, you have to understand that St. Jude's is not just different than all other programs, we are the direct opposite of every program in the nation, we are the opposite then, of treatment itself. St. Jude's does not try to be all things to all people as so many of the copy programs do. We do not ride both sides of the treatment fence. We will not say we are a non 12 step program (we are) and then say that we can offer 12 step meetings, or that you might want to attend 12 step support after you graduate from our program. No, we do not waffle on these topics. If you are looking for treatment that states that you need support and that you need to be treated, then you will want to look elsewhere.

St. Jude's has been challenging treatment programs for over twenty years, exposing their questionable methods, and harmful rhetoric. We will not talk to you about a "cure," because you or your loved one is not diseased or sick or mentally ill. St. Jude's will not tell you to "recover" because there is nothing to "recover" from. We will however, teach you how to empower yourself to levels you never thought possible. We will help you to learn methods of self examination and improve life and social skills. We will help you determine what career or life path best fits you. We will show you how to improve relationships, and find the love and compassion that may have been missing in your life. We will build hope, and then convert that hope directly into actions that build your new lifestyle.

So in short, there is alcohol and drug treatment, (or rehab) and then there is St. Jude's. Over the last twenty years there have been hundreds of programs that attempt to copy the St. Jude Program curriculum, by saying they are non 12 step, or non disease based, but then they remain attached to controlling methods that are based in treatment. Programs cannot be St. Jude's and also be afraid to let go of trying to control you. At St. Jude's you are your own person, and we will allow you the freedom to expand into the best person you can be. Do not fall into the "alternative treatment" trap. There is treatment and then there is St. Jude's. There is no middle ground, and thankfully, the true alternative continues to help thousands. Call for more information about the program that challenged the treatment industry and became the force for change.

I want more information... what about the "CURE"

Occasionally you hear people say things like, "Hey, so and so just went to drug rehab." Just as often, you will hear that the individual completed the rehab program and began abusing substances immediately upon returning home. This scenario is not unusual. Drug rehab programs (including alcohol rehabilitation programs) here in America are predominantly 12 step oriented. This model of recovery comes out of the 1935 first century Christian temperance movement now known as Alcoholics Anonymous. Through the last seventy years, America has adapted this AA philosophy into several different recovery models, all of which have a different name but the same method (again "treatment"). There is the Minnesota Model of recovery, the disease model of alcoholism (and drug addiction), and countless others that adopt the credo that substance abusers require a drug rehab program if the participant expects to survive. All believe substance abuse is a disease, all are defined as treatment or rehab.

Then you have the "alternative to treatment models" that attempt to copy the St. Jude Retreats (as we are the original creators of the non 12 step, non disease based model, and remain the only valid program as such). These programs are even more detrimental because they sound just like St. Jude's but offer a sneaky hybrid version of the St. Jude Program model. They use statements like you have a "dependency based on your choices." (How can you be dependent and still have choice - this double talk is a red flag for a scam.) Another popular nonsensical term is the "Alcoholism and Addiction Cure." This would be somewhat valid if the facility did not claim to be just like St. Jude's non disease based approach, but they do. They say they are non disease based and then say you need a cure! If your program is truly non disease based, then what would you be "cured" of? Avoid these snake oil salesmen!

Treatment holds steadfast onto the concept that without a drug rehab program, the substance abuser will end up in jail, a mental institution, or will meet an untimely death. This of course, is simply untrue. Most individual's quit or moderate their usage without treatment. Don't fall prey to treatment or rehab programs that use fear to bribe you out of your hard earned cash and self respect!

It is believed (without a shred of scientific evidence to support it) that the drug rehab program can then save this person from their internal defect and keep their destructive behavior at bay, at least for one more day. Putting aside this common but misleading doomful hysteria, how effective are the drug and alcohol rehab programs that permeate our society? And, how does the St. Jude Program fare when compared to these treatment based drug rehab programs?

Although prevalent, 12 step based drug rehabs are totally ineffective. The only model proven to work is the St. Jude Program that has an independently verified success rate. When Baldwin Research Institute, Inc. conducted a survey of over sixty random drug rehab programs across the country and inquired into how they obtained their success rates, most answered by saying that conducting research to acquire sound drug rehab success rates is not necessary. The facility directors who answered in this way went on to state that success rate analysis is unnecessary because the people who "really want the program" get well, and those who are "not ready" will relapse. Thus and according to these drug rehab program directors, this faulty logic proved that there was no need to track drug rehab outcomes. This method of circular logic avoids the real question of why 80% - 95% of program graduates relapsed after being treated. The success rates for these programs are well documented at a range of 5%-20%. This is the same success rate range as no treatment at all. If only those who would have gotten sober on their own (without drug rehab treatment programs) succeed to remain sober after participating in conventional drug rehab programs, the question becomes, why do conventional drug rehab programs exist? Is there a method to help the 80%-95% who relapse after the completion of conventional programs? The answer, of course, is yes. The Jude Thaddeus program has had an independently verified success rate of 64% over fifteen years.

Note: Of the three drug rehab programs that did publish success rates, two explained how their program managers (directors) called ex-patients to get an idea of who was doing well, and one program reservations spokesperson stated that they were not even sure what their program success rate was, even though their brochure and website touted a 74% rate of success! In any other circle this would be called false and misleading advertising.

Making matters even worse, many drug and alcohol rehab programs have added more confusion to the contrived complications of alcohol and drug abuse. Besides the misleading and downright fraudulent claim that alcohol and drug use are diseases, the myth is now further complicated by prescribing mind-altering antidepressants and antipsychotic medications that are handed out liberally by ill-informed expedient doctors. Inexplicably these well educated "professionals" prescribe these dangerous drugs for a disease that does not exist and knowing that a common side affect is an increase risk of suicide!

With all this said, the St. Jude Program is not a drug or alcohol rehab nor is it treatment. It has been well established for more than seventy years that conventional 12 step alcohol and drug rehab programs and drug and alcohol treatment have little or no affect helping people stay sober. In fact many independent studies report that the success rate of conventional 12 step alcohol and drug rehab programs is less than no treatment at all. That is to say that participation in conventional 12 step alcohol and drug rehab programs actually decreases the probability of becoming alcohol and drug free and remaining alcohol and drug free. The St. Jude Program is an educational retreat that, as we have stated earlier, has success where other drug rehab programs fall short. Why?

First, we base all our program material on research, comprehensive education and common sense. The St. Jude Program is effective because it teaches permanent solutions, it builds on the hard work of maturing and changing negative habits into positive action, and it makes clear how to accept positive deferred gratification through stick-to-itiveness, and carefully constructed, goal oriented plans. Although these principles are time tested, they require work, and the willingness to change.

Addiction is a disease - the Great American Myth.

Obviously, the St. Jude Program does not advocate belief in the disease of addiction myth. There is no disease of alcoholism; there is no disease of drug abuse; and, there is no disease of addiction! Therefore there is no need for drug rehab programs that waste precious time using therapy to push the disease of addiction agenda. This is just one of many areas where the St. Jude Program departs from treatment and why the St. Jude Program is significantly more effective than the drug and alcohol rehab treatment model. Teaching our guests to take personal responsibility for their choices rather than making excuses for choices that result in poor behavior is the cornerstone to rebuilding their life. A disease by its very nature is out of the person's control. This is simply not the case with substance abuse. Substance abusers make the choice to abuse alcohol and drugs. The millions who stopped abusing drugs chose to stop. Choice is a behavior, not a disease.

HAPPINESS

Inherently, people want to be happy-to have joy in their life. This is why the shortcut to happiness through alcohol and drug use is so alluring. While this type of quick fix to happiness can, and often does, provide temporary happiness, it certainly is not a productive pathway to sustained happiness. The St. Jude Program demonstrates through an educational process that there is so much more to life than quick fixes. The program text book, The St. Jude Program has four themes that when completed in order, transforms lives. The themes are:

1. Empowerment.

   "There is no disease of addiction; addiction is a habit that you have chosen. Therefore, you have the power to change this habit no matter how deep-seated you may think it is."

2. Analyze your entire life history, through the autobiographical process.

   "Let us look together at all the counterproductive choices you have made in your life, and then, examine these patterns in minute detail." This is completed by the end of week three and enlightens our guest as to how his (her) life became so counterproductive and in many cases destructive. This autobiography process is a means to an end. It is not meant to be dwelled upon, but rather, it is created to make it clear how choices may have slowed the maturing process and caused grief and sometimes debilitating depression.

3. Create a comprehensive future plan built on assessed talents, positive goals and finding joy in career, as well as in family and friend relationships.

   This theme provides the gateway to a new life. It is absolutely imperative that the guest have a well constructed plan before returning home. Being prepared for the future makes the transition from the program to the individual's life at home a pleasure rather than a source of anxiety.

4. The St. Jude Program offers several services that customize the program to fit the student's needs.

   Continuing Education is an additional 4 weeks of education, if needed. This program, like the 6 week St. Jude Program, is custom tailored to the needs of our guest and provides for additional help in career development, social skills training, GED preparation and acquisition, job placement assistance, college preparation, along with a myriad of other services. Because our retreat houses have a maximum of twenty four guests per facility, the average ratio of guest to staff is one teacher for every three students. Individual classes are available when indicated.

   Summary: Post treatment success for anyone who enters a drug or alcohol rehab treatment matters. Make sure the facility you go to knows their rates of success and that they post the independent results on their website for the public to see and judge. Go to a program that bases their model on non disease based education and not the myth of addictive diseases. Make sure you look for a program that encourages a method of positive reinforcement and one that is choice based. Punitive programs little, if any, success. Lastly, let your heart guide you when making the decision on what program is right for you, your loved one, or a friend. If you do not feel as if the particular drug rehab program is the right one, do more research, as a life saved is worth the additional time and effort.