Making Abstinence Work

I was reading an article writen by Marsha Rosenbaum and Jennifer Kern titled "Whether It's Drugs, Or Sex, Abstinence Only Education Simply Doesn't Work". I believe the article makes some good points about the need for prevention education based on science rather than "scare tactics" or morality. What the article is alluding to is "Harm Reduction", an approach that is found more frequently in treatment. The concern that I have is that not all adolescents fall into the category of "abusers" or "are experimenting."

There are a lot of kids out there who have passed the point of abuse and are addicted physically as well as psychologically. The drugs today are more potent. As opposed to the "stinkweed" in the sixties, the pot is now more potent and is causing psychosis and cognitive impairment. Some people cross the line into addiction and absolutely need to abstain. The key is how it is framed and presented. Mixing kids who have barely experimented with the kids who are using daily is as ineffective as the traditional abstinence only approach. I guess what I'm saying is that treatment has to be individualized and not be a cookie cutter approach.

Dan Stone, MSW, LCSW, LISAC, CT
Marketing Representative
Cottonwood de Tucson
4110 W. Sweetwater Drive
Tucson, AZ 85745
(800) 877-4520
http://www.cottonwoodrecovery.com/

Cottonwood Makes It Big in Hollywood

Well maybe not big, but our first cameo anyway...

Did anyone else catch the episode of Weeds a couple weeks back where (spoiler alert) Nancy is thinking about rehab and talking it over with a friend? The friend was telling her about some of the different places and he mentioned Cottonwood.

Is that when you know you have made it big time as a treatment center when you get mentioned in hit television shows? I got calls from some of my family members and people I work with in the treatment community wanting to know if I had seen it. I think a writer out in Hollywood had someone who knew someone who came here and decided to throw us a shout out.
I'm feeling so famous I thought as long as shows were handing out free endorsements, Paul on HBO's In Treatment could send a couple patients our way or maybe Dr. House from Fox's House could send one his tougher clients out. Not only are we a treatment center, but we also play one on T.V.

Hmmm...with all these good ideas, maybe I can tell the powers that be that I need a television in my office to track Cottonwood cameos. I have a wall perfect for a flat screen.

Jordan Emerson

Experiencing Our Wholeness: Mind-Body-Spirit

The Cottonwood Tucson Experiential Wellness Program serves patients by offering tools for self-care, enhancing their ability to move through life successfully. Patients learn to rely on their strengths; get their needs met; and use their natural abilities and preferences to facilitate their transformation. We are committed to patients experiencing self-respect, relaxation, energy, compassion and joy. Patients gain trust and confidence in their relationship to their inner guidance as mirrored through their relationships and communication with the staff. Patients learn how to distinguish between fear-based thinking and the Wisdom that guides them toward right action. Patients practice the tools learned through group participation by interacting with other patients in the Cottonwood community and staff. Our patients' main objective here at Cottonwood is to experience that changing their behaviors, communication and thinking in ways that support themselves and those around them, can bring love, happiness and success.

The Cottonwood Experiential Wellness Program is spiritually based. The foundation of what Cottonwood Tucson provides is the integration of body, mind and soul with utmost respect for each individual's strengths, needs, abilities and preferences. Health, happiness and peace are experienced as each person is able to be authentic and connected to Life, for the good of all.

Rami Katz is a Specialty Counselor at Cottonwood Tucson where she specializes in Mind, Body & Soul Integration, Yoga and Meditation Therapy, Energy Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Gestalt Therapy.