“I lit myself on fire twice while I was high and kept using,” said Scott Hudson, well known in his neighborhood for wearing a shirt that reads “Neighborhood Hope Dealer” as he walks around to persuade people to enter addiction treatment. “I lost my kid. I got high around her. I thought she’d be better off without me. How many people have lost their kids to this?” Scott shared his story in The Washington Post after his young relative Zaine Pulliam, 17, discovered his parents lying on their bedroom floor, unresponsive to his attempts to get their attention.
Scott’s compelling testimony reveals an all-too-common scenario that takes place in the homes of 7.5 million children on average every year, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Children who grow up in homes riddled with drug and alcohol abuse are placed in foster care systems, and in light of the drug crisis, those numbers have increased for the fourth year in a row, as NBC News reported last November. A study published in Sage Journals (2006) reveals that numerous parents start but do not complete substance abuse treatment, which results in permanent loss of child custody.
According to The Adoption Network, when a child has been in foster care for 15 of the most recent 22 months, the Department of Human Resources has to file a petition for termination of parental rights. If parents do not complete treatment on time for their substance use disorders, they may lose visitation, custody and parental rights altogether.
Why Individuals Drop Out of Substance Abuse Treatment
One would imagine that children are the biggest motivation for individuals seeking help for drug and alcohol abuse, but there are factors that affect client retention and treatment outcomes. Unregulated negative emotions impede the progress of substance abuse treatment (Hopwood, Schade, Matusiewicz, Daughters & Lejuez, 2014). Staff connection issues, poor development of early therapeutic alliances and lack of active problem-solving to potential barriers were reported as contributing factors to premature treatment termination (Palmer, Murphy, Piselli & Ball, 2009). A study which examined the link between General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and the decision to leave addiction treatment shows a strong correlation between the two; GAD and other comorbid disorders have also been associated with premature termination against medical advice (Elmquist, Shorey, Anderson, & Stuart, 2016).
Retention and Client Success: New Method Wellness’s Programs Work
New Method Wellness, one of the nation’s top-rated drug and alcohol rehab centers, integrates evidence-based clinical practices with holistic therapy to heal the whole person – body, mind, and spirit. Taking into account the comorbidity of substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders such as GAD, depression, and Bipolar Disorder, New Method Wellness effectively addresses the negative emotions associated with drug and alcohol addiction. Our fun holistic programs range from Paddleboard Therapy to Surf Therapy, Equine Therapy, Wolf-Assisted Therapy, yoga, massage/acupuncture and a wide variety of other methods that have earned nationwide recognition on platforms such as A & E’s Intervention and the Dr. Phil Show. Unique to New Method Wellness is our 3:1 staff-to-client ratio, which establishes and ensures positive therapeutic alliances between our addiction therapists and clients.
Get Your Children Back
If you or a loved one has recently lost child custody due to drug and alcohol abuse, don’t wait another minute longer! Contact New Method Wellness today so we can help you get back on track and rebuild your life together!
Elmquist, J., Shorey, R. C., Anderson, S.E. & Stuart, G. L. (2016). The Relationship between Generalized Anxiety Symptoms and Treatment Dropout among Women in Residential Treatment for Substance Use Disorders. Substance Use & Misuse, 51(7), 835-839. https://www.tandfonline.com
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