As the holiday season approaches, many people grappling with substance use disorders will consider delaying treatment until the festivities are over. However, there are compelling reasons for you to start SUD treatment before the holidays, turning this time of year into a transformative period of healing and recovery. Choosing to begin SUD treatment before the…
Category: SUD Treatment
Mindfulness: Key to Recovery?
Substance use disorders damage the brain – we know that. But lately, we’re seeing headlines claiming that mindfulness can reverse the damage from SUDs. Is it true? Should we all jump on the mindfulness bandwagon? Shedding Light on Mindfulness While “mindfulness” can seem like just another buzzword, that doesn’t mean we should write it off.…
What Drug Traffickers Don’t Want You To Know About Fentanyl
The synthetic opioid fentanyl has taken this country by storm, with no community left unharmed. It has surpassed all other drugs in prevalence. According to Millennium Health, it was the drug most often detected in urinalysis test results from substance use disorder treatment settings in 2022. Fentanyl Is More Lucrative for Dealers The cartels reap…
What it takes to be an SUDP
What does it take to be an SUDP? The Straightforward Answer According to the Washington State Department of Health website, a Substance Use Disorder Professional certification requires completion of an associate degree with at least 30 college credits of substance use disorder related classes and 2,500 hours of counseling under supervision, or a bachelor’s degree…
What Second Chances Mean to Libby McCaskey, SUDP
Second chances are important to Libby McCaskey – WSTC’s SUDP telehealth counselor. “I was born with congenital heart disease,” she explains. “I knew from a very young age that life is short, and I may not live a long time. God gave me a second chance at life, and I want to honor that by…
3 Reasons To Consider Intensive Outpatient (IOP) Treatment
If you’re ready to start your recovery journey now, you may think the first step is an inpatient facility. Inpatient substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs are the lifeline that some people need, especially if they have other medical or psychiatric issues, a high risk of withdrawal symptoms and/or a need to be in a…
The Sanctuary Model by Sandra L. Bloom
West Sound Treatment Center is in the process of integrating The Sanctuary Model S.E.L.F. Group Curriculum into the current group process addressing trauma. (Safety, Emotions, Loss, Future). This program aligns with the ideas of ACEs, (Adverse Childhood Experiences), “addressing the fundamental surrounding exposure to violence without needing to focus on the specific events within the…
What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment?
The effects of withdrawal for some substances can be physically and psychologically traumatic. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration explains that physicians may prescribe certain medications in conjunction with other treatments to lessen the distress some people may feel. This is known as medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Federal law requires people who are undergoing…
Becoming Aware of Thoughts and Beliefs for Positive Change
The way we think about ourselves defines who we are, and it also drives our actions and behaviors. People with addictions often have destructive, negative thoughts about themselves, and it is these self-defeating thoughts and beliefs that propel their addiction. Many times, people look at surface issues and external influences as the triggers for their…
What Does “Best Practices” Mean?
West Sound uses methods and processes that are proven to be most effective by the substance abuse treatment profession.
