SummerSmith - A Leader in Chemical Dependency Treatment
The SummerSmith, owners and founders, Janet Summers and Reed Smith, have assisted in the development and operation of some of the worlds leading chemical dependency programs - in the United States and Europe. Now they are offering individualized chemical dependency outpatient treatment at their offices in the Foothills of Tucson, Arizona.
Chemical dependency affects every part of your life – your emotions, relationships, work, and of course your physical health. If it is alcohol, drugs or prescription medications that are controlling you; learning more about chemical dependency and treatment options is an important next step. If you are curious or concerned for yourself or someone you care about, read on to learn more about chemical dependency, what it is and what to do.
Browse through this page about our chemical dependency counseling and our approach. Then, for more information, look at the Resources listed at the end of the page.
A Flexible and Personalized Treatment Program
Every person and every situation is different. Also, the needs for support during recovery are always changing. So our treatment program is flexible - constantly adjusting to your immediate needs. SummerSmith offers a variety of levels of intensity of outpatient treatment. Our clients vary the frequency of visits based on the needs at that time.
Less Expensive
A personalized program is usually more effective and much less expensive. By being able to utilize counseling time (and money) where and when it is needed the most - we keep our costs far below most traditional inpatient or outpatient programs!
Additionally, we work in cooperation with several free (or donation) support-group programs in the community. Our clients have personalized and flexible counseling with us- and recieve group support, too.
Is There a Chemical Dependency Problem?
Chemical Dependency is basically the continued use of drugs (including misuse of medication) or alcohol, while ignoring ever increasing consequences - health, career, relationships, etc. The questions below include just a few of the possible signs and symptoms. It is common for people under the control of a chemical dependency to have these kinds of feelings and behaviors.
Ever felt you should cut down on your use?
Have people annoyed you by criticizing your use?
Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking or drug use?
Ever had a drink or drug in the morning (eye-opener) to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?
For a complete assessment - contact us by calling 520-529-1565.
Chemical Dependency is a Common Problem.
It is estimated that over 23 million Americans are in need of chemical dependency treatment. That is nearly 10% of the general population!
Chemical dependency can contribute to a long list problems including chronic illnesses, accidents or injuries, sleep difficulties, relationships or work problems – just to name a few. These kinds of problems may be symptoms of an underlying chemical dependency.
More that one half of the deaths in the United States are drug or alcohol connected.
Alcohol or other drug abusers are three and one-half times more likely to be involved in a workplace accident.
Treatment Improves Health
A Fortune 100 company found that its average annual medical costs for employees with substance abuse problems dropped from $2,068 to $165 after the employees began a substance abuse treatment program. That is a 92% reduction! Treatment can improve your health.
The Symptoms are Progressive
That is to say that if chemical dependency is ignored, the consequences get worse. Therefore, it is important to get an assessment if you think that you or someone you care about has a problem.
Treatment Works!
While it is true that chemical dependency can have devastating effects on many aspects of the addict or alcoholic’s life, it is also true that success with recovery from chemical dependency will often have immediate positive effects of many kinds. Almost as a bonus, the skills learned in chemical dependency recovery are valuable and easily applied later - to improve many other areas of your personal life.
Healing Emotions - Understanding, Compassion and Expert Guidance
Up to 60% of people in early recovery for chemical dependency have an anxiety disorder.
Depression is a common, expected and predictable symptom of most chemical dependency recovery.
We are among the few providers who specialize in chemical dependency treatment and also in your emotional recovery – in dealing with the anxiety and depression that are often part of the process.
The good news is that you can learn to be clean and sober… and happy!
Stinkin’ Thinkin’ - Learning Essential Recovery Skills
The founders of Alcoholics Anonymous knew that if an alcoholic leaned to address how they think and feel - about alcohol, relationships, work or themselves - they were more likely to remain sober. At SummerSmith, we utilize the latest research and approaches to speed the learning of skills to address one of the most important parts of chemical dependency treatment and recovery - thinking patterns and their effect on mood and behavior.
The time of greatest risk for relapse from chemical dependency treatment is often between 6 and 17 weeks – well beyond typical treatment programs.
We will help you learn skills to address thoughts of craving or relapse even before the symptoms actually arrive. Learning how to predict when craving and thoughts of relapse are likely to happen helps you to avoid or reduce the intensity. Learning to predict and practice recovery skills in advance can make treatment easier and much more effective.
To help your skills during recovery, take a look at our page on communications tips.
Recovery Lifestyle
If you are struggling with chemically dependency, whether it is street drugs, alcohol or abusing prescription medications; you probably have not been very interested in exercising, eating well, or getting enough sleep…right? Did you know that by making some of these positive changes you could greatly reduce the negative physical and emotional side effects of withdrawal?
Of course, each person has to make his or her own lifestyle decisions about nutrition or physical activities. However, after learning about helpful options, many clients have found early recovery to be a wonderful time to make some positive changes! At SummerSmith, we regularly collaborate with other skilled nutritionists, fitness trainers and physicians to make this time of recovery as valuable, effective and lasting (who knows, even fun?) as possible.
12-Step Programs
At SummerSmith, we are extremely grateful for the many support programs for chemical dependency. By far the largest and best-known one is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The founders of AA created the 12-Steps and 12-Traditions guidelines that have been adapted for many other forms of addictions and dependencies – such as Cocaine (CA), Narcotics (NA), and Al-Anon (for family members). These programs have spread the word world-wide and have helped millions! Links to some of these programs can be found in our Resources, below.
The SummerSmith chemical dependency treatment program is designed to be combined with 12-Step programs to increase the effectiveness of treatment without increasing the cost.
Resources
The following links have more information about chemical dependency counseling, addiction treatment, facts about drug addiction and drug addiction treatment, and related issues (click on the highlighted text to access the resource).
National and local 12 Step programs: There are 12 Step programs available that address many types of addictive behavior, and some have local branches that can help provide addiction treatment or addiction counseling in Tucson.
The Brain and Drug Abuse: This is a useful article from the National Institute on Drug Abuse that is aimed at teens. Informed teens can avoid the need for drug addiction treatment in the first place.
Ask Dr. NIDA: This is a link to more information about drugs and drug abuse, provided by Dr. Nora D. Volkow. A great place for teens to get answers to questions they may not want to ask you.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call Janet or Reed at 520-529-1565.
Call us to set up a free introductory session: 520.529.1565
SummerSmith’s Chemical Dependency Treatment Program ...
Follow the links below for topics
A Flexible and Personalized Treatment Program
Chemical Dependency is a Common Problem
Healing Emotions - Understanding, Compassion and Expert Guidance