As a psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of addiction, I thought it might be useful to take the time to explain my philosophy on addiction and my method of treating it. I have also provided resources for patients to learn more about addiction.
Get Help
It's very hard to stop an addictive behavior by yourself. The underlying causes of addiction are manifold, but the truth is that once your life has spun out of control, you may not be the best one to help yourself. Often times quitting involves building a new life from the ground up. Many of your relationships may have been built around drug use.
I believe that good and frequent psychotherapy is the single most important factor in treating an addiction. While there are many ways to detoxify from whatever drug or behavior is creating the problem, without insight into how the behavior spun out of control, it is difficult to stop and stay stopped.
I have been helping people get clean with buprenorphine (suboxone or subutex) for five years. I am a member of American Academy of Addiction Psychiatrists, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
Many people turn to detox facilities or rehabs. While a small minority of patients actually need this level of support, and benefit from them, it's rarely the place to start.
TOP THREE PROBLEMS WITH REHAB
COST- These Programs cost tens of thousands of dollars a month, and devote only a small fraction of their fees to direct patient care, and in fact, many spend more on advertising than they do on patient care.
RESULTS ? They fabricate results claiming high success rates, which are usually based on on very limited follow up. Like the "Self-Help" industry, they go for something that sounds sexy instead of telling you the truth.
NO EXIT STRATEGY- Most residential treatment facilities will talk about their incredible plan for aftercare. Most times they will encourage patients to stay longer, and when the money runs out, they will send the patients on their way or recommend another equally expensive sober living facility.
FIND THE UNDERLYING CONDITION...AND TREAT IT
Whether it be a anxiety, impulsiveness, ADHD, bipolar disorder or depression, there is usually a treatable condition that predisposes people to addictive behavior. As you learn more about your patterns and accept that symptoms may be driving some of your behaviors, you can begin to work through your addiction and be comfortable with who you are sober.
CLEAN VS SOBER
Getting clean means not using drugs or alcohol, and the difference is in the attitude. Being sober is an attitudinal change where you take steps towards doing the behaviors that promote a lifestyle free of drugs and alcohol. It's very hard to not do something.... it's much easier to do something else. This is the challenge for most people, and with good support, therapy and treatment, it's something that you can accomplish.
ONE STOP SHOPPING
I have been helping people improve their lives for nearly a decade. My approach is very hands-on, and it's designed to give you the best results for the least amount of money. Whatever your specific needs and challenges are, we work one-on-one to solve the problems. This isn't a "patented program" where you get to work with someone whom I trained. Working directly with the doctor who is coordinating your care is what sets Malibu Psychiatric Services apart, and it's what my patients have come to appreciate, as you can see from their testimonials.
"I had all but given up hope. Despair had gotten the better of me. Until I met Dr. Martorano…not until my son was put in his care ( kicking and screaming all the way) did things begin to change. Dr Martorano was not like any therapist or psychiatrist I had ever met.
First of all, he genuinely cares about his patients. He is a humanist-a term that, in my experience with countless doctors and rehabs, cannot be applied to 99% of those working in the field of addiction.
Sadly, it’s become big business! David Martorano is far less interested in the cause of addiction, than the fact that it happens (it is a disease after all) and he works on both medical and highly practical approaches to behavior modification. He works on the now. Best of all he has an unusually strict moral and ethical code.
Any other psychiatrist would still insist on seeing my son once or twice a week (after all it’s a nice, steady, predictable income) but not David.
When he thinks he’s done all he can do-when his patient has reached a level where he or she has turned that illusive corner (and David will know when that happens) he lets them go. Of course, he is always available to them.
David Martorano helped give my son a second chance at life and in so doing gave me something I thought I’d never see again; peace of mind and a better understanding of how to relate to my son, how to be a better dad."
MP Father of a former client
FREEING YOURSELF FROM ADDICTION
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