Elder Groups

In March 1996, Sundown M Ranch initiated two new therapy groups to meet the specific needs of men and women 50+ years of age. The two elders’ groups, affectionately nicknamed the ”Silverbacks” and the ”Golden Girls” by the patients, are gender specific and are primarily disease oriented, but provide a setting to deal with some of the issues unique to seniors, such as:

Value Systems: Persons raised in the 1930’s, 1940’s, and 1950’s generally hold themselves to a strict standard of behavior. Their levels of self-blame and shame over their chemically affected behavior are high, and they find it difficult to share these behaviors in groups, especially with younger, more ”liberal” patients who may not understand the intensify of their pain. Empathy and trust are more quickly realized when older patients are in groups with their peers.

Grief: Persons who have lived longer have usually experienced more deaths and other traumatic events in the family. They may suffer from the loss of a lifetime vocation through retirement with a resultant sense of isolation and unimportance. Many older patients have grief over their loss of independence and mobility. If left unresolved, grief can be a block to recovery or a future set-up for relapse.

Independence/Willpower: Seniors are seen as authority figures in families. Because of this, their attitudes and perspectives are more ingrained and seldom challenged. This is apparent in the older patient’s denial system, which is based on a perception that sees the disease of alcoholism as a moral issue or lack of willpower. They are ”bad” and ”weak” rather than sick, and they are ashamed to admit what has happened because of their chemical use. Education about the no-fault nature of the disease is critical to help them talk about their experiences and to help relieve them of shame and self-blame.

Prescription Drug Use: More than one-half the patients in the elder’s groups enter treatment taking prescription drugs. Of these prescriptions over one-half are sedatives and are addictive. It is difficult, initially, for the patient to understand that a drug prescribed by his/her doctor may cause problems for his/her recovery. Education about the physiology of alcoholism helps the patient understand that, for alcoholics, all mood-altering chemicals are potentially dangerous and that the prescription use of tranquilizers and sleeping pills can be part of the relapse process.

Voluntary Nicotine Cessation Program

The voluntary nicotine cessation program is designed to help people stop nicotine use. This opportunity is available to patients in the Adult and Youth Facilities. The eleven-day program was started in response to patient requests and current growing evidence that shows nicotine use to be the number one killer of recovering people. It is available only to patients who are admitted to inpatient primary treatment at Sundown for chemical dependency, and there is no additional fee.

The program includes daily groups to support patients when the discomforts of withdrawal and cravings are experienced. Nicotine patches or nicotine gum are available to those patients who are having exceptional difficulties with withdrawal. The program helps people quit nicotine in stages. These stages are Pre-contemplation, Contemplation Planning, Action and Maintenance. Quitting nicotine without a structured program is usually unsuccessful. Passing through the five stages of quitting allows a person to accomplish the task in small steps, each one producing feelings of self worth. Each group session also includes education on the aspects of nicotine addiction and the stages of quitting. In addition, an open Nicotine Anonymous meeting is held every Wednesday for both patients and staff. Graduates of the program receive a certificate of completion.

Relapse Group

Relapse, like alcoholism, other drug dependencies, or recovery itself, is a process. Relapse occurs as a result of what we do not know and are unable to see. It is not caused by a lack of motivation or desire for recovery.

Approximately 1/3 of all individuals nationally who enter alcoholism or other drug dependency treatment will experience severe, repetitive problems with relapse, regardless of how diligently they work at maintaining abstinence. Quite frequently, they go far beyond what is usually necessary for recovery, yet they relapse.

The Sundown M Ranch Relapse Prevention Program is designed to offer alcoholic and other drug dependent persons the specific tools they need to develop, for themselves, their personal relapse prevention.

Relapse prevention treatment combines guides for self-evaluation, personal empowerment, and networking for aiding relapse-prone persons to recover. This is accomplished by providing the patient with skills to identify and manage his/her personal relapse warning signs. Through powerful educational presentations and intensive group work, patients will grasp the elements of the relapse process. Healing and recovery begins in a supportive environment guided by nationally trained, certified specialists. Because the alcoholic or other drug dependent person is not the only one who suffers, education and counseling for the entire family is an important adjunct to the treatment program.

There is state and nationwide linkage to relapse prevention specialists for outpatient continuing care programs for those persons who desire or need additional continuing treatment.

Pregnant and Postpartum Women

Sundown M Ranch staff know that the problems facing chemically dependent pregnant and post partum women require specialized counseling, treatment planning, and education. We have designated a primary women’s group to meet these needs. The group is facilitated by a female counselor who has taken and continues to take classes and training to enhance her skills in providing education, support, therapy, and in making proper referrals for these patients.

Women who in the reservation process, intake process, initial assessment phase of treatment, or any other phase of treatment, are determined to be pregnant or post partum will be assigned to the Pregnant/Post partum Group.
These patients are referred to the First Step Plus Program.
Each pregnant/post partum patient is involved in four extra groups per week: two parenting classes, which are facilitated by a registered nurse and two pregnancy support groups.
Each week the registered nurse conducts an on-site visit with each pregnant/post partum patient.
Additional educational opportunities are provided depending on individual needs.