Panama Drug Treatment Center Gets AA+ For Treatment Services.

2009-06-16 20:45:31 - Drug treatment center, The Last Resort Panama has become THE place for drug treatment services. Visit www.thelastresortpa.com or call 1-866-501-3366

The Last Resort Panama is a drug treatment center located in David that provides residential services in a resort-like setting. It is a program that literally is a last resort for individuals who have allowed drugs or alcohol to take over their lives. Hopefully, it will be the last thing that they have to try in order to live a meaningful life without addictions to drugs or alcohol.

Visit www.thelastresortpa.com or call 1-866-501-3366

The Last Resort drug treatment center is a large home on a side street of David. There are no signs or indications that the home is a treatment facility. Paulie, a green winged macaw sits on a perch outside. Other tropical birds fly around in a large enclosure. A large white rabbit tried to follow me in the house.

Throughout the large, spacious house are motivational quotations such as "Turn it Into Something Good," “A life worth living begins now,” and “Never, ever, ever quit.”I sat in the dining room with Dan Callahan, founder and director of the Last Resort, and Jack Jackson, a Volunteer Recovery Facilitator and Program Consultant. Jack accepts no payment for the work he does, but he is a huge part of the program.

Dan Callahan, who is a licensed social worker, decided to move to David, Panama to develop a quality treatment program under Panama’s medical tourism program. Dan has an extensive human service background dating back to the early 1980’s, and has been involved in recovery based human service, alcoholism and substance abuse services, forensic services, case management with individuals recovering from mental health issues and recovery based program development. Locating it in Panama offers less governmental interference so the program can be more creative in meeting the specialized needs of its clients. Because it is located in Panama, the program can be offered at right around half the cost of treatment facilities in the United States.

Visit www.thelastresortpa.com or call 1-866-501-3366

The medical director for the program is Dr Manuel Len Yin, who also practices homeopathy in addition to his regular medical practice. Dr Len is Professor of Work Toxicology at Universidad de las Americas (UDELAS) Chiriqui, Panama. Dr. Yin coordinates all activities of the Multidisciplinary Team of the Occupational Health Program including: Nurse, Psychologist, Social Worker, Licensed and Technician in Occupational Health.

The Last Resort drug treatment center is not based on the Medical Model, which is what I was use to working with in the USA. It is based on a Psycho-social looking more at the social and psychological issues that confront people with addiction type challenges. Jack Jackson stresses that it is “like a family environment where residents support each other, with the assistance of staff.” It is an approach that focuses on a person’s strength, not their weaknesses. It is “real life rehab” as opposed to a therapist/patient approach. “The best therapy sessions are when we are shooting basketball or taking a walk on the beach, “ Dan says. “People open up in a situation where they are having fun.”

The residents or guests experience life on life’s terms- The Last Resort is not institutional as so many of the rehab facilities in North America are. Clients and staff go to the beach or other places where folks don’t know they are from an alcohol treatment center. They get offered a beer. They learn how to say no even if they really want to say yes. They practice being in situations where there are temptations. They practice dealing with these temptations.

Visit www.thelastresortpa.com or call 1-866-501-3366

A typical day at the Last Resort is something like this.


10:00 AM A group or individual session. Or twice a week, acupuncture or massage is offered.

After a family style lunch, there is group, an individual session, or yoga. Saturday is beach day, and Sunday has group in the morning and some sort of a fun thing to do in the afternoon. Visits from family members are encouraged. There is an apartment attached to the rehab house where out of town visitors can stay.

Dan and I talk about alcohol as a disease. He is reluctant to label things, saying that it doesn’t really serve a purpose for people trying to recover their life from drugs or alcohol. He sees disease as dis- ease. You are not at ease with your life. If alcohol or drugs are playing a negative role in your life, Dan says: “Rehab is discovery. We don’t define a clients discovery for them. You need to discover your own path to recovery.”

The Last Resort drug treatment center has five recovery staff and can provide services for up to nine residents or guests. People can choose either 30 day, 60 day or 90 day treatment programs.

What about after they leave the program? Life in the real world presents numerous challenges to the newly recovering addict or alcoholic, and The Last Resort Panama offers what they refer to as their “Home Away from Home” program. Staff are available to help former residents deal with all the challenges that staying free from drugs and alcohol in everyday life can present. If you are invited to a party, there’s alcohol. If you want to see your favorite local band play, there is alcohol. And if you know the right person or connection, you can buy illicit drugs. Most of us who reach for a glass of wine or a rum and coke aren’t making a decision that could affect us for the rest of our lives in terms of our health and relationships. If you are an alcoholic, one drink can lead you back into a relapse of addiction.

If you are interested in more information , you can also visit their website at www.TheLastResortPa.com or check them out on You-Tube by searching The Last Resort Panama. If you are struggling with addiction issues, or have a friend or family member who might be interested in receiving help, please call Dan Callaghan, LMSW, at 1-866-501-3366. All inquiries are strictly confidential.