Spanish in West Virginia

Historically, Spanish speaking rehabilitation has been in existence in West Virginia for more than 60 years. Most of the individuals are bi-lingual in Spanish and (to some degree) English. However, some of the clients might have limited English, hence the focus on Spanish for treatment.

To this end, many alcohol and drug rehabilitation facilities for Spanish speaking clients provide questionnaires, information papers, and counseling in both languages while group therapy uses both English and Spanish. Additionally, great lengths are taken to ensure greater diversity in these two languages.

Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers for Spanish Speaking Clients

In most instances, these centers use a variety of approaches to drug rehabilitation. However, the common goal is typically to help Spanish speakers who are addicted to intoxicating substances learn how to live a lifestyle free of drugs.

As discussed, these programs are usually completely bilingual and provide rehab and care in culturally diverse and tolerant environments. In addition, they serve individuals from every socio-economic background and are dedicated to addressing most of the issues related to drug and alcohol abuse - such as job development, housing, domestic violence, and aftercare counseling. By so doing, they allow the clients to find workable places in their families and communities.

In most cases, Latino and Spanish alcohol and drug counseling is offered as an initial step in helping the clients make genuine efforts to keep away from drugs and alcohol. Through these treatments, participants are often encouraged to protect and maintain their sobriety as part of established rules and guidelines.

In the same way, drug rehab programs for Spanish speaking clients often combine individual counseling, group therapy, and substance education to make sure that the individuals can grasp how drug and alcohol addiction works and develops.

Additionally, clients are taught how to quit drugs, maintain their abstinence, and - in the end - achieve the goals of treatment. Clients are also exposed to healthier lifestyle choices as well as shown how they should apply these new options in their daily lives.

Changing the Tide of Alcoholism

There is a belief that by expanding language options at treatment centers to include non-English speakers, the overall rate of alcoholism, especially among immigrants, may drop because more and more people will have access to customized, culturally sensitive rehabilitation and aftercare support. The Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse notes that many immigrants from Latin America only go to alcoholism treatment programs because they were ordered to do so by a court, or if they suffered injuries that required emergency medical intervention. The journal notes that being trapped in this limbo means that Latino immigrants are at risk for "disproportionately severe health and legal consequences from substance abuse." As much as 66 percent of the emergency department visits by Latino migrant workers are the result of alcohol misuse. These consequences could conceivably be minimized if there were more Spanish-language treatment programs available, and if the programs were culturally sensitive (i.e., mindful of the different family dynamics in Hispanic households, understanding that clients may be too scared of arrest or deportation to engage with a rehab program, etc.).

Getting Help

If you're a Spanish speaker with a limited grasp of English, the good news is that many facilities have tweaked their programs so that they can help persons like you. Simply reach out to a center near you in West Virginia and get competent aid.