Information about addiction/courses/training
Specialist information about addiction and addiction treatment is not always readily available. Referring physicians who wish to obtain prompt and expert assistance for their patient can contact one of the treating physicians at RoderSana (via telephone on + 31 (0) 499 58 4444 or via e-mail at info@rodersana.nl). Our treating physicians will be more than happy to assist you with your query.
Certified advanced training is provided by treating physicians at RoderSana to general physicians, occupational health physicians, sports physicians, medical specialists and other healthcare professionals. One of the key tasks of RoderSana is imparting knowledge about addiction to primary and secondary healthcare professionals to ensure that addictions can be detected in the early stages and that the correct type of treatment can be provided. Please contact Mr. Rolf Swens (addiction physician) or Dr. Dirk Steenssens (psychiatrist) for more information.
Contact/Visit
Referring physicians can contact us directly at any time, even outside standard business hours.
With
regard to referrals, please contact the primary treating physician or
coach of your patient. Our assistants at reception will be able to
provide you with the contact details of the primary treating
physician/coach of your patient.
You are always welcome to visit
RoderSana. We will be happy to assist you with any queries you may
have.
Treatment at RoderSana
Based on the latest scientific insights, RoderSana has developed an effective treatment method for every type of addiction. Dependence on alcohol or drugs (cannabis, amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy, GHB, medication, opiates), internet addiction, gaming addiction, sex addiction, gambling addiction, etc. can now be successfully treated.
There
are no
waiting times
for treatment at RoderSana. We strongly believe in the importance of
ensuring that treatment is readily accessible to clients who have
made the decision to get rid of their addiction.
RoderSana
provides long-term aftercare (2 years), mainly to prevent a relapse
and to be able to respond immediately and continue treatment should a
relapse occur. Our treating physicians are available 24 hours a day,
7 days a week.
RoderSana provides ambulatory and part-time
treatment services as well as clinical admission.
RoderSana is
HKZ/ISO certified. 
Our vision
Scientific research has shown that regular exposure to addictive substances will lead to a range of far-reaching changes in the brain. The key symptom of these changes is the recurring desire to look for or to use drugs or alcohol, even after years of abstinence. Based on the latest scientific findings, RoderSana has developed an effective treatment method. The treatment we provide is adjusted to the personal needs of our client. In close consultation with our clients and their closest family members, relatives or friends, we will decide whether the client should be admitted to the clinic or receive ambulatory or part-time treatment. Admission to the clinic involves a stay at the RoderSana Resort for a number of weeks followed by intensive ambulatory treatment throughout a period of two years.
Reducing stress
High on the list of priorities when it comes to our treatment method is stress reduction. Scientific research has demonstrated that many forms of addiction are stress-related. Throughout the treatment, we teach the client how to cope with stress in such a way that the client can control his or her addiction problem autonomously. In addition to personalised therapy sessions provided by our permanent team of treating physicians, our clients are also introduced to a quest for meaning, as well as spirituality, sports, nutrition and leisure activities as part of the treatment. A wide range of leisure activities is offered at the facility, such as horse riding, sauna, fitness and mountain biking. Family members are also actively involved in the treatment process. All activities are geared towards the client’s recovery.
No bureaucracy
At RoderSana, we provide our target group with a low-threshold treatment for their addiction. There are no complex procedures, indication committees, waiting lists and poor telephone accessibility issues. Queries and needs are met quickly and with mutual respect and consultation. Within 48 hours following their admission to the clinic, our clients are invited to take part in an intake interview. The average duration of the treatment is seven weeks. We have learned from experience that this is the average time required to successfully complete the three stages of the treatment, i.e. detox treatment and lifestyle changes, consolidation, and aftercare, and to really achieve the desired results. Each treatment is readjusted to the needs of our client when needed. When selecting the type of interventions during the treatment, we strive to meet the needs and expectations of the client and his or her family at all times. On the other hand, this decision must be reviewed against the professional expertise of our treating physicians. Essentially, we strive to achieve the objective through ambulatory treatment whenever possible. Overconsumption of expensive clinical treatment is avoided where possible.
Lifestyle changes
A lifestyle change is nothing more than choosing a different direction in life. This is based on a holistic approach where physical balance is of essential importance in addition to the psychosocial recovery of our client. Dedication towards building the client’s physical strength is an important element in repairing his or her neurobiological equilibrium. From a neurobiological point of view, the improvement in lifestyle does not only reduce contact with triggers in relation to the addictive substance, but also actively reduces the exposure to stressors (both in number and in terms of duration). Furthermore, it reduces the psychological impact of these stressors through the acquisition of coping skills.
In the long term, lifestyle changes repair the neurobiological equilibrium and eliminate drug-seeking behaviour. These changes are not without consequences and may lead to more pressing, consequential and difficult issues, such as giving up or changing professional ambitions, changing or modifying (leisure) activities linked to the addiction behaviour, putting the importance of material wealth in perspective, adapting eating habits, and developing new sports activities.
From a spiritual point of view, the problem of addiction is always linked to an intense feeling of emptiness, demoralisation and loss of self-esteem: addicts believe that they are "a bad person" and can no longer see the point in life. Throughout this process of lifestyle changes, the following aspects will be addressed:
rediscovering meaningful (leisure) activities that exceed the dimension of pleasure and the feeling of a high
redefining positive goals in life
repairing emotional bonds with children and/or the partner.
Scientific insights
International scientific literature affirms almost unanimously that addiction is a serious and chronic brain disease that is genetically determined to a considerable degree. The susceptibility or likelihood to develop an addiction is said to be genetically determined by 30 to 60%. Addiction involves a large number of genes related to, among other things, impulsivity, anxiety, mood regulation and sensitivity to stress. Even genes that affect the metabolism of alcohol or drugs can play a role in addiction.
A closer look at addiction
Addiction behaviour is the result of profound and long-term changes in the brain. The key symptom of these changes is the recurring desire to look for or to use drugs or alcohol, even after years of abstinence and despite the extreme, adverse effects. In other words, someone who has been an addict will remain vulnerable to a relapse. Extensive research has demonstrated that regular exposure to addictive substances will lead to a range of far-reaching neurochemical changes in the brain. When the substance is used for the first time, it is often a fun and pleasant experience. This feeling of a high or a rush is caused by the direct or indirect intense stimulation of the dopamine reward circuitry in the brain. This reward circuitry is a neuroanatomical structure in which the reward behaviour originates. This behaviour is aimed at achieving natural objectives, such as eating, drinking and procreation in view of increasing the chances of survival. Achieving these objectives is linked to a sense of pleasure, fun and satisfaction and is reinforced through repetition. In other words, people are motivated to act on this behaviour again and again to increase their chances of survival. It is a well-known fact that all addictive substances directly or indirectly affect the reward circuitry due to their chemical structure. Using the substance is therefore perceived as a rewarding act. This is referred to as the process of LIKING.
Increased use of the substance
Repeated use of addictive substances will lead to reduced activity and sensitivity in the dopaminergic system over time. This reduces the pleasant, rewarding effect of the substance and will motivate the user to increase the amount of the substance used in order to achieve the same effect. Furthermore, there is an increased motivation (craving) to use the substance again. Natural rewards are no longer perceived as rewarding. Addicts may start ignoring their basic needs. On the other hand, abstinence from the substance will eventually lead to the partial recovery of dopaminergic activity. Natural rewards will regain their effect thanks to the increase in dopaminergic activity and the craving for the substance will gradually decline. This recovery process may take more than a year to be completed.
Drug-seeking behaviour
The next stage involves a compulsive and automatic behavioural sequence with the purpose of obtaining the substance, or in other words, drug-seeking behaviour. To a considerable extent, this behaviour is controlled and regulated at a subconscious level. The behavioural sequence becomes ‘automatic’ and can be activated subconsciously and/or without exposure. The use of the substance is acquiring a more compulsive nature. In addition, this behavioural pattern goes hand in hand with a strong focus on the substance and all the stimuli that are directly or indirectly related to it. This is how the addicted brain will get better at predicting the likelihood of finding the addictive substance in certain situations. The addict will become more adept at looking for and finding the substance. Stress can also play a role in activating this behavioural pattern.
Control mechanisms and the risk of relapse
Despite the above, this automatic behaviour can be consciously controlled. However, these control mechanisms in the brain are slower and less efficient. When the control mechanism is overpowered by the strong presence of stimuli, the control mechanism will fail and the automatic behavioural sequence will prevail. This is when the risk for a relapse arises. The neurochemical changes are likely to be of a long-term nature and are affected by abstinence to a limited degree. This explains the phenomenon where users of addictive substances are at risk of a relapse even after many years of abstinence.
How much does treatment cost?
Health insurance provider reimburses RoderSana treatment
All
treatments provided by RoderSana are heavily supported by health
insurance providers
in the Netherlands. RoderSana is the only
private addiction clinic
to have entered into an agreement with almost all health insurance
providers. This means that treatment and admission costs are fully
reimbursed
by the health insurance provider under
the basic health insurance agreement,
except
for your personal contribution.
In
other words, the reimbursement does not depend on your personal
insurance policy or
‘plus’ package with your health insurance provider.
Contrary
to other private clinics, RoderSana does not require you to pay for
the full cost of the treatment prior to commencement. Even if your
health insurance provider decides not to reimburse your treatment,
for whatever reason, then you – our client – will not be held
liable for the expenses. The only amount you will be required to pay
is your personal contribution.
The fact that almost all major
insurance providers have signed a health insurance agreement with
RoderSana gives us a unique advantage over our competition. It also
shows how well trusted RoderSana is in the eyes of health insurance
providers.
Many health insurance providers have included RoderSana
in their collective agreements. This means that workers employed by
companies who have signed a collective health insurance agreement are
entitled to undergo exclusive treatment at RoderSana. Most employers
want their staff to receive prompt and adequate treatment when
needed.
Personal contribution
RoderSana asks a personal contribution from its clients towards the expenses for the treatment. This personal contribution pays for the extras and the luxury facilities available throughout the course of the treatment. We believe that this type of expense should not be funded by the community. Our clients decide explicitly and on their own accord to receive treatment at RoderSana and this requires a personal contribution. RoderSana agrees to provide all clients with the best possible treatment in line with the latest scientific findings. Our clients can count on that.
Personal contribution for extras
We believe your personal contribution is important within the framework of the treatment you receive. The personal contribution ensures that our clients have a critical approach towards their treatment and their treating physicians. Clients will be more inclined to point out whether the treatment and/or treating physician is actually contributing to their recovery. If this is not the case, they will soon ask for a different treatment or treating physician or they may decide to end the treatment prematurely. If the latter is the case, then we will regard this as a failure of our treatment.
The personal contribution is also an incentive for the client. Regular healthcare services often deal with clients who fail to show up (on time) for their treatment or who lack motivation during sessions. Even though there is no guarantee, we do expect the personal contribution to boost the motivation level in our clients.
In return for their personal contribution, our clients can expect proper, quality care by qualified healthcare professionals who treat all clients with the utmost respect.
Certified and reliable
HKZ/ISO
certified
RoderSana
provides care that meets the highest quality standards. An audit is
performed each year by consultants from an external quality institute
to assess all the healthcare processes, procedures, measures, etc.
implemented at RoderSana. Our treating physicians are interviewed and
assessed over the course of days to ensure that they meet the highest
quality standards. HKZ (Harmonisation of Quality Assessment in the
Healthcare Sector) defines the quality standards for a large number
of fields in the healthcare sector.
In addition to the current
status, auditors from the quality institute assess whether RoderSana
continues to focus on improving/innovating the addiction treatment
services it provides.
In 2011, RoderSana became HKZ/ISO certified. The ISO certificate confirms that RoderSana has met all the national and international quality requirements for the provision of healthcare services.
Once again, RoderSana has distinguished itself from other healthcare facilities and is able to offer the ultimate guarantee for reliable healthcare services.
Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS)
RoderSana submitted an application with the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS) to be admitted under the Health Care Institutions Admission Act (WTZi). This request was granted on 31 December 2008. As a consequence, RoderSana complies with all the requirements imposed to hospitals and other care facilities by the government, client organisations and health insurance providers, and quality of care is guaranteed.
Health insurance providers
Health
insurance providers have strongly supported RoderSana’s initiative
from the very start. One of the reasons was the realisation that
there was a major gap in addiction care. Health insurance providers
were keen to find a reliable, top-quality alternative to complement
regular addiction treatment services.
Until the arrival of
RoderSana, addiction care mainly consisted of referring clients to
facilities abroad or to treating physicians that were not subjected
to control mechanisms, which raised concerns about the quality of the
treatments and/or the treating physicians.
Furthermore, health
insurance providers have been pleased with the effective, scientific
treatment methods utilised at RoderSana in contrast to the Minnesota
or Twelve Steps method that is often used in the commercial sector
and which has been seriously questioned by the medical advisors from
major insurance companies.
Almost
all major insurance providers have signed a health insurance
agreement with RoderSana, which gives us a unique advantage over our
competition. It also shows how well trusted RoderSana is in the eyes
of health insurance providers.
Many health insurance providers
have included RoderSana in their collective agreements. This means
that workers employed by companies who have signed a collective
health insurance agreement are entitled to undergo exclusive
treatment at RoderSana. Most employers want their staff to receive
prompt and adequate treatment when needed.
Highly trained staff
At
RoderSana, we only employ staff who are academically trained. In
addition to their initial training, our staff members have completed
dedicated training in the field of addiction care. They have a vast
experience in addiction care in the Netherlands and/or abroad and
have been specifically selected to deliver the best treatment
available to our (highly demanding) target group at RoderSana.
All
treating physicians at RoderSana are multilingual and are able to
provide treatment in Dutch or English. Our team also includes a
number of treating physicians who are fluent in French or Spanish.
All staff members at RoderSana receive ongoing training at
training facilities and at (international) congresses. All the
knowledge acquired at congresses is shared with colleagues.
As we
highly value the training of our staff, we have provided each staff
member with a personal, annual training budget.
Psychiatrists
All
psychiatrists and physicians at RoderSana have a background in
science and receive ongoing training to keep up with the latest
scientific findings in the field of addiction and addiction care.
They attend an international science congress two to three times a
year on average to ensure that they are the first to learn about
recent research and the latest treatment methods.
Furthermore,
they initiate several scientific research projects at RoderSana and
publish (scientific) articles on a weekly basis.
Medical board
The medical board at RoderSana includes renowned professors and top experts in the field of addiction. They share their knowledge and supervise the quality of treatment programmes offered at RoderSana. Scientific research is carried out under their supervision as well.
Shareholders
The initiators behind RoderSana (five of the largest addiction care facilities and mental health institutions and one Working Conditions department) defined the objective of RoderSana as ‘providing the best addiction care services for RoderSana’s target group’. Together with the auditors, these initiators permanently monitor whether the objectives are met, while at the same time implementing the same objectives among regular healthcare facilities based on the results achieved at RoderSana.
Go up
