According to the World Health Organization, worldwide, there are over 76 million people who abuse alcohol and at least 15 million who abuse drugs and other substances. This number has steadily risen and with increased stress and harsh economic times, the need for cost effective rehabilitation and therapy has never been more crucial.
Everyday there are more people who have problems with addictions and behavioral and related emotional disorders. They abuse alcohol and drugs and have addictions to chemicals and tobacco. People with these disorders can cause destruction to a worldwide population. For a group of Mexican industrialists, a new opportunity has opened.
Gilberto Salazar has been sober for more than 14 years. Once battling his bout with alcoholism, drug addiction, addiction to chemicals, bulimia, compulsive gambling, as well as his obsessive-compulsive disorder, he now leads a group of Mexican businessmen who hope to help more people with quality treatment of addictions at low, competitive prices.This idea was� sparked on June 12th 1995, when Salazar, due to his drug and alcohol addictions, had to visit a rehabilitation clinic. At this clinic in Mexico, they taught Salazar how to live fully without the dependency of addiction. While at the clinic, he fell in love with the recovery program and did whatever possible to bring it to his native city of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.During the first months of his recovery, Salazar initiated the opening of a foundation called Unidos en la Prevención de Adicciones A.C. (United for the Prevention of Addiction). The following year, he carried out the opening of a high quality treatment center that mirrored the value of his treatment, but with the purpose of being accessible to a large majority of people.
The modes of treatment that are worthy, simple, accessible and effective for the population with addictions and disorders have been recognized at a worldwide level. These treatments have been put in the spotlight due to such films as 28 Days, which deals with alcohol abuse and displays other forms of addictions and disorders. The film, that stars Sandra Bullock, shows that there are models of treatment that can help people with a multitude of problems, including depression, anxiety, fears and other types of disorders.Since 2001, Salazar has strived to provide the best quality of service at his clinic. He has started to develop models of innovative treatments so they can be adopted and used in hotels.Salazar believes that hotels are a great area of opportunity. They are large and spacious and have reserved areas to hold developed models of treatment. Hotel owners at 4 or 5-star hotels in Monterrey are knowledgeable and know how to rent out grand hotel suites, all with the purpose to aid in rehabilitation of addictions, behavioral and related emotional disorders.In 2005, Salazar introduced his treatment programs at a hotel and was able to open five clinics. Located in the northern portion of the hotel, the first clinic assisted with drug and alcohol abuse. In the southern portion of the hotel, the second clinic treated problems with depression. The third clinic, which opened on the second floor of the hotel, treated problems of bulimia, anorexia and other eating disorders. Two more rooms were rented for people who worked with the assistance programs.Salazar states that he learned so much from the hotel experience. "I learned that people like to rehabilitate in hotels," Salazar said. "They enjoy their space and the absolute confidentiality and anonymity. The hotel makes them feel like they're at home. Many people, such as businessmen, artists, professionals and athletes know that they can bring their employees, assistants, spouses, children and all those can offer them support."Salazar defends his programs and feels that it is up to par to other traditional forms of rehabilitation. "We have to understand, if someone attends Alcoholics Anonymous for an hour and half, returns home and is able to be rehabilitated, why can't some understand that a person who visits a 28-day treatment center at a hotel can do exactly the same," Salazar said. "Our treatment provides the same result."It serves to mention, that Salazar's favorite treatment model he learned was the Minnesota model, which can be found in many cities in the United States and throughout the world.The Minnesota model is closely related to the model used in Alcoholics Anonymous and is defined by the National Institute of Drug Abuse as: "a thorough and ongoing assessment of all aspects of the client and of multimodal therapeutic approaches. It may include group and individual therapy, family education and support and other methods."The cost of this therapy is significantly less expensive and can give a great opportunity to three different types of groups in different markets. The model would be beneficial for:
Due to his excellent experience in hotels, Salazar expanded his treatment centers. He saw that these treatments could exceed Mexican borders. Hotel treatment centers now exist in Colombia, El Salvador and Guatemala.In fact, the first transference was sold to Colombia. They are excited to give exceptional service and they now know that their citizens won't need to travel to the U.S., Canada or other countries. For those who live in Colombia and the surrounding areas, they now have the opportunity to receive quality treatment, at a low price, in their native Colombia.
This brings us to reflect on how medical tourism should be recognized. By the year 2012, the second largest cause of labor incapacity will be depression. We must deal with this disorder in an innovative and modern way.Such modern treatments include the Minnesota model, the Match Project and community therapy, as well as others, all which have proven to be successful on a global stage. We hope that more people can benefit from these programs and have the certainty that they will receive the same treatment they would receive back home.Salazar has decided to open four clinics in one city. One hotel will be exclusively for women. Treatments will be carried out for Spanish-speaking and English-speaking women. In a second hotel, there will be a rehabilitation center for those who choose to carry out their treatments in a mixed gender environment. This center will also be in English and Spanish. The third hotel will be a clinic where only men will reside. This clinic will also have an English and Spanish approach. Finally, the fourth hotel will be dedicated to couples that want to improve their quality of life, while focusing on improving their relationship.Consequently, the openings of these treatment centers, could increase visitor traffic towards Monterrey and to other surrounding facilities, which could inevitably improve the economic movement in Mexico.Mexico has international airports in where people don't need to travel more than 2 to 3 hours in an airplane to arrive at such treatment centers as Programas de Bienestar Integral (Programs for Integrated Well-being).The Mexican Association of Franchises has accredited the models developed byProgamas de Bienestar Integral. In addition, the program has been certified by a group attached to the Calidad Mexicana Certificada (Calmecac). The first of many openings occurred on July 12th, 2009 in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. The second and third openings will be on September 12th, 2009, in Los Cabos in the Baja peninsula and on November 12th, 2009, in Cancun, Quintana Roo.This expansion and becoming part of the Medical Tourism Association, will lead us to improve and learn more about medical tourism. The association has opened doors and has catalyzed us to continue working for the well-being, bienestar, of people.This is an open invitation to all the facilitators, brokers, insurance agencies and travel agencies that want to promote medical tourism for Mexico. This will bring a new era of treatments for addictions, behavioral and related emotional disorders.For more information visit our website http://www.pbimexico.com/
