Drug Addiction Treatment: How does it work?

by Jenn

Drug addiction is a disease. That means, like other chronic diseases, it can be treated successfully. There are various drug addiction treatment programs available. Each one treats people so they can counteract the powerful disruptive effects the drugs have on the brain, body, and behavior, and regain control over their lives.

There is a broad range of drug addiction treatments available that use different methods and models. Treatment processes are continuing to evolve and diversify, but most treatments begin with a detoxification process. This first step clears the body of drugs. However, detoxification alone does not address the psychological, behavioral, and social problems associated with drug addiction. Therefore, it does not typically lead to the lasting changes that are required for recovery.

There are also drug rehab centers that offer a more natural and holistic approach. For example, at The Holistic Sanctuary, the trained staff members believe in treating not just the body but the mind and soul as well. Using sacred plant-based medicines and holistic care activities, addicts can get toxins out of their bodies and suppress symptoms associated with drug addiction. So, the detoxification process is typically managed alongside medications that are administered by a professional health care professional in an inpatient or outpatient setting like drug and alcohol rehab in Delray Beach.

Short-term Residential Treatment

Short-term residential programs at drug rehabilitation centers are often designed around a 12-step approach, which was originally designed to treat alcohol addiction. Typically, a short-term residential treatment consists of three to six weeks in a hospital-based inpatient treatment setting, followed by an extended outpatient phase that includes therapy and participation in a self-help group. Patients must remain engaged in outpatient and aftercare programs to minimize the risk of relapsing.

Long-term Residential Treatment

Long-term treatment in a residential setting provides people suffering from drug addiction with 24-hour care. The most widely used long-term residential treatment model is called the therapeutic community. Typically, patients stay in therapeutic community treatment centers for between six and 12 months. Long-term treatment mainly focuses on resocialization, which involves the whole staff and patient community being active components of the recovery process. It also focuses on developing personal accountability and productive social life. Activities are designed to assist residents in examining damaging self-concepts, beliefs, and destructive behavioral patterns, and adopting new, constructive, and harmonious ways to break those beliefs and habits.

Outpatient Treatment Programs

Outpatient treatments, such as Al Anon Meetings in New York vary in their intensity, services, and methods. And generally, outpatient treatment costs less than residential or inpatient treatments. Outpatient treatment programs can be more suitable for people who are working and have an extensive social support network. Some outpatient procedures provide little more than education about drugs, while others offer intensive day treatments and can, therefore, be compared to residential programs in terms of services and effectiveness. In most outpatient treatments, group counseling is one of the main components.

If you have a problem with substance abuse, your first step towards getting treatment and recovering should be to talk with your doctor or another health care professional so that you can discuss the range of treatment options available. You can then find the right course of action for you.

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