Drug Addiction Treatment

Drug addiction can be described by many words, including complex, confusing, devastating and potentially deadly.

But one of the most important words that a person can use to describe drug addiction is one that is often overlooked: treatable.

Though countless numbers of addicted individuals are struggling with a disease that they mistakenly believe that they are not capable of overcoming, this is simply not the case. As thousands of formerly addicted people have learned, drug addiction is treatable.

As is the case with disorders such as depression, diabetes, and heart disease (to name just a few), addiction is a disorder that can be effectively treated with a combination of medical intervention and behavior modification. Many recovering addicts are now living healthy lives free from the chains of addiction – some are taking approved medications under professional supervision, while others are pursuing recovery through counseling, participation in a 12-Step support group, or a combination of these and other approaches.

For anyone who is currently struggling with a drug addiction, the specifics of treatment may not be as important as the fact that real and lasting treatment does, indeed, exist. Once an addicted individual has embraced that concept – that drug addiction is treatable and that it is possible to regain control over one’s compulsions, beliefs, and behaviors – then the next step is finding the treatment plan that best addresses that person’s specific needs.

A Comprehensive Approach

Most effective treatment programs for drug addiction feature both medical supervision and therapeutic intervention. The medical professionals can ensure that detox is done in the safest manner possible, and – if necessary – to provide medications that can help with rehab and recovery, while the therapists can help the recovering individual make the necessary changes in attitude and behavior that will increase the likelihood of long-term sobriety.

Whether conducted on an outpatient bases or in a residential treatment facility, drug abuse treatment addresses both physical and psychological issues, and should provide a comprehensive level of services to identify and treat any co-occurring disorders or other unhealthy aspects of the client’s life that may have led to or been exacerbated by the addiction.

On the medical side, a variety of drugs have been approved to help wean addicted individuals from the substance upon which they have become dependent, and to help curb cravings that often occur during recovery.

Within the therapeutic component of a drug treatment program, clients usually have the opportunity to participate in individual counseling, group therapy, family therapy, and recovery support groups. All of these endeavors are designed to help the recovering individual address the issues that led to the addiction, make the necessary changes that will increase the odds of a successful recovery, and develop the skills and strategies that can help prevent relapse or a return to the previous drug-seeking behaviors.

Types of Treatment Programs

Regardless of the methodologies that are implemented, the goal of any treatment program should be enabling the client to achieve long-term sobriety and pursue a healthier, drug-free life. Accomplishing this objective is often a matter of matching an addicted individual with the type of treatment that best suits his specific needs.

Drug addiction treatment can be categorized in a variety of manners, including the following non-comprehensive list:

• Short-term treatment lasts for six months or less (though it is often followed with participation in an ongoing aftercare support program). Short-term programs are often based on the “Minnesota Model,” which includes between three and six weeks of intensive treatment followed by extended outpatient therapy or participation in a 12-Step group, such as Narcotics Anonymous or Cocaine Anonymous
• Long-term treatment may include ongoing programs such as methadone maintenance (which requires recovering individuals to receive regular doses of a drug to curb their cravings for opiates). Another type of long-term treatment is the therapeutic community, a highly structured long-term drug addiction treatment program in which patients remain in residential treatment for between six and 12 months. Therapeutic communities are helpful for individuals who are struggling to overcome long histories of drug abuse, whose ability to function within society has been severely impaired, or who have been involved in serious criminal activities.
• Outpatient treatment is conducted during regular visits to a therapist or other treatment professional, but does not remove the client from her normal environment (meaning that she returns home at the end of every session, and may even be working or going to school while receiving treatment).
• Residential treatment is an intensive, comprehensive approach that features round-the-clock care and supervision, and the removal of the client from his normal environment. Residential treatment usually involves a highly structured program that attempts to address all aspects of a person’s life, and how these components led to or were impacted by the addiction.
• Medically-supported treatment involves methadone or other physician-approved drugs in order to ease withdrawal symptoms or eradicate cravings.
• Drug-free treatment relies primarily on therapy, and does not involve the use of addiction-related medications.

The types of treatment described above have varying rates of success depending upon the nature and severity of a person’s addiction, and the presence of any co-occurring disorders. Once a person has decided to enter treatment, the most important decision is selecting a program that best fits his specific needs.