Drug Addiction and Recovery

Although drug addiction, a disease which can shatter the lives of users and those around them, has reached near epidemic levels in America, there is hope: unlike many maladies, drug addiction can be treated. Patients who recognize their conditions and seek help through drug residential treatment centers and programs designed to fit their specific needs can move forward to live healthy, productive lives. Through combinations of counseling, medication and behavioral change, addicts can make their conditions as manageable as diabetic taking insulin.

But to take the first step down the often difficult path to recovery, drug abusers must choose the form of treatment appropriate to their unique personality and situation. Today there are several options to choose from, including short term residential treatment centers drug rehabilitation, outpatient therapy, medication therapy, therapeutic communities and methadone maintenance programs. Simply attempting to quit “cold turkey” is often unsuccessful, and may result in relapse or health complications.

Behavioral therapy for drug abuse may take the form of family therapy, counseling, psychotherapy or support groups. Withdrawal symptoms, as well as drug effects, may be avoided through the use of medication. Studies have shown that oftentimes, a combination of medicine and behavioral therapies yield the best results and decrease the risk of health problems.

Short-term drug rehab therapies typically last under 6 months and may include residential, medication or drug-free outpatient methods. Inpatient stays of up to 6 weeks followed by 12-step counseling groups such as Narcotics Anonymous comprise most short-term residential therapy programs. While in the past there were an abundance of drug dependency programs catering to the private sector, many have gone public as benefits for private providers declined.

Those wishing to kick their drug abuse habit have another option in drug-free outpatient therapy. This approach favors regular visits by patients to a clinic, and participation in a wide variety of programs in lieu of medicine. Group and/or individual counseling is almost always a part of such programs. Participants in these programs have problems with drugs other than opiates and tend to display more stability in their everyday lives, and may have abused drugs for a much shorter period of time.

Individuals who determine short-term drug rehab therapy is right for them will find numerous inpatient facilities, many with accommodations rivaling a luxury resort. Treatment centers such as Milestones Ranch in Malibu, Ca, offer a multitude of group and individual activities, counseling sessions, excellent food and a view to match. Every hour of the patient’s stay is scheduled in order to instill a sense of stability and routine. Patients are encouraged to look inward, discover and deal with the problems at the root of their addictions. They are taught how to improve interpersonal communication and relationships and deal with anxiety and depression. Assisted Recovery Centers, with locations across the country, focuses heavily on the combination of safe medications and talk therapy to work patients through their problems. Addicts are encouraged to change unhealthy habits and thought patterns, as well as how to anticipate and deal with life’s problems. Patients work to find a true motivation for leaving drugs behind and set goals to build a sense of achievement and satisfaction.

No matter which drug rehab option one chooses, it is generally found that the more treatment received, the better the results. Patients may also need to seek related services, such as medical or psychiatric services and HIV prevention services. Patients who remain in treatment for more than 3 months tend to have more positive outcomes than those who do not. Studies have repeatedly shown that seeking some form of treatment for drug addiction reduces drug intake, likelihood of committing a crime and improves the chances of gaining and retaining employment.