Drug Rehab and Alcohol Rehab Guide
Drug rehabilitation is an umbrella term for process of medical and/or
psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such
as alcohol, prescription drugs,
and so-called street drugs such
as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines. The obvious intent is to enable the
patient to cease their previous level of abuse, for the sake of avoiding its
legal, social, and physical consequences, especially in extreme abuse.
Many drug rehabilitation programs attempt to teach the patient new methods
of interacting in a drug free method. In particular, patients are generally
encouraged or required not to associate with friends who still use the addictive
substance. Twelve-step programs encourage addicts not
only to stop using alcohol or other drugs, but to examine and change habits
related to their addictions. Many programs emphasize that recovery is a permanent
process without a culmination. For legal drugs such as alcohol complete abstention rather
than attempts at moderation,
which may lead to relapse are also emphasized ("I don't want a drink, I want
a hundred drinks.") Whether moderation is achievable by persons with a history
of abuse remains a controversial point but is generally considered unsustainable.
Drug rehabilitation is sometimes part of the criminal justice system. People
convicted of minor drug offenses may be sentenced to rehabilitation instead
of prison, and those convicted of driving while intoxicated are sometimes
required to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Finding Rehab for Family Members
By David Westbrook
Having worked on an alcohol and drug treatment referral line over several
years, and having answered thousands of calls over those years, I know that
family members are frequently the first ones to realize that an addict or alcoholic
is in need of help. Every family member who realizes this and seeks treatment
for a loved one wants treatment to work. Research has shown that there are
several key considerations that need to be taken into account for treatment
to work most effectively.
•Supervised withdrawal is only first step and by itself will do little
to solve the problem
Withdrawing from drugs and alcohol can be dangerous. In fact about 1 in 10
alcoholics who attempt to withdrawal off alcohol without medical supervision
actually end up dying. Therefore a medically supervised detox center is frequently
a necessary first step in treatment. However, some people confuse this short
3 to 7 day period with treatment, which it is not. If you are looking for treatment
for someone make sure that you don’t stop once you’ve found them
a place to detox. The best situation is for the person to go directly from
detox to rehab.
•What works for one family members treatment may not work for another’s
Because there is a genetic component to addiction family members who are helping
a loved one in to treatment have often experienced treatment themselves. One
common mistake is to assume that what worked for you or the person’s
uncle will work for them. This simply is not true. The ultimate success of
each individual entering treatment depends on finding the right treatment setting
and methods for the individual, and everyone’s needs are different.
•Find treatment centers that deal with more than just the addiction
Drug addiction is a multidimensional problem, and treatment needs to address
all of an individual’s needs. Good treatment must address the individual's
drug use, but it should also attend to any associated medical, psychological,
social, vocational, or legal problems.
•Don’t settle for any program that doesn’t include therapy
Many alcoholics and addicts mistakenly believe that if they could just stop
using for a week or two they could stop using forever. In reality, counseling
(individual and/or group) is a critical part of every effective addiction treatment
episode. In therapy, addicts, build skills to resist drug use, replace drug-using
activities with constructive and rewarding nondrug-using activities, examine
their motivations for using drugs and improve problem-solving abilities. Additionally,
therapy helps individuals to rebuild and re-learn family and social living
patterns.
•Drug testing during treatment is important
Don’t be fooled that just because you get a loved one into treatment
means that they are suddenly safe from drugs. Drugs are brought into treatment
centers all the time putting those seeking recovery at risk of relapse. This
means that every individual in treatment should be monitored for drug treatment
on an ongoing basis. In this manner treatment, plans may be modified to increase
the chance of ultimate success.
•Some people require medication to treat their addiction
The American Medical Association has for years recognized addiction as a disease.
It should therefore not come as a surprise that many addicts need medication
during and after rehab. Sometimes frowned upon by some individuals in recovery
the truth is that these medications allow millions of individuals to live normal,
productive lives.
•Fifty percent of the people with an alcohol/drug problem also have a
mental health issue
People may be using drugs to deal with mental health problems or they may
have the mental health issue because of their drug use. In fact, studies have
shown that fifty percent of people who have one also have the other. The most
effective way to deal with these two “co-occurring” disorders and
deal with the addiction is to treat them at the same time.
•An addict does not have to want treatment for it to work
A common myth is that someone has to want treatment before it will work for
them. Based on research, this is not the case. In fact, treatment is just as
effective for individuals who are court ordered to do treatment as it is for
people who figure out the need for it on their own. Families can be just as
effective at getting unwilling addicts into treatment. Frequently, a family’s
first step to getting someone into rehab may be performing an intervention
with the help of a professional interventionist. Call your local alcohol and
drug help line to locate these professionals in your area.
•Treatment duration counts
The appropriate duration for an individual depends on his or her problems
and needs. Research indicates that for most patients, significant improvement
is reached at about 3 months. The research suggests that this may be residential,
outpatient or a combination of both depending on the individual’s needs.
After this initial period, additional treatment can produce further progress
toward recovery.
•Don’t lose hope
Your loved one may successfully complete treatment, but then relapse. Don’t
lose hope. Alcoholics and addicts may need lengthy treatment and more than
one time in rehab before they can enjoy long-term abstinence and full restoration
to a drug free life.
David Westbrook is a freelance writer who frequently writes for such quality
websites as http://www.rehaber.com and http://www.fxrehab.com
10 Tenets of Effective Drug Addiction Treatment
By David Westbrook
On any given day in the United States, one million people are in treatment
for alcoholism or drug addiction. It is not getting into treatment, however,
that makes the difference. Instead, it is what a person gets out of treatment.
The fact that many people do not find success in treatment on their first attempt
is due in part to a lack of understanding about what makes effective treatment.
1.There is no treatment formula that will work for everyone.
Occasionally, people looking for treatment will come across other individuals
who are already in recovery and who insist that the only path to recovery is
whatever path the recovering individual has taken. This simply is not true.
The ultimate success of each individual entering treatment depends on finding
the right treatment setting and methods for the individual, and everyone’s
needs are different.
2. Medically supervised withdrawal is only one step in addiction treatment;
alone it will do little.
Frequently, it is necessary for addicts and alcoholics to go through a medically
supervised withdrawal period before they can safely enter treatment. However,
some people confuse this short 3 to 7 day period with treatment, which it is
not. Some people cycle in and out of these withdrawal episodes convinced that
they should be able to maintain abstinence afterwards, but never finding success.
Seemingly tragic, this allows some addicts to continue in their addiction while
giving the appearance that they are attempting to get healthy.
3. Length of treatment counts.
The appropriate duration for an individual depends on his or her problems
and needs. Research indicates that for most patients, significant improvement
is reached at about 3 months. The research suggests that this may be residential,
outpatient or a combination of both depending on the individual’s needs.
After this initial period, additional treatment can produce further progress
toward recovery.
4. Drug addiction is a multidimensional problem, and treatment needs to address
all of an individual’s needs.
Effective treatment must address the individual's drug use, but also any associated
medical, psychological, social, vocational, or legal problems.
5. Counseling (individual and/or group) is a critical part of effective addiction
treatment.
Many alcoholics and addicts mistakenly believe that if they could just stop
using for a week or two they could stop using forever. In reality, they need
therapy. In therapy, addicts examine their motivation, build skills to resist
drug use, replace drug-using activities with constructive and rewarding nondrug-using
activities, and improve problem-solving abilities. Additionally, therapy helps
individuals to rebuild and re-learn family and social living patterns.
6. Medications are an important part of treatment for many people. Medications
such as suboxone, methadone and LAAM can all be effective in helping certain
individuals stay away from illicit drugs. Some times frowned upon by some individuals
in recovery the truth is that these medications allow millions of individuals
to live normal, productive lives.
7. Drug testing during treatment is important.
Drugs are found everywhere, even in drug treatment. Whether treatment is offered
on an outpatient, inpatient or in a jail drugs are available to individuals
in treatment. This puts individuals in treatment at risk for reusing even while
in treatment. It also means that every individual in treatment should be monitored
for drug treatment on an ongoing basis. In this manner treatment, plans may
be modified to increase the chance of ultimate success.
8. Alcoholics and addicts with mental health disorders should be treated for
both at the same time.
An alcoholic or addict who also has a mental health disorder is said to have “co-occurring” disorders.
In the past, the question has sometimes been should the person be treated for
the mental health problem or the addiction first. People may be using drugs
to deal with the mental health problem or they may have the mental health issue
because of their drug use. The most effective way to deal with these two “co-occurring” disorders
and deal with the addiction is to treat them at the same time.
9.Addiction Treatment works even for people who don’t choose it of their
own free will.
It used to be believed that someone had to want to go into treatment before
it could be effective. New research has shown that this is not the case. In
fact, treatment is just as effective for individuals who are court ordered
to do treatment as it is for people who figure out the need for it on their
own. Families and employers can be just as effective at getting unwilling addicts
into treatment. Stephen King, in his autobiography “On Writing,” tells
about the intervention his wife and family performed on him. King did not want
to go into treatment. He was seemingly happy doing coke and drinking mouthwash,
but his wife Tabitha and his children were not happy with the situation and
performed an intervention. Forced to choose between family and drugs, King
made the right choice. Interventions are most successful when done correctly
and with the help of a professional. For more information on interventions
visit www.interventionresources.net
10. Don’t give up.
As with other chronic illnesses, relapses can occur during or after successful
treatment episodes. Addicted individuals may need lengthy treatment and more
than one time in treatment before they can enjoy long-term abstinence and full
restoration to a drug free life. The period after treatment is just as important
as being in treatment. Finding support and continuous work to stay drug free
will be necessary. A slip or relapse is just an indicator that more work, and
possibly more treatment, is necessary. Don't give up.
David Westbrook © 2005
David Westbrook is a freelance writer. He has spent several years talking
to thousands of addicts and their families who are in search of drug addiction
treatment centers. He invites you to visit his websites http://www.addictionsresources.com and http://www.alcoholismresources.com
