The number of people struggling with addiction has grown in recent years, but drug rehab is available for those in need. With changing stigma, increased insurance coverage and many treatment facilities now accepting online applications, it is easier than ever to seek help for this chronic condition.
Drug abuse is often linked to other problems that can be helped by therapy and counseling. These include underlying mental health issues such as depression, marital or family problems and legal or financial troubles. Seeking treatment for these problems may be the first step to regaining stability in life and mending relationships that have been damaged by substance abuse.
A quality rehab will offer a range of recovery support tools, which might include a mix of supervised detoxification, ongoing residential treatment or outpatient care and 12-month aftercare programs. Many treatment centers are well-equipped to handle cases of dual diagnosis, when a person is dealing with both an addiction and a mental health issue. The psychiatric symptoms of an addiction are often overlooked, but they should be addressed alongside the person’s drug use, to ensure that the full picture is being taken into account when the plan for recovery is being designed.
During a residential treatment program, the patient will stay in a facility that offers 24-hour supervision. This type of treatment is ideal for someone who has not yet been able to stop using drugs or alcohol on their own and needs more intensive medical monitoring than can be provided in an outpatient setting. These types of treatment programs vary in intensity, length and staffing patterns. Some are long-term therapeutic communities, while others are self-contained halfway and quarterway houses that provide transitional assistance to patients as they move out into the community.
Most treatment facilities offer a variety of therapeutic activities to assist with addiction recovery, including psychodynamic therapy and group and individual sessions such as assertiveness training, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and family therapy. These therapies can be used to better understand the feelings that lead to drug addiction and to learn healthier ways of coping with them in a safe and supportive environment. Some treatment programs also offer a range of other holistic treatments, such as yoga and mindfulness training.
While there is no known cure for drug addiction, research has shown that with the right support and tools, relapse rates are similar to those of other chronic diseases such as asthma or hypertension. Treatment programs will often include a focus on relapse prevention, teaching the individual to recognize potentially dangerous triggers of drug abuse and to develop a contingency plan in the event that they do begin to use again.
It is important to choose a rehab facility that has a high treatment retention rate and marks of quality care such as accreditation. Look for a drug rehab with a comprehensive approach that addresses the whole person, including family and other underlying issues. In addition, some treatment programs will provide gender-specific therapy to address the different challenges that men and women face when recovering from drug addiction.
