Thursday, January 19, 2012

Drug Rehab Helps With Addicts Recovery

By Ben Pate


When people question the value of drug rehab, they can look at any addiction survivor for evidence of the life saving effects. The programs begin by providing release from the actual, physical addiction. Further steps include coping skills and emotional assistance in dealing with stressful situations. Preventing a relapse is a primary goal for any program. Turning to drugs and alcohol for stress relief is very common but can be overcome with the right treatment.

Detox

Detoxification is the first step in the process. This step often involves medical treatment for the physical addiction. When your body becomes addicted to a drug, it begins to need it. Without the drug, the body can have severe physical problems. There are different medical procedures including using other non-addictive drugs to reduce the dependency. This is a very trying time in the process and patients can often become sick, depressed, and even violent as they pass through this stage.

Therapy

In-house therapy is usually the second step. During this time, the individual is taught how to cope with stressful situations. They spend time in group therapy building the skills needed to address their own situations. The skills learned will be applied later to real world scenarios. Often, this period includes life-skill training so the person can find alternatives to drugs and alcohol.

Outpatient Therapy

The outpatient therapy happens when the patient and staff feel the person is ready to reenter society. This can be a very scary step for any addict. The fear of going back to a world that includes free access to the drugs that destroyed their life can be stressful. The counselors will be in constant contact to monitor their progress. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings are very helpful in providing the support system the patient experienced in group therapy while going through inpatient processes. The point is to reenter society and avoid the situations that cause the desire for drugs to arise.

Time Frame

Therapy lasts as long as needed. To put a specific time on the treatment would limit its ability to provide successful and lasting effects. Most people will spend from one to many months in the inpatient system. Once they are ready to reenter society, they will struggle to avoid returning to old habits that caused the addiction in the first place. Most survivors will explain that the treatment lasts the rest of their life as they work hard to avoid a relapse.

Relapse

People relapse for various reasons. It is extremely important for a person to learn how to appropriately cope with different stresses in order to survive in life. The drug addiction treatment programs work hard to teach these coping skills and provide the support needed in aftercare. However, if a person reenters life in a situation where others around them continue to use drugs and alcohol it can be very difficult for him or her to abstain.




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