Drug Rehab Centers
Drug rehab is a general term that refers to drug treatment given to those who have developed physical or psychological dependencies upon alcohol, prescription drugs or illegal drugs. The primary aim of drug rehab centers is, first, to assist the individual with breaking their drug addiction and alcohol dependency; second, to teach addicts how to maintain abstinence in order to avoid the dangerous consequences of their unchecked behavior. Drug rehab teaches addicts strategies for avoiding substance use including how to contend with the stress of everyday situations that might tempt the user to fall back into addictive behaviors. Drug rehab is intended for the addict who is unable or unwilling to stop their drug addiction outside of a clinical setting.
Drug rehabilitation is a serious issue. In this page we will investigate symptoms, causes, effects, and treatment options for drug abuse . If you or someone you know has a drug problem, we urge you to seek out drug rehab centers in your area to find a rehabilitation center near you. Clinics, programs, and treatment options are readily available in your area.
Drug Rehabilitation and Drug Rehab Centers
Drug rehab centers are facilities where caregivers administer drug treatment to addicts with the intention of breaking the cycle of drug addiction so that the addict can return to society and live a productive life. Drug rehab centers are found in intensive care centers offering short-term or long-term in-patient treatment and at residential locations offering long-term in-patient treatment.
To begin the drug treatment process for a drug addiction, the addict must enter into a drug treatment program, which can take a variety of forms depending on the needs of the addict and the severity of their addiction. All effective drug treatment programs start with detoxification. Drug rehab centers use a process of medical and psychological treatments in tandem with a supportive model of face-to-face interactions between the addict and caregiver to detoxify and educate the addict on the causes of drug addiction and how to avoid relapse after leaving the program.
Many addicts seek drug treatment at a drug rehab center because they are unable to break the cycle of dependency on their own. Although the addict may admit that their drug addiction is causing severe financial, physical, psychological and legal consequences for them, they may be unable to break the cycle of dependency without assistance from others. Addicts may also be ordered by courts to seek drug treatment if they have run afoul of the law in connection with alcohol dependency or drug addiction. In any case, the structure of drug rehab programs places the individual in a supportive environment with caregivers that will reinforce and encourage the addict to break their dependency and to develop strategies for coping. Drug rehab is a process that requires commitment and good faith from the addict. It is crucial to the success of the drug treatment program that the addict seeking treatment for their drug addiction does so with an honest and willing attitude.
Physical complications from drug withdrawal can lead to serious medical problems or life-threatening situations. Drug addiction is best treated in a setting where medical staff can monitor the recovering addict. Most drug rehab centers offer twenty-four hour monitoring by trained medical staff.
When addicts are removed from the environment where their addictions took root, they are able to avoid the myriad reminders of drug use associated with those environments. Drug rehab centers offer a supportive, drug-free environment where addicts are more likely to recover.
In addition to physical dependency stemming from drug addiction, addicts often exhibit emotional problems like anxiety or depression. Thus, successful drug treatment and prevention of relapse may depend upon a dual diagnosis that treats not just the physical addiction, but the mental and emotional aspects of the drug addiction as well. Most drug treatment centers can accommodate dual diagnosis in their treatment plans.
The medical component of drug treatment addresses the physical needs of the patient. During detoxification and follow up treatment, the recovering addict’s physical condition must be closely monitored to mitigate the effects of withdrawal symptoms and to restore the recovering addict to health.
Psychological treatment seeks to uncover the underlying causes and motivations driving the addict’s addictive behaviors—this is the key to a successful drug rehab program. By uncovering the hidden causes of their behavior, the recovering addict learns more about the psychological forces that drive their drug addiction and will be better equipped psychologically to avoid a relapse into drug abuse after they leave the program. Counseling in both one-on-one and group settings in addition to educational classes are designed to teach the addict to better understand these underlying conditions.
Effects of Drug Abuse and Drug Addiction
The precise definition of drug abuse, also known as substance abuse, may vary according to criminal justice, medical and public health definitions. However, drug abuse commonly refers to a wide range of maladaptive or problematic behaviors associated with the use of alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, and opioids. These behaviors may include the recurrent use of a substance that interferes with obligations at home, school, or work; the recurrent use of drugs in situations that are physically hazardous (such as driving an automobile); and the continued use of drugs despite personal problems caused by the effects of the substance.
Drug addiction is commonly defined as substance dependence with a physiological dependence that produces withdrawal symptoms or evidence of tolerance. Both illegal “street” drugs and legal prescription drugs are capable of creating an addiction if the user abuses them. Addiction affects all segments of society.
Drug abuse is often accompanied by increasingly risky behavior that can lead to emotional, financial, legal, medical and physical consequences. If left unchecked, drug abuse tends to worsen over time and addicts may find themselves unable to stop their dependency even in the face of acute personal problems.
Drug addiction takes a high toll on the addict’s physical health. For example, sustained overuse of alcohol may lead to damage of the liver; methamphetamine abusers may experience rapid weight loss, dental problems and kidney disorder; long-term barbiturate users risk increasing tolerance to potentially life-threatening levels.
Chronic, long-term drug addiction can severely impair mental acuity and introduce or exasperate emotional problems, such as angry and violent outbursts. Many users choose to “self-medicate” to cope with psychological problems or anxiety. As their tolerance to the drug increases, their underlying psychological problems remain untreated.
Types of Drug Rehab Centers and Drug Treatment
Drug addiction is treatable. However, each recovering addict presents a unique set of factors and must be assessed individually. It is generally agreed that an adequate period of drug treatment must be allowed to obtain successful results. This period varies considerably based on the individual addict’s level of addiction. In addition to managing the detoxification process with medication, individual and group counseling are the most prevalent forms of drug treatment for drug abuse. Depending on the particular drug that is being abused, medications can help the recovering addict successfully shed their dependency. However, detoxification as a stand-alone drug treatment does little to alter long-term, chronic drug abuse. It is widely recognized in the medical community that detoxification combined with a long-term drug treatment plan will yield the greatest chance for success.
Effective drug treatment approaches include medications, behavioral approaches or a combination of both. Medications not only help in managing the withdrawal and detoxification process, they are also effective at re-establishing healthy brain function thereby reducing cravings and the chances of relapse. Opiate addictions have been effectively treated by methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone. Tobacco addictions have been effectively treated by a number of nicotine-replacement therapies including gum, the patch and prescription medications. Alcohol dependence can be treated by acamprosate, disulfiram and naltrexone.
When combined with medications and the patient’s positive attitude to overcoming drug addiction, behavioral treatments can be very effective. Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches patients to identify and cope with situations that may contain relapse triggers. In some cases, multidimensional family therapy is effective at reintegrating the recovering addict into the family structure. Motivational interviewing and incentives assist the recovering addict in sustaining and reinforcing their desire to stop destructive behaviors and avoid relapse.
Detoxification of the addict is the first step in treating drug addiction. It is essential to detoxify the addict before continuing with the drug treatment program. The physical process of ridding the addict’s body of drugs and their toxic byproducts is frequently combined with medical treatment to restore the patient to a healthy condition. Depending on the severity of the drug addiction the detoxification process can take anywhere from a few days to weeks or months to complete. During the detoxification period, a supportive approach through counseling guides the patient through the intense emotional and psychological feelings that accompany the physical withdrawal of the drugs.
Drug rehab can take place in a variety of settings. Most drug rehab centers are at extended care facilities or residential locations. Some drug rehab programs offer services tailored to age and gender. Most drug rehab programs are accredited or licensed by state or federal agencies.
There are a variety of in-patient drug rehab programs that treat the addict. In-patient drug treatment programs can be found at extended care centers that are also living facilities and at residential locations with medical staff on-site. At an in-patient program, the patient will go to the drug rehab center and commit to a short-term or long-term stay. After undergoing admission and assessment, the patient is prescribed a drug treatment plan that combines individual counseling, group counseling, life skills training and education on how to preventing relapses. Patients receive supportive, twenty-four care, seven days a week, at in-patient drug rehab centers. Short-term in-patient programs keep patients anywhere from one week to 30 days. In-patient long-term programs offer twenty-four treatment for a period of several months to a year depending on the patient’s drug treatment plan.
Out-patient drug rehab programs accommodate patients who wish to leave the care center during the day to go to work or school while continuing to live at the care center and undergo drug treatment. These drug treatment programs are for people who have progressed in their recovery and are ready to resume responsibilities while continuing with their treatment for drug addiction.
Similar to in-patient long-term drug treatment, residential programs offer twenty-four hour care in a residential setting with other recovering addicts. In residential treatment programs, patients are removed from their former surroundings and placed into a community setting to restore a sense of normalcy to their lives. Residential drug treatment programs have proven to be effective for persons with severe addictions or criminal histories closely connected to their drug abuse. Typically, the patient remains at a residence for six to twelve months and submits to a highly structured program emphasizing positive reintegration into the community.
