What Happens in Drug Addiction Rehab?
Drug addiction rehab can take place in a variety of settings including outpatient, inpatient, or residential settings that employ a variety of detox, counseling, behavioral, and pharmacological approaches with services to meet the multiple needs of the individual. It’s not enough to simply detox from drugs, but, the drug addiction rehab treatment, according to the NIDA “must help the individual stop using drugs, maintain a drug-free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society.” The following, is what happens in drug addiction rehab.
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Evaluation

Rehab centers provide the support you need to overcome addiction.
In order to determine the levels of care a person needs, intake counselors must assess the extent of the person’s drug use, history, and potential withdrawal conditions as well as coexisting conditions such as abuse of other substances, physical and mental health conditions, medications being used, and the supportive environments at home.
Most people are able to participate in treatment through an outpatient program. They may need a brief inpatient stay during the acute withdrawal stage receiving the other services based on the plan set forth by the drug addiction rehab clinicians and administrators. Inpatient programs are generally recommended when an intensity of services is necessary or when complications are anticipated such as with pregnancy or compromised health and when the person lacks a positive social support network in their home environment.
Detox
The detox phase can be the most dreaded part of drug addiction rehab because of the withdrawals the individual expects to experience. According to the Institute of Medicine, ” Comfort, the avoidance of seizures (the most common cause of fatalities), screening and treatment of infections and other medical problems, and the achievement of a condition in which withdrawal distress is not evident are and should be the primary goals of detoxification.”
Throughout the detox process, the patient is frequently monitored for distress and complications with appropriate medical and psychiatric interventions provided to keep the person safe and comfortable. Treatment motivations can be greatly encouraged during this time as long as the patient knows that they are being well cared for.
Rehabilitation Phase
Once the person has gained stabilization in detox, the drug addiction rehab can begin to tackle the underlying causes and consequences of the person’s drug use in more depth. A comprehensive approach works the best combining the recommended services in a way that keeps the individual engaged, encouraged, and motivated in their recovery goals. According to the NIDA,” To be effective, treatment must address the individual’s drug abuse and any associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal problems.”
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Services may include:
- Individual, group, and family therapies.
- Behavioral therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help the person employ awareness and positive management skills to change maladaptive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors while avoiding “triggers” that may cause relapse.
- Resources and/or referrals to agencies that can help the person become self-sufficient and reduce the barriers that limit their quality of life so they can remain encouraged in their abstinence and recovery goals.