Addiction Treatment Programs

Addiction Treatment Centers

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2008 23.5 million Americans were in need of an illicit drug treatment program. In actuality, only 2.6 million received treatment. Most Americans avoid drug addiction treatment centers because they either do not understand what the process entails or do not recognize the kinds of options they have. Below you will find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about drug addiction treatment.

Why Do I Need Drug Addiction Treatment?

Many people are insistent that they do not need professional drug addiction treatment. Professional drug addiction centers may appear costly, time-intensive and restrictive. It is important to be able to recognize when you or your loved one needs to seek out help at addiction treatment centers.

• Are you constantly lacking energy, depressed or lacking focus?
  Someone with a drug habit will usually lose interest in activities they were once involved in and choose to isolate themselves.
• Are you aware of the negative physical repercussions of drug use?
  Most individuals using drugs are well aware of the long-term risks and potential health complications; however, they continue to use anyway. Even after a visit to the hospital or a potential overdose, some addicts choose to keep using.
• Has your physical appearance changed?
  Someone using drugs usually doesn’t care about their physical appearance. They almost might experience drastic changes in their weight reflective of their drug habit.
• Are you in financial debt because of your drug habit?
  Using drugs or alcohol at the level most addicts do is expensive. They will normally avoid making other payments – like rent, or bills – to fund their drug habit.
• Do you lie to your family and friends about your consumption?
  Most addicts will lie to those around them about whether they use or how much they use.
• Have you tried to stop using and then returned to drugs?
  Many addicts will attempt to quit multiple times and then return to their regular levels of drug use shortly afterwards.
• Are you preoccupied with your drug habit?
  Addicts spend a majority of their time focused on acquiring and using their particular drug of choice.

What Happens at Drug Treatment Centers?

When a patient first enters into drug addiction treatment, they meet with an intake counselor to design a program that is specific to their addiction and their psychological needs. After intake, the patient begins the treatment process. There are three core components of any quality drug addiction treatment program:

• Detox
  Detox is designed to treat the physical addiction. Patients stop using their preferred substance by either going “cold turkey” or being weaned off gradually, sometimes with the aid of supplemental medications. This is called natural detox and medical detox respectively. During detox, patients undergo withdrawal while under the supervision of medical professionals to ensure their safety during this time. Withdrawal can be painful and potentially life-threatening in high-risk patients, so the assistance of trained medical professionals is critical.

• Counseling
  Counseling is designed to treat the psychology of addiction. Patients attend sessions with psychotherapists as well as group sessions. The purpose of counseling is to help patients understand why they abuse drugs and create a positive, supportive environment for the duration of their treatment. The majority of a patient’s time will be spent in counseling.

• Aftercare
  Patients will begin discussing aftercare while still in counseling. Aftercare helps the patient transition from addiction treatment back into their everyday lives. Aftercare programs can range from heavily structured to relatively unstructured. Some patients may begin in a more intensive program like a sober living facility and then transition to a weekly support group meeting. The purpose is to hold patients accountable when they return to the real world.