Treatment

Drug & Alcohol Addiction Treatment Options

There are different types of treatment depending upon the severity and nature of the individual’s drug addiction. In all cases though, detoxification is only the initial step towards recovery, and by itself does little to change long-term drug use. Detoxification safely manages the acute physical symptoms of withdrawal associated with stopping drug use. While detoxification alone is rarely sufficient to help addicts achieve long-term abstinence, for some individuals it is a strongly indicated precursor to effective drug addiction treatment.

The appropriate duration for an individual in drug addiction treatment depends on his or her problems and needs. Research indicates that for most patients, the threshold of significant improvement is reached at about 3 months in treatment. After this threshold is reached, additional drug addiction treatment can produce further progress toward recovery. There are no quick fixes for drug addiction and alcoholism. Recovery is an ongoing process. The skills one learns during intensive drug addiction treatment must be integrated into everyday life and this takes time. Though there are a variety of different types of treatment available, all must include strategies for keeping the person in treatment, skills to help the individual handle everyday situations that may cause trouble once they have completed the program, and guidance and counseling towards understanding the individuals initial reasons for drug addiction.

Several types of treatment options involve substituting one drug for another, such as methadone treatment. Other drug treatment methods lead individuals to believe that they are powerless over their addiction and resign themselves to a life of continual recovery. These methods not only do not work, they are not healthy. Continuing to take medication puts stress on the individual not only physically, but mentally as well. Believing that you are powerless over your addictions leaves the individual feeling out of control and without a firm grasp of complete recovery.