Drug Addiction Treatment

Drug Addiction Treatment

Drug addiction treatment is not one-size-fits-all.

Drug addiction is a complex, difficult disease to overcome. Because of this, no single treatment suits all patients. There are many different drug addiction treatment options, and clinical professionals must decide how to structure rehabilitation plans so that they are tailored to individuals' needs.

Drug addiction doesn’t occur in a vacuum. For many addicts, unresolved issues from the past are at the root of addiction. For others, comorbidities such as depression, anxiety disorders or eating disorders trigger drug abuse and addiction. Most addicts cannot identify or address the reasons for their addictions without professional assistance. Because of this, people struggling with drug addiction benefit greatly from comprehensive rehabilitation programs that address the whole individual, not just the addiction.

The typical course of drug addiction treatment.

Nearly all drug treatment programs start with detox. Those with severe addictions may need to go through medically assisted detox, a process in which clinical professionals administer medication to manage withdrawal symptoms.

Once detox is complete, many drug treatment programs progress to behavioral therapy. Many different types of behavioral therapy exist, but the most common are individual or group counseling and cognitive-behavioral therapy. These help addicts learn to identify, avoid and cope with situations that trigger drug abuse.

In addition to behavioral therapy, drug rehab typically incorporates ongoing medical interventions, or pharmacotherapies. Ongoing medication use can help restore normal brain functioning, but should always be supervised by clinical professionals to avoid more substance addiction.

Support groups and fellowships, such as 12-Step support groups, are often part of care. These groups assure the patient that they are not alone and promote emotional healing through shared experiences and stories. Family support groups may also benefit loved ones affected by drug addiction.

Inpatient drug treatment programs.

For many, inpatient treatment programs are most effective. These programs provide detox, behavioral therapy, group and individual counseling, family education and medical interventions in controlled environments.

Caron’s programs offer safe, medically supervised detoxification, therapy and counseling, family counseling, aftercare plans and, when possible, pharmacotherapy—all within a professional, supportive, therapeutic environment. Contact us for more information.

Medically assisted drug detox.

Drug withdrawal symptoms can be quite painful for and potentially dangerous to patients—so much so that, sometimes, addicted persons attempt to self-medicate. For these reasons and more, medically assisted detox is strongly recommended.

Medical detox safely manages the physical symptoms of drug withdrawal. Although detox alone is rarely sufficient to help patients achieve long-term abstinence, it is a strongly indicated precursor to effective drug addiction treatment.

Medically assisted detox can take place in outpatient and inpatient settings, but the latter is preferable (and often more successful) for several reasons. For starters, inpatient facilities are able to dedicate teams of specialists to care for the addict 24 hours a day. They’re well equipped to handle severe drug withdrawal symptoms. Not to mention, they remove the addict from the environment in which they were abusing drugs. Lastly, detoxing in the inpatient setting affords patients the opportunity to remain at the facility as they transition to the treatment stage of recovery. Fully completed inpatient programs have very high success rates.

Detox is just the beginning.

It is important for drug addicts and their families to remember that detox, while essential, is only the first step in an effective treatment plan. In fact, those who do not begin a treatment program following detox are rarely able to overcome addiction. Nevertheless, with the right help and holistic, individualized treatment, there is hope. Contact Caron and explore our programs for more information.