Drug addiction is a neurological and behavioral disease characterized by intense drug cravings, alienation from family and friends, and may lead to the inability to function daily. Addiction develops as a result of neurological changes in reward and survival pathways in the brain that profoundly affect an addict's behavior. Addiction is a life-threatening disease that requires medical attention and treatment, and a number of treatment options are available for current and recovering drug addicts.
In-Patient Treatment
A common treatment for drug addiction is in-patient treatment, or rehab. Rehabilitation centers within the United States are typically government-licensed and may focus on rehabilitation from specific addictions, according to the National Drug and Alcohol Abuse Hotline. During in-patient treatment, patients reside at a rehabilitation center for the duration of their treatment and work with medical professionals, as well as other patients, toward recovery and sobriety. Doctors at drug rehabilitation centers allow drug addicts to detox safely under the supervision of medical professionals. Patients in rehab also attend regular therapy sessions to discuss the underlying cause of their addiction and may attend group therapy sessions to form relationships with other recovering addicts. In-patient treatment offers recovering addicts a place to treat their disease away from the triggers that helped develop their addiction in the first place, but it requires a significant time and financial commitment.
Outpatient Treatment
Some recovering drug addicts may receive out-patient treatment, which allows the patient to live at home while receiving addiction treatment in the evenings and on weekends. During outpatient treatment, the recovering drug addict visits a rehabilitation center for therapy sessions, group meetings and classes to aid in maintaining sobriety, according to Therapist Unlimited. Outpatient treatment may be effective for patients without severe addictions, or it may be recommended to a recovering addict after he has undergone in-patient drug rehabilitation. Outpatient treatment typically requires less of a financial commitment than in-patient treatment, and it allows the patient to continue working throughout treatment.
Sober Houses
Another treatment option for recovering addicts is a sober house. This form of drug rehabilitation falls in between in-patient and outpatient treatment, since the recovering addict lives in a regulated sober house with other recovering addicts, but the patient can continue to work during treatment. While living at a sober house, the recovering addict continues attending classes, therapy or group sessions to help maintain her sobriety. Living in a sober house may be a suitable treatment for patients without severe addiction, or it may allow for continued recovery following in-patient treatment. The Addiction Recovery Guide indicates that there are a number of nonprofit sober houses throughout the United States.
