The purpose of rehabilitation is to help the drug abuser to stop using drugs and be productive in his family, work, and society. However, because drug addiction has so many facets, rehabilitation is not a simple process, and may need to be all-encompassing in approach. Furthermore, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIDA, advises that most patients require long-term or repeated episodes of care. Several options are available.
Using Medications
Medication is used to target specific aspects of the process of stopping addiction. Medication can help, for example, with alleviating symptoms of withdrawal as the patienet works to re-establish normal brain function and diminish cravings. Success has been shown with medications for heroin, alcohol, and tobacco addiction. However, the NIDA warns that medicating during detoxification without other approaches may not be any more effective in maintaining recovery.
Inpatient Treatment
"Inpatient" means that the treatment takes place in a hospital or in a licensed premise. Typically, programs are 14 to 21 days. A study in the "Journal for Substance Abuse Treatment" shows that this option is best suited for class A drug abusers and those with severe long term addiction.
Residential Treatment
Residential treatment programs are often highly structured and the patient can attend for up to 12 months. The programs are tailored according to the specific needs of individuals. This includes pregnant women or mothers, those involved in serious crimes, and people who have seriously impaired social functioning. A typical program focuses on helping the individual integrate back into society and lead a healthy lifestyle supportive of lasting recovery. Group homes such as Sober Recovery offer many alternatives, including wilderness camps.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment encompasses a variety of options for treatment whereby the patient visits a clinic or counseling center at regular intervals. There are a number of programs within this category, such as the most popular 12-step programs, family counseling, which stresses the incorporation of the family in the process, individual counseling for one-on-one treatment, or group counseling, found effective in that people can find support by sharing the process with others. Among other specific programs are the Duel Diagnosis Treatment or the Narconon program.
References
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Diagnosis and Treatment
- Addiction No More: Yoga Therapy
- Sober Recovery: FAQs
- Craig, Robert. "Improvement in psychological functioning among drug abusers," Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, Volume 7, Issue 1, 1990:11-19
