Drug addiction is a complex disease that incorporates a number of different approaches to complete a thorough treatment program, report researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). While short-term detox facilities and 28-day programs can provide a start for the process of recovery, long-term drug rehabilitation centers have a higher rate of success.
Time
Long-term treatment centers for drug abuse can last anywhere from 90 days to two or three years.
Components
A successful long-term treatment program includes job training and social re-introduction to prepare clients to re-enter the workforce and the community.
Diagnosis
Most long-term treatment programs include treatment for co-occurring mental illnesses that are common among drug addicts, including depression and bipolar disorder.
Counseling
One-on-one and group counseling are an integral part of the treatment process.
Changes
As a patient progresses through treatment, his counselors should adjust his program to reflect his recovery and modify the treatment plan as needed, report researchers at NIDA.
Follow-up
Effective long-term drug rehabilitation centers provide follow-up care that includes counseling for family members and introduction to community resources and self-help groups such as Narcotics Anonymous.
