Treatment Options for Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is a curse of our times/our generation. The number of drug addicts is increasing with each passing day, and it isn't just affecting one particular age group or class of society. You have kids abusing drugs, adults, the rich, the poor, all groups and classes alike. Apart from destroying their own lives and careers, drug addiction has a severe impact on the families of these individuals. It is thus imperative that these drug addicts are provided all the help they can to enable them to quit their addiction and be normal again. Most drug addicts can't quit on their own. They become both physically and mentally addicted to the drugs they use. The craving is so strong that they can't stay without their drug of choice, even if they wanted to quit so bad. The drug alters their brain chemically. They become tolerant to the drugs and continually need to take more and more to get the same drug effect. Sudden stoppage of the drug leads to the body going into withdrawal, which can show itself up through tremors, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, insomnia or other symptoms depending on the drug the addict is on. Quitting isn't easy at all for drug addicts and that's why they need professional help and guidance.

Depending on the drug, treatment methods can vary. Some of the treatment options are:

Detoxing:

This can be viewed as the first step towards being drug-free. This is a process to get the body to rid itself of the drugs taken. You would be given medication to minimize the withdrawal symptoms. It should be noted though that this process doesn't change the impact the drug has had on your brain. Hence, detox should be viewed as the first of many steps towards being addiction-free.

Therapeutic & Medication Approach:

In the therapeutic setting, you would be educated on how to deal with cravings and how to know your weaknesses when it comes to drug. The goal is to educate you to become better at knowing your limitations and taking appropriate remedial actions to combat those moments of weaknesses. You would learn various coping mechanisms here. You would be given ideas to change your behavior patterns so that you can ensure that you remain drug-free. If you have an underlying problem along with the drug abuse (dual diagnosis), such as a psychological problem, you would be treated for both. Certain medications can also be given to treat you, depending on your drug of choice.

Depending on your own unique situation and circumstance, you can be either treated as an outpatient or an inpatient. Outpatient setting is one in which you don't get yourself admitted to a rehab facility but get treated on the outside, whereas in inpatient setting, you are admitted to a rehab facility. Let's see how both of these work:

Outpatient Treatment Programs:

These programs are best suited for those drug addicts whose addictions are not serious or severe. For example, if their addiction does not impact their work or social behavior or capability. The types of programs offered under this type can either be of an educational type or can involve counseling. In some cases, these can also involve individual or group therapy or family therapy. These programs encourage you to share your experience, sometimes along with other groups of addicts. Through this, you would gain some insights into dealing with your drug addiction.

Inpatient Treatment Programs:

These are programs where addicts are admitted as an inpatient into a rehab facility. The duration of such programs can vary and can be anywhere from a matter of weeks to a few months to perhaps even a year. Inpatient treatment programs are for those drug addicts who have severe addiction and who have difficulty functioning normally and carrying out their normal daily routine. The goal of inpatient treatment is to remove the patient from his/her normal setting, so that there is no availability of drugs around him/her. Programs such as therapeutic community may be involved that teach you how to function in a community and how to change your behavior and way of thinking. They will also teach you skills and strategies to help you deal with your addiction. The addict himself needs to be committed too to make this work. Programs such as 12-step meetings may be involved, which will inform you about the steps you can take to being drug-free.

Check with your health insurance provider if the rehab facilities you intend getting admitted to are listed with them. Check all the details such as the co-pay, duration you can be admitted for, etc. Check with the rehab facility too if they accept the insurance. Find out about the treatment costs and the amount covered by the insurance. The treatment costs for inpatient treatments are generally quite high, approx $6500 to $7500 per month. There are, however, some facilities funded by the government for those who have no insurance or face financial problems. If you need further information, do visit the website of "Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration." Just Google this keyword and you'd get their website.

Living a drug-free life is absolutely possible and all it takes is commitment from the drug addict to stay in the treatment program, perhaps for several months. Patience is key and so is self-discipline. Support from family and friends, if available, would help motivate immensely. Even if you relapse, don’t be disheartened. Keep at it and you’d be eventually drug-free. It is often that most drug addicts don’t get clean and sober at the first attempt. Persistence eventually pays!!