Drug addiction treatment is a term given to a program which aims at recovering a drug-dependent person from his addictions by addressing the underlying causes of the problem. Addiction refers to habitual use of drugs, alcohol or tobacco in the absence of psychological or medical needs. It also includes drug abuse resulting to physical and/or emotional problems related to drug addiction. Drug addiction is a disease in which drug users do not receive the appropriate psychological or medical care, and instead resort to drugs as a substitute for their substance dependency. Drugs such as heroin, marijuana and cocaine are examples of addictive substances. It is also known as drug dependence or drug abuse. As a result, this condition results to the users being unable to function normally and lead to serious health problems.
Drug addiction treatment can be divided into various categories. Among them are residential treatment, outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, group therapy and individual therapy. Residential treatment refers to a treatment wherein the drug-addicted person undergoes complete and intensive therapy with the intention of re-integrating him back into society, while outpatient refers to a treatment wherein the patient is given outpatient medication to aid the recovery process. Inpatient refers to treatment wherein a patient undergoes treatment under medical supervision. This kind of treatment offers the drug-addicted person the most comprehensive care. The duration of the inpatient treatment depends upon the severity of the patient’s addiction. Outpatient treatment is usually given to those patients who do not qualify for the inpatient treatment programs.
Group therapy is one of the most common forms of addiction treatment. This therapy usually involves the participation of a number of persons in order to address the underlying causes of the problem. It also helps the members of the group to identify how they can cope better with their personal issues, so that their group dynamics can change. Individual therapy deals more with the personal aspects of drug dependency. It includes the discussions between the members of the group about how they can handle the problem of addiction. Group therapy is usually given to those patients who are suffering from different types of addiction. This is a great way of helping the patients recover, because it helps them understand that everyone in the group is part of the same chain of addiction and needs help in dealing with the issue.
