Drug rehab is the process of psychotherapeutic or medical treatment for dependence on psychoactive drugs such as opiate, cocaine, alcohol or street drugs like heroin, crack cocaine, meth, or marijuana. It is a way to alleviate the physical and mental suffering brought about by drug abuse. It also offers the chance of life-saving results that will transform a life after an addiction. Treatment programs vary in their structure, type of drug and extent of the problems involved in an individual’s condition. While some drug rehabs involve long term treatments, others may have short-term programs to help a person return to society.
The main goal of drug rehabs is to cure drug addiction by changing the basic biochemical structures of the brain to block the euphoria produced by the drug. This is achieved through the use of medications and psychological therapies. The medications used in the rehab programs are generally benzodiazepines and antidepressants to calm nerves, to reduce anxiety, to relieve depression and to increase appetite control. The psychotherapy programs involve talking therapies to help with cognitive therapy to overcome the emotional aspects of drug addiction. Detoxification techniques help in removing the drug from the system through the use of a medical machine called the detox machine. The most common types of drugs used in the drug rehab program include marijuana, ecstasy, amphetamines, cocaine and heroin.
Drug rehabs also involve the use of alternative medicine, which includes acupuncture, yoga and other alternative methods of treatment to address the physiological aspects of addiction. These alternative methods such as acupuncture can help reduce the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms that one experiences when they stop taking the drug. These alternative methods are usually used along with the traditional programs in order to achieve the best results. These programs include family therapy, group therapy and individual counseling to help the person overcome their problems, find a job and get medical assistance for their addictions. Some people even choose to enroll in marriage counseling to help them deal with their partners and the responsibilities of parenthood.
