As drug addiction affects so many aspects of the daily life of a person, multiple forms of treatment are sometimes needed. For some, the combination of individual or group treatment is best. Other treatments which address an individual patient’s problem and any co-existing social, mental and medical issues can help lead to long term recovery. Some forms of drug addiction treatment include medication therapies, self-help groups and outpatient programs.
Individual therapy for drug addiction treatment involves an individual coming to therapy with an open mind and an open heart. The therapist helps to determine the individual’s strengths and weaknesses and work with that to create a plan of action to help the patient through the drug addiction issues. The patient may be prescribed medications to help with withdrawal symptoms. Many of these medications work in two ways, by improving mood and helping the patient to control physical withdrawal symptoms. They are also used as a “self medicated” drug to help combat cravings. Many of the psychostimulants, which have been shown to be effective for other forms of drug addiction, can also help with the withdrawal symptoms and help the patient deal with the emotional stresses associated with drug addiction.
In addition to individual therapy, group therapy can be very helpful in achieving a good quality of recovery from drug addiction. The group setting allows the individual to connect to others and gain support. The group setting also provides the opportunity for the group member to have a voice in their recovery. Group therapy is also good for learning how to support each other. While group therapy may not always result in a long term recovery, it is often the only option for the person who has tried medication or therapy but has found them ineffective. Group therapy provides a safe place where the patient can talk openly about their feelings and get support from others. Group therapy helps to ensure that a patient is not alone in their recovery and the entire group makes it through the recovery process together, even if the initial stage was challenging.
