Drug Addiction Treatment focuses on treating the physical and emotional conditions that lead to an addiction. The treatment of addiction should address all co-occurring mental, psychological and medical conditions. Drug addiction is treatable. Education and prevention programs aimed at adolescents and children and involving communities, families and schools can be very effective in decreasing drug abuse. In the treatment of drug addiction, medication is sometimes used to help patients overcome their symptoms and cope with withdrawal symptoms.
Drug abuse can include a number of different problems that often affect the family and the patient’s life. Many times drug abusers may also have other mental health disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder. Other drug abusers may also have an alcohol dependency or both. Most drug addictions are caused by drug abuse that begins during a period of peer pressure or during early adolescence. Many times, drug abusers are not diagnosed until after they have been arrested and convicted for illegal drug use. Once these individuals are in jail or prison, their families often become involved in the fight against drug addiction and rehabilitation.
When seeking out drug addiction treatment, the best resource is your family doctor. Your primary care physician can refer you to an addiction specialist. Family physicians often have relationships with treatment agencies that offer assistance and guidance for family members who are experiencing problems with substance abuse. Family doctors can be a great source of information, especially if they are treating a loved one with a drug addiction.
