In general, drug addiction treatment is the process of removing the dependency on substances that have caused it. There are two forms of addiction, the behavioral form and the physiological form. In most cases, the physical withdrawal from the drug occurs due to a chemical imbalance within the brain.
The behavioral type of addiction is often caused by physical abuse, when an addict abuses a substance in a manner that is not appropriate or consistent with the individual’s lifestyle. A substance abuser who has used drugs recreationally is very likely to go back to using them because their brain chemistry has become accustomed to the high that the drug gives. The physical aspect of an addiction is the first stage. It usually takes a long time for drug abusers to overcome their addiction, but this will be a life-altering event. When an addict has become dependent upon the drug, it is important that they find support from family, friends and society, in order to help them to heal emotionally and mentally.
The second stage, the mental health specialist, helps the addict to create a plan of action to get out of drug addiction. It can be as simple as detoxing to a residential center, as it can be as complex as an outpatient program. The treatment plan must address the issues that contributed to the drug dependence and how to fix these problems. This includes educating the addict on the addictive behavior, finding alternative means to use the substance and finding a group of people to support and help in the recovery process. For a long-term recovery, therapy will play an important role in dealing with the psychological effects of drug dependence. The process of treating addicts includes a combination of medications, support groups and lifestyle counseling. The goal of the drug rehab process is to eliminate substance abuse and the possibility of relapse, so that the person is not able to abuse again.
