Drug addiction is a disease that afflicts individuals who use drugs for their own pleasure or to numb the pain of everyday life. Drug addiction treatment can be either inpatient or outpatient. An inpatient treatment includes the services of medical personnel like psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, addiction counselors, social workers, pharmacists, and psychologists to treat the patient for his addiction. On the other hand, outpatient treatment refers to treatment that only requires the patient to stay at home for a time. Inpatient treatment is often accompanied by medication and group therapies.
A person with a drug addiction is under the constant threat of relapse due to withdrawal symptoms that he experiences when he suddenly stops taking the drug. He may experience severe cravings for the drug that can cause extreme distress in his life and relationships. The drug is not only addictive but also has many health risks, which can only worsen if the drug abuser does not seek help immediately. For instance, a drug addict cannot stop using drugs by simply quitting his substance abuse, he has to undergo intensive treatment to permanently break his habit. This is why it is always advisable to seek professional help in order to get rid of this disease.
There are many different types of drug addiction treatment available and it all depends on the severity of the addiction. If the drug abuser has been abusing drugs for several years, then he may have already developed physical problems that are related to the drug abuse, such as insomnia, depression, nausea, diarrhea, hypertension, restlessness, memory loss, etc. In order to address these problems, the addict will be given intensive therapy in an outpatient rehab center. The rehabilitation process for a drug abuser may include 12-step program in an outpatient rehab center, group counseling, individual or family therapy, psychotherapy, medications, detoxification and relapse prevention programs.