Drug rehab is the process of psychotherapy or medical treatment for addiction to psychoactive substances like alcohol, caffeine, prescription drugs, cocaine and even street drugs like heroin, meth, cannabis or amphetamines. In most cases, patients are placed in a drug rehab treatment center that helps them overcome their addictive tendencies. Drug rehab centers are also known by the term treatment centers. The concept of drug rehabilitation treatment centers was initially introduced in 1970 at the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, New York. The first facility to offer drug rehabilitation treatment centers was at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine. There are a number of facilities that offer drug rehab services.
In drug rehab centers, patients are taught various techniques and approaches that help them change their lives. These include family-based treatment, group therapy, individual counseling, group therapy, relapse prevention, social skills training and group dynamics training. Treatment sessions in drug rehab centers help the patients to understand the triggers and consequences of drug use and behavior. Patients learn to identify and manage stress and anxiety and use self-help and psychological treatments to reduce cravings. In addition, they learn coping mechanisms that help them cope with the consequences of their drug abuse. This helps them to maintain abstinence from drug use or addiction.
The treatment that takes place in drug rehab centers can last from several weeks to a year depending on the intensity and duration of the problem. Treatment programs usually include group therapy, individual counseling, family therapy, group therapy and relapse prevention techniques. Many times, patients will also have to undergo detoxification, which entails withdrawal symptoms. Detoxification in these cases may last for about six weeks or may be extended up to a year. The most important things that patients learn during treatment in drug rehab centers is that they must accept the fact that they have a problem and that it needs to be treated. They also learn how to set realistic goals and objectives and work towards achieving them.
