Drug addiction treatment is a long-term program of psychotherapeutic or medical treatment for dependence on psychoactive drugs like alcohol, drugs like methamphetamines, amphetamines or cocaine, prescription medications such as painkillers, and illegal drugs like marijuana, heroin, and cocaine. For most addicts, drug addiction treatment means detoxification from drugs, although it could also mean treatment for alcohol addiction. Detoxification from drugs means that an addict undergoes an intense detoxification process, usually through medically supervised withdrawal. The process could be from twelve to fourteen days at a hospital’s detox facility and up to ninety days in a residential rehabilitation center. This treatment involves a combination of psychological, physical, spiritual and medical therapies to get a patient to be well again. Detox programs may also include behavioral therapy, family therapy, counseling, social work and support groups to help a patient get over the trauma caused by the drug.
There are different types of drug addiction treatment. The most common types are detoxification programs, residential rehabilitation programs, outpatient therapy, and residential treatment centers. All of these programs are available to drug addicts with varying degrees of severity. The duration of each program will depend on how severe the drug dependence is, as well as how quickly the patient can be treated. Most programs have intensive counseling and social work sessions. Residential treatment centers usually take more than one year before a full recovery is possible, although it may take longer at times for a certain patient to be ready. Inpatient rehab programs may take several months or years before the addict can completely recover.
The results of the treatment depends on how serious the addiction and any other underlying problems may be. Some patients do not recover completely from drug addiction, while others may experience rapid relapse. A successful treatment is one that gives the patient the tools to deal with his/her substance abuse problem in a way that does not endanger him or her, but with a sense of security, control and dignity. Drug addiction treatment is an ongoing journey and success is measured on the amount of improvement in a patient’s lifestyle and/or mental health.
