Treatment programs for drug addiction are designed to help those struggling with addiction to stop participating in their destructive behaviors. Drug abuse treatment options differ in duration, style, and setting depending on the severity of the addiction, which drugs are being abused, and whether or not their underlying mental health issues accompany the addictions to drugs. Generally, drug addiction treatment is not a short-term solution. Long-term treatment helps alleviate the stress of abstaining alone and helps encourage the individual to learn more about the state of their condition, how to avoid triggering circumstances, and how to be actively involved in a community that supports them.
There are many evidence-based addiction treatment programs that aid in drug abuse. These can include a variety of behavioral therapies (cognitive-behavioral therapy and relapse management), mental health therapies (depression, anxiety, etc), medication-assisted treatment (combination of medications and counseling), and intensive counseling programs for continued support and recovery. These options will vary in availability depending on the needs of each client – the severity of addiction, which drug is being abused, and their underlying mental illness.
In this article we will be addressing the forms of drug abuse treatments that we at Freedom Now administer and how you can receive the help you need for drug abuse.
Drug abuse is almost never a disorder that occurs on its own. Generally, many people who struggle with drug abuse hate the fact that they are dependent on drugs in order to cope with their lives. Co-occurring disorders are very common and in many cases, drug abuse accompanies mental illness. Substance abuse is most often the result of trying to relieve the individual of their psychological troubles by tricking the brain into producing chemicals that give off a sense of peace or calm during times of torment. Addiction treatment seeks to prevent drug dependence as a coping mechanism and effectively treat both the mental health and physical health of the patient. With prolonged drug use, the brain can potentially cease making serotonin and dopamine naturally. In this case, the brain has become dependent on drugs to release chemicals that help stabilize the body.
At Freedom Now, our drug addiction treatment specialists have learned to identify key symptoms that help us determine whether or not the use of drugs exceeded recreational use:
Drug abuse disorders can also dramatically affect various areas of your life. These can include how you interact with your spouse, family, and other close personal relationships, your financial security, your education, and your career.
If you are suffering from any of the above, help is available for you! Contact your local facility and learn more about what they offer. The first step to recovery is recognizing you have a problem and understanding how to heal from your addiction.
Identifying a drug dependency does not entirely depend upon identifying the physical manifestations of drug use. Rather, a doctor may use a series of both physical and behavioral diagnostic tests in order to determine the extent of your drug dependency. The criteria for these tests may include, but are certainly not limited to:
No one is expected to fit all of these criteria in order for a doctor to diagnose them with a drug addiction or for the person to find treatment for their addiction. For instance, some drugs do not produce physical tolerance or withdrawal symptoms. Also, addiction does not constantly lead to a loss of employment, etc. Everybody’s addiction will look a little different and their addiction treatment will be tailored to fit their specific needs.
Drug addiction is a disease that affects both the brain and the behavior of the individual. Addiction to drugs is characterized by a compulsive or uncontrollable need to find drugs, to use drugs, and to continue in this destructive behavior despite the consequences it may have on their life and relationships. Drug addiction can lead to irreversible brain damage or be fatal if treatment does not take place quickly. It is not uncommon for many people to attempt to get clean and then struggle with relapse.
Drug addiction does not begin as an uncontrollable issue. In many cases, a drug may have been taken recreationally and not very often, yet, in some cases, once ingested, injected, or snorted, the brain will begin craving a boost in neurotransmitters. This is known as the reward system in drug addiction. Drugs can spike the brain with excess serotonin and dopamine creating a euphoric experience, a “high.” Once the brain becomes dependent on that spike, a person’s ability to choose whether or not to take a drug can become compromised and addiction sets in.
Drug abuse treatment is typically approached in two ways depending on the severity of the addiction and the unique needs of each client. The two treatment options available are: inpatient and outpatient treatment. Inpatient care is typically the initial approach to treating severe addictions: detox, medical assistance, medication management, and residential housing to ensure the safety and sustained recovery of the patient. Outpatient care offers a bit more freedom for the patient as they are able to live at home, continue work or their education, and still receive the care they need on a weekly basis.
There are many options available for treating drug use. A few of the options offered here at Freedom Now involve:
Tailored treatment is an important aspect of drug use recovery. The specific, unique needs of each patient must be met in order to ensure a successful journey toward recovery. Community and family based follow-up care, medical assistance, relapse prevention, and other health services are important support systems while in treatment.
As mentioned above, inpatient care is a unique addiction treatment option for those who are suffering from severe drug dependence disorders. Inpatient care means that you will be living at the facility where you are receiving treatment. This can take place for a short-period of time before outpatient care begins or it can be a prolonged solution.
Inpatient care helps assist in:
Inpatient care can significantly affect the life of each patient in the best way possible. However, we understand that inpatient care is not always the best solution – especially in how it can affect academics and your occupation. Outpatient care is another effective method for treating drug addiction.
Outpatient drug rehab centers provide a vast variety of treatment options as part of a long-term recovery process. There are 4 different types of outpatient treatment readily available at many rehab centers:
Each of the choices above will require a particular quantity of time as your healing advances. It is common for many outpatient programs to only take up a few hours of your day, several times a week, for 6 months to a year. After intensive outpatient treatment ends, rehabilitation will continue to help sustain your recovery. These programs are often offered for years after the initial program ends and may even be available for life.
Counseling and medication-assisted treatment are flexible programs which allow greater versatility in your treatment to help meet your every need.
In addition to medication-assisted treatment, medication management, and many other treatment options available at both inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities offer counseling and therapy programs to help treat mental illness and substance abuse patterns. Counseling options can vary between intensive individual counseling or group therapy sessions orchestrated by your addiction counselor. Therapies in addiction treatment include:
We provide holistic care at Freedom Now. Our approach is individualized in order to meet the specific needs of each of our clients. Our holistic care and treatment is based on the best available scientific evidence. Secondly, we help you lead a healthy, substance-free life with adaptive coping and problem-solving skills. Don’t let addiction control your life. Our addiction professionals can help you take the first step of recovery while walking with you through the entire journey, significantly changing your life.
