What is Drug Abuse Treatment?

Drug treatment is a vital service for drug abusers as well as the rest of society. As of 2004, roughly 22.5 million people in the United States over the age of 12 had substance abuse disorders requiring treatment, but only 3.8 million got the help they needed. Drug treatment is not only needed by individuals who are homeless or living in poverty. In fact, more than two-third of illicit drug abusers are presently employed. With timely treatment, these individuals can enjoy a longer, richer life and contribute more to society. Following is a deeper look at drug abuse treatment and its benefits.

Major Advantages of Inpatient Drug Abuse Treatment

Drug abuse treatment is generally divided into inpatient and outpatient programs. Outpatient programs allow patients to continue working and maintaining a normal lifestyle while undergoing treatment, but these programs also tend to be less intensive or effective than inpatient programs. At inpatient drug treatment centers, patients receive a controlled atmosphere with a full range of services that address drug withdrawal, psychological factors of drug addiction and training to support adaptation to a drug-free lifestyle afterwards. Inpatient drug rehab usually requires that patients are medically stable, able to utilize all of the program's features and likely to finish the program successfully.

Goals of Inpatient Drug Abuse Treatment

Inpatient drug rehab aims to help drug addicts quit using drugs while learning to adapt to sobriety and avoid relapse in the future. To tackle ignorance about the negative effects of drug abuse, programs educate addicts about the harms of drug addiction. This helps to provide motivation for quitting. Inpatient rehab also helps addicts to see the damage they have done to themselves and others through their past behavior. As a result, the recovering addict emerges with tools and skills to more easily abstain from drugs in the future.

Inpatient Drug Abuse Treatment Features

• Assessment: Drug rehab often begins with assessment by staff to determine whether patients are experiencing mental illness or personality disorders that may complicate their treatment. As a result, the staff can create an individual plan for each patient to improve their treatment outcome.
• Controlled environment: Although all drug treatment centers maintain a controlled environment as a key component of success, the level of control can vary. Many rehab centers do not allow any outside communication in the early stages of treatment. However, some programs allow patients to communicate with family, and sometimes friends, in supervised phone calls or face-to-face visits during later stages of treatment. This level of control prevents outside influences from triggering the desire to use drugs in patients who are struggling to escape addiction.
• Inpatient and outpatient counseling: Both are often used in combination at rehab centers. One-on-one sessions between patients and staff can help identify roots of addictive behavior and create a personal plan for recovery. This helps patients develop stronger strategies for coping with stress and avoiding future drug abuse. In group sessions, patients can rebuild relationships with family and friends in sessions that include them or develop better insight into their own behavior through the stories of others. In addition, positive new relationships can be built with others who are also recovering from drug addiction.
• Life skills training: This is essential for helping patients regain abilities that are often lost during long-term drug addiction. These skills sessions help patients relearn ways of managing day-to-day life without drugs. Paying bills, cooking, organization, and other tasks may be taught by staff.
• Focus on Recovery: Throughout treatment, inpatient rehab gives patients the chance to focus on recovery rather than the responsibilities of home. Instead of trying to quit using drugs while under the stress of working, caring for a family or going to school, patients can deal solely with their present challenge in order to boost their capabilities later.

Types of Drug Abuse Treatment Programs

Many drug abuse treatment programs focus on specific approaches to improve their results. A few basic types are:

• Adult
• Adolescent
• Long-term
• Faith-based
• Gender-specific
• Hospital-based

A number of treatment programs are also designed for patients with special circumstances, such as those with concurrent mental illness. Experts say that about half of drug abusers also suffer from a major mental illness, such as depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Other programs exist for pregnant women, elderly individuals and people who identify as homosexual or transgender. After inpatient drug treatment ends, relapse prevention becomes critical. Many programs offer extended post-treatment counseling to support patients in their efforts to stay clean. In addition, recovering addicts with mental illness are provided with resources for psychiatric treatment. With help from these outlets, patients are better equipped to stay off of drugs in the future.