What is drug addiction? Drug addiction is an intense long term brain disease which causes strong powerful emotional and physical cravings for powerful mind-altering drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and PCP. The drugs can be taken without the user’s knowledge, but if they are used on a regular basis, the user develops a substance dependency. These drugs can produce an intense and long term “high,” but also often result in feelings of anxiety, depression, irritability, and a host of other physical symptoms. A drug user will frequently visit multiple healthcare providers in an attempt to control these symptoms and can be subject to both short term and long term side effects.
Drug addiction treatment involves both inpatient and outpatient treatment. An inpatient facility will provide facilities that are similar to those found in hospitals, with the added requirement that addicts are admitted into the facility. These facilities will house the addict with other recovering addicts and keep them well educated about the nature of their disease. Detox is another very important part of drug addiction treatment. For inpatient facilities, detox takes place in an inpatient facility that is separate from the main facility.
In outpatient treatment rehab facilities, the addict may be referred to as a day patient, or a family patient. He or she will have regular access to medical care and support, but will not have to stay in the facility under any type of medical supervision. Instead, they will need to arrange their own transportation between inpatient facilities and their home, among other things. They will still need to make their inpatient rehab treatment commitment, but if they are able to make a full recovery, they will be able to go back to living their life without any type of supervision.
Aftercare is an important aspect of treatment, as relapse prevention is very important. The process of aftercare can vary greatly from person to person, but there are some general principles to follow. One of these principles is that after recovering from drug addiction, people should take care to avoid locations, places or situations that trigger intense drug cravings or withdrawal symptoms. People should also seek support when they are feeling weak or need a hug. Many drug addicts fail to make this crucial step, and become prey to drug relapse.
There is also a process known as detoxification, which is often administered at the same time as inpatient rehab treatment. There are two ways in which detox can occur. First, the patient may undergo detox at the hands of a professional in a medical setting, such as a doctor, nurse, or a psychotherapist. If medical detox is not possible, or the patient cannot tolerate the withdrawal symptoms that accompany it, then the patient may need to undergo detox at home. Methods of detox can range from pharmaceutical therapy to herbal remedies to hydrotherapy and more.
Treatment can take place in an inpatient or an outpatient setting. Inpatient care is reserved for people who are abusing drugs on a very large scale, or who have serious mental health issues that make inpatient care a risky option for them. For these people, outpatient care is the most practical option. While outpatient therapy can be done on an outpatient basis by going to meetings at designated times, either one-on-one with a therapist or with a group of people who are struggling with the same issues you are, or going to group therapy sessions over the Internet, telephone or in person as needed.
People who have already gone through rehabilitation and are living in an aftercare planning phase will want to know what they can do now to facilitate the process of reversing their course and leading a drug-free life. Aftercare is very important after leaving rehab, because it allows recovering addicts to maintain a drug-free lifestyle by avoiding substances that trigger cravings and behavior patterns. A lot of people fail to achieve aftercare goals because they neglect their efforts. They either don’t feel motivated enough or they give up too soon. Follow your rehab program’s aftercare guidelines very carefully and make sure you follow them!
Once you’ve gone through treatment and are officially clean, we’ll connect you with a local addiction specialist to help you stop using drugs and begin a new life. The sooner you contact us today, the more likely you’ll be able to start a new and fulfilling life. With our proven methods of recovery, we can help you get rid of your addiction for good.