The effects of drug abuse extend far beyond just the user but to everyone around them too. Drug abuse affects the financial state of individuals, families and communities. It also increases crime rate and other negative social influences such as domestic violence.
The good news is yes, drug abuse can be treated and the main goal of treatment is to help those using drugs excessively to achieve long term sobriety and to help them integrate back into society.
The Essentials of Drug Abuse Treatment
Drug abuse treatment assists in changing the way narcotic users act and helps in preventing relapses. The healing process will be a long one and it requires lots of treatment, counselling and therapy in order to achieve recovery.
The following factors form the platform of a good drug abuse treatment program:
- All treatment has to be customised for every new patient, since the drug abuse symptoms will differ from person to person.
- Treatment shouldn’t just focus on the physical symptoms of drug abuse, but every factor, psychological and social.
- Treatment needs to be done over a period of time determined by the nature and severity of the drug abuse symptoms suffered.
- Treatment doesn’t have to be voluntary to work but forcing someone into rehab has no effect on whether it will be successful or not.
Counselling and therapy plays an important part of the drug abuse recovery process. For certain forms of drug abuse, medication may be needed, while others may require none.
Drug Abuse Treatment Methods
There are various methods used in the treatment of drug abuse. Depending on type of drug being used and the severity of the symptoms, a medical detoxification may be required to remove all the harmful toxins of out of the body.
Once this has been completed, drug abusers will need to attend treatment modified to their own requirements. Choosing the most suitable form of treatment plays an important part in the possibility of living a clean and sober lifestyle.
Medicines Used in Treatment
There are various types of medication used to treat the different classes of drug addictions. In some cases, medicine is used to reduce or remove the withdrawal effects of abstinence away from the narcotic substance. However, it is important to note that medication or detox is not ‘the’ cure for drug abuse or addiction. It’s only the starting point of a lifelong recovery commitment.
Because drugs affect the way the brain normally works, these medicines help in getting it back to normal functioning again. They also assist in removing the desire to use the substance again and may prevent relapses as well.
However, for some drugs, there is no medication available to treat it. Narcotics such as heroin, morphine and nicotine currently can’t be treated.
Behavioural Treatment
The treatment of behaviour is important as it gives the individual control over their drug abuse recovery. It gives drug abusers the opportunity to change their attitudes and actions through various counselling techniques and group therapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy is very effective in helping drug abusers realise, avoid and handle situations that might cause a relapse.
Residential Drug Abuse Treatment
For more serious drug abuse problems, inpatient treatment in a rehabilitation centre is the best way to achieve recovery. The length of treatment will be determined by the type of drug being used and how serious the symptoms are, however, there is a requirement for patients to stay in treatment for four weeks.
