Author: John Carter

Addiction Treatment National Institute on Drug Abuse NIDA

For many people, substance or alcohol use was a way to self-medicate for depression, anxiety, or another mental health condition. For others, perhaps it began as a way to stay motivated during long hours of working or studying. Stopping drug use is just one part of a long and complex recovery process.

Committing to change includes stages of precontemplation and contemplation where a person considers changing, cutting down, moderating, or quitting the addictive behavior. Support groups or self-help groups can be part of in-patient programs or available for free use in the community. Well-known support groups include narcotics anonymous (NA), alcoholics anonymous (AA), and SMART Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery Training). One study of treatment facilities found that almost 80% of people undergoing therapy for cessation received medications. When appropriate, your doctor will prescribe medications to address the physical withdrawal symptoms and help you feel more comfortable throughout this process. When tapering off of the substance, you can experience painful withdrawal symptoms.

Licensed residential treatment facilities offer 24-hour structured care with medical attention. Relapse rates for drug use are similar to rates for other chronic medical illnesses. If people stop following their medical treatment plan, they are likely to relapse. The goal of detoxification, also called “detox” or withdrawal therapy, is to enable you to stop taking the addicting drug as quickly and safely as possible. For some people, it may be safe to undergo withdrawal therapy on an outpatient basis.

What Are My Addiction Treatment Options?

Although there’s no cure for drug addiction, treatment options can help you overcome an addiction and stay drug-free. Your treatment depends on the drug used and any related medical or mental health disorders you may have. Faith-based treatment programs provide specialized therapies and facilities that center around faith. Within this treatment program, people in recovery can surround themselves with like-minded individuals looking for guidance from a higher power to find recovery in the journey ahead. It is important to understand what services are available at faith-based programs to ensure all service needs, including medical, can be safely provided. Treatment options for addiction depend on several factors, including the type of addictive disorder, the length and severity of use, and its effects on the individual.

During a biofeedback session, a therapist places multiple electronic sensors on a patient’s body to monitor their vitals, like heart rate, breathing, and possibly even brain activity. After reviewing the results, the therapist can recommend a range of psychological techniques that can be used to help develop healthy coping strategies to better manage the body’s involuntary processes. Counseling for addiction aims to help people change behaviors and attitudes around using a substance, as well as strengthening life skills and supporting other treatments.

SMART Recovery™

Alcohol use disorder is the most common substance addiction in the United States, followed by nicotine and marijuana. About 10% of people aged 12 or older in the U.S. have alcohol use disorder. Behavioral addictions can occur with any activity that’s capable of stimulating your brain’s reward system. While relapse is a normal part of recovery, for some drugs, it can be very dangerous—even deadly. If a person uses as much of the drug as they did before quitting, they can easily overdose because their bodies are no longer adapted to their previous level of drug exposure. An overdose happens when the person uses enough of a drug to produce uncomfortable feelings, life-threatening symptoms, or death.

Whatever the method of delivery, seek immediate medical care after using naloxone. In an opioid overdose, a medicine called naloxone can be given by emergency responders, or in some states, by anyone who witnesses an overdose. We may receive advertising fees if you follow links to promoted online therapy websites. If you feel that you are not “connecting” with your counselor, consider finding a new counselor instead of abandoning treatment. People who are struggle with other types of addiction can find out about self-help groups in their community either by an internet search or by asking a doctor or nurse for information. Whatever is said during an intervention should be done so with the intention of helping the person accept help.

An intervention includes trained professionals like a drug and alcohol counselor, therapist, and/or interventionist who can help guide a family through the preparation and execution. It occurs in a controlled setting (not in the person’s home or family home). Intervention works by confronting the specific issues and encouraging the person to seek treatment.

1. This isn’t always the case, though, because different drugs have different withdrawal symptoms.
2. Al-Anon and Nar-Anon emphasize addiction as a family illness and provide loved ones with effective coping and communication methods.
3. Relapse rates for drug use are similar to rates for other chronic medical illnesses.
4. Detox may occur in a hospital setting or as a first step to the inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation process.

Because these programs allow people to adapt the steps to their needs, many have found them immensely helpful during their recovery journey. Within holistic therapy, the focus is on the individual’s overall well-being, which includes physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Holistic therapy is a common mainstay in many treatment programs and has many benefits.

Addiction is a chronic (lifelong) condition that involves compulsive seeking and taking of a substance or performing of an activity despite negative or harmful consequences. The CBT aspect of the program helps people increase their awareness of substance-using habits and recognize situations that may not be safe. Seeking Safety educates clients about the link between trauma, substance use, and coping skills and acknowledges how people often use substances to cope with anxiety. Seeking Safety is a therapeutic approach designed for people with both an SUD and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research has shown CM to be effective for various types of SUD, including SUDs involving alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, cocaine, and opiates.

What are the types of addiction?

Because of this, outpatient rehabs are suited for individuals with mild forms of substance use disorders and a committed, disciplined approach to recovery. Outpatient programs are also an excellent “step-down” approach after inpatient treatment and are often combined with sober living homes. Drug and alcohol detoxification programs prepare a person for treatment in a safe, controlled environment where withdrawal symptoms (and any physical or mental health complications) can be managed. Detox may occur in a hospital setting or as a first step to the inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation process.

What is addiction?

Self-help support groups can decrease the sense of shame and isolation that can lead to relapse. An individual will sometimes embark on a 6-to-12-month rehabilitation program in a dedicated facility. Following this, they may live in supervised housing while they readjust to managing finances and finding employment. Medication is not a standalone treatment for addiction and should accompany other management methods such as psychotherapy. Bear in mind that setting boundaries such as “I can no longer give you money if you continue to use drugs,” is not the same as threatening a person with punishment. Detoxification is not equivalent to treatment and should not be solely relied upon for recovery.

It is often the first step in treating individuals recovering from moderate to severe substance use disorders and addiction. In some cases, detoxing from certain substances require medication-assisted therapy (MAT) to help ease the severity of withdrawal symptoms and prevent life-threatening medical conditions. Medications prescribed during detox are often tapered until the patient is no longer physically dependent on addictive substances.

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Counseling gets at the core of why someone began using alcohol or drugs, and what they can do to make lasting changes. This may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in which the patient learns to recognize problematic thinking, behaviors, and patterns and establish healthier ways of coping. CBT can help someone develop stronger self-control and more effective coping strategies.

Over 46 million Americans aged 12 or older have a substance use disorder, and according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 94% of those people did not receive any treatment. It will take a significant amount of willingness and continuous support to achieve and maintain long-term sobriety. A treatment center can provide the structure and support needed to succeed. There is no one single approach to the treatment of addictive disorders. Depending on the addictive disorder, medications may be used to help achieve and maintain abstinence. Loved ones who are concerned about a person’s drug or alcohol use may consider an intervention.