
What is involved in the process of addiction treatment?
Making a treatment plan is another crucial step in addiction treatment and one which will often be an ongoing process, with clinicians continuously assessing your progress towards treatment goals and making adjustments to treatment as needed. [2]
What is drug treatment and how does it work?
Drug treatment is intended to help addicted individuals stop compulsive drug seeking and use. Treatment can occur in a variety of settings, take many different forms, and last for different lengths of time.
How long does drug addiction treatment take?
Because drug addiction is typically a chronic disorder characterized by occasional relapses, a short-term, one-time treatment is usually not sufficient. For many, treatment is a long-term process that involves multiple interventions and regular monitoring.
What medications are being developed to treat drug addiction?
Scientists are developing other medications to treat stimulant (cocaine, methamphetamine) and cannabis (marijuana) addiction. People who use more than one drug, which is very common, need treatment for all of the substances they use.

What is the medical term for treatment using drugs?
pharmacotherapy. [fahr″mah-ko-ther´ah-pe] treatment of disease with medicines.
What is the first step in the treatment process for addiction?
Detoxification is normally the first step in treatment. This involves clearing a substance from the body and limiting withdrawal reactions. In 80 percent of cases, a treatment clinic will use medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
What techniques are used to treat addiction?
Some of the most common forms of modern addiction treatment include behavioral therapies delivered as individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy.
What is the most effective treatment for addiction?
According to American Addiction Centers, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a valuable treatment tool because it can be used for many different types of addiction including, but not limited to, food addiction, alcohol addiction, and prescription drug addiction.
What is the process of rehabilitation?
Rehabilitation is the process of helping an individual achieve the highest level of function, independence, and quality of life possible. Rehabilitation does not reverse or undo the damage caused by disease or trauma, but rather helps restore the individual to optimal health, functioning, and well-being.
What are the stages of treatment?
Stage-Matched Care. Developed from the Trans-theoretical Model of Change1, the Stage of Change model includes five stages: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance.
What is drug therapy psychology?
Drug therapy, or psychopharmacotherapy, aims to treat psychological disorders with medications. Drug therapy is usually combined with other kinds of psychotherapy. The main categories of drugs used to treat psychological disorders are antianxiety drugs, antidepressants, and antipsychotics.
What is the meaning of drug therapy?
Listen to pronunciation. (… THAYR-uh-pee) Treatment with any substance, other than food, that is used to prevent, diagnose, treat, or relieve symptoms of a disease or abnormal condition.
What is management of drug abuse?
Means 'reducing harm from drugs even more. important than reducing drug consumption'
What is effective treatment?
3. Effective Treatment Attends to Multiple Needs of the Individual, not just his or her drug use: To be effective, treatment must address the individual's drug use and any associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal problems.
What type of treatment is effective for substance related disorders?
There are many options that have been successful in treating drug addiction, including:behavioral counseling.medication.medical devices and applications used to treat withdrawal symptoms or deliver skills training.evaluation and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.More items...•
What is the best definition of detoxification?
Detoxification is treatment that is intended to remove poisonous or harmful substances from your body.
Steps to starting addiction treatment
Every individual requires a specific, tailored treatment plan for their needs, which is developed by a person in collaboration with a licensed clinician.
Principles of effective treatment
Research into addiction treatment has been an ongoing process since the 1970s, with many addiction professionals agreeing that successful treatment and ongoing recovery is built around a set of core principles, including: [1] [2] [3]
Options for drug & alcohol treatment
Drug and alcohol treatment can be broken into two broad categories: outpatient and inpatient care. Within each of these categories is a range of different options for treatment, which will offer slight variations in treatment, facilities, and amenities.
Planning for life after treatment
Preparing to reenter normal life after treatment is a huge step for all patients and no two people will experience the same. Challenges like financial/job insecurity, damaged relationships, exposure to triggers, and mental and emotional issues can all make the transition out of treatment difficult for those in recovery.
Final thoughts on the addiction treatment process
According to SAMHSA, 8.5% of the U.S. population ages 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem in 2014, but only 18.5% of them received it. [1] [3] This is a major concern since research shows that treatment greatly increases the likelihood that a person will achieve lasting sobriety.
How long does it take to get treatment for a drug addiction?
The treatment process is different for each person. People who have been using drugs for years usually require more intensive treatment than people who have been addicted for a few months. Individuals with severe substance use disorders may require months of inpatient therapy. Others may need 30 days.
How to get rid of alcohol addiction?
Detox. The first phase of treatment involves clearing alcohol and other drugs out of your system in a safe environment. Depending on the type of addiction, you may receive medication to ease withdrawal symptoms. Or you may slowly taper off of a substance of abuse. The first days of detox are usually the worst.
What is aftercare in rehab?
Aftercare. Aftercare is a broad term that refers to nonmedical services provided by rehab facilities. Addiction is a disease, but recovery from addiction isn’t dependent on medical services alone. Social support, employment, housing and other factors are crucial to preventing relapse.
What is inpatient therapy?
Inpatient Therapy. After inpatient detox, most people transition into inpatient therapy. This phase of treatment may also be called intensive inpatient therapy or residential therapy depending on the intensity of treatment. Most facilities provide one or two individual therapy sessions during the week.
How long does outpatient therapy last?
If you attended outpatient detox, you may start outpatient therapy within days of starting rehab. Outpatient therapy can last indefinitely. Some people meet with a counselor or therapist weekly or monthly for the rest of their lives. Others stop attending outpatient therapy after months of years of sustained sobriety.
How do I start rehab?
Every person starts the rehab process by searching for a certified treatment center. Ideally, you’ll have the option to choose between multiple reputable centers. Realistically, other factors such as location, waiting lists and insurance coverage determine which center you attend and what type of treatment you receive.
When do you feel better after detox?
The first days of detox are usually the worst. Toward the end of the first week, you should begin to feel better. Some people are introduced to therapy or supplemental services near the end of detox. Other facilities don’t introduce therapy until patients formally transition into the next phase of rehab.
What is group therapy in addiction?
The addiction rehabilitation process usually includes group therapy. 1-4 In fact, group sessions are the mainstay of many rehab programs. The group setting allows those recovering from addiction to interact with others who are in similar situations. It is often helpful for recovering individuals to know that they are not alone in their struggles. This sense of community support is integral to the recovery process.
What is aftercare in addiction rehab?
Many addiction rehab facilities host their own follow-up programs to assist patients as they return to their daily lives. Such aftercare programs might consist of additional counseling, meetings, and classes for alumni of the treatment program as well as other people in the community.
How many phases of rehab are there?
Though individual experiences may vary, in general, people who complete an addiction rehab program can expect to progress through at least four distinct phases of treatment—intake, detox, rehabilitation, and aftercare/ongoing recovery. Intake consists of a comprehensive evaluation, which is then used to create an individualized treatment plan. Detox manages unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
What are the services offered at rehab facilities?
These facilities tend to be in beautiful locations and can offer upscale amenities and services—including acupuncture, equine therapy, spa treatments, and more—in addition to the treatments common at all rehab facilities. There is more to a substance use disorder than drug use.
What is family therapy?
In some rehab programs, family members are encouraged to participate in family therapy sessions. Family therapy can help to resolve issues so the family can serve as a pillar of support once their loved one leaves the rehabilitation facility. 2-4
What is dual diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis typically applies to people who suffer from a mental illness coupled with a SUD. 6 Historically, there has been a split in the U.S. between mental health services and addiction treatment. A group that has fallen through the cracks of this divide is people who’ve been given a dual diagnosis.
What is inpatient treatment?
Inpatient treatment programs strive to remove those struggling with SUDs from their old ways of life by taking them out of a potentially problematic home environment and placing them into a treatment facility that offers 24/7 care from staff personnel. 1
What is the definition of addiction?
Addiction. Relapse. As defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is a chronic brain disease that affects the brain’s reward, pleasure, memory, and motivation. Like many chronic diseases, it does not just spring up one day. Often, several circumstances line up that, over time, ...
What is addiction rehab?
As with the medications and therapies used to treat asthma and diabetes, the treatments in addiction rehab are designed to help the person learn to manage a chronic substance use disorder and reduce the likelihood of relapse to drug use.
What are the risk factors for addiction?
Whether or not that initial use is more likely to lead to addiction is often a matter of individual circumstances. Mayo Clinic describes a number of risk factors that can lead a person to have a higher risk of developing addiction, including: 1 Family history of substance abuse or other mental health disorder 2 Abuse or neglect 3 Chaotic living environment 4 Peer group or family that is permissive about substance use 5 Depression, social issues, or loneliness
What is addiction in mental health?
Addiction is a specific, chronic mental health disorder that results in defined symptoms and behaviors that can be used to diagnose the condition. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), as described by Psych Central, the 11 signs and symptoms of substance use disorders like addiction include:
What is the next stage of addiction?
Abuse. The next stage of the addiction cycle is substance abuse. This is the point at which the person is using the substance on a recurring, improper basis; more simply, the World Health Organization simply defines substance abuse as using a substance in a way that is harmful.
What is the definition of abuse?
With legal substances like tobacco or alcohol, or with prescription medications, abuse is a little harder to delineate, but it is often defined as the point where the person is using the substance for the euphoric response, or high, that the drug creates, rather than for the social or treatment aspect of the substance.
How long does it take for alcohol addiction to develop?
The multiple stages of addiction can occur over a short period of time, or they can take months or even years to develop. A person who has only occasionally had a casual drink may, over years, develop a habit that can turn to alcoholism.
What is the process of detoxing your body of all substances?
Drug and alcohol detoxification (or “detox”) is the process of ridding your body from all addictive substances, so your brain and body can slowly heal as you begin your journey to recovery.
What is detox treatment?
Detox is the initial part of a continuum of care for substance use disorders and is typically followed by further long-term addiction treatment. 1 Long-term addiction treatment teaches healthy coping skills and relapse prevention skills and typically provides psychotherapy and medications to set a strong foundation for lifelong recovery.
Why is detoxification important?
Detoxification helps individuals safely eliminate drugs and alcohol from their bodies and is an important first step in the overall addiction treatment process. Physical withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on the substance of abuse and can potentially be dangerous, and even deadly. Due to these potential risks, ...
What is withdrawal symptoms?
As previously stated, withdrawal symptoms are physical and mental symptoms that can occur when a person who is dependent on a substance suddenly stops or reduces their substance use. 2. Based on principles of safety and humanitarian concerns, SAMHSA advises medically-assisted detox for the following substances: 1.
What are the goals of inpatient detox?
The goals of inpatient detox include the following: 3. Medical stabilization, which often involves medications and fluids to ease withdrawal symptoms. Address co-occurring medical or psychiatric disorders. Connect with addiction treatment providers for follow-up long term treatment after acute detox.
How long does detox last?
The initial phase of detox is focused on ridding the body of substances, but some withdrawal symptoms can last for a few days, while others can last months or longer. 5 Each individual will need to be assessed to determine the proper length of time for detox and continuing addiction treatment.
What is detox program?
Intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization offer detox programs, which are staffed by physicians who provide medical monitoring and nurses who offer care throughout the day. Addiction counselors and clinicians can offer additional interventions if necessary. 1.
What are the different types of treatment for substance use disorder?
A few types of treatment for people with substance use disorders include: Inpatient – This type of treatment involves living at the facility where you’re receiving treatment.
What is the first stage of addiction?
Stage 1: Precontemplation. During this stage, a person often isn’t aware that their behavior is a problem, or don’t have a strong desire to make a change. If a person is in denial about their substance use or hasn’t yet experienced negative consequences related to their addiction, they may not feel a need to change.
What is the difference between outpatient and inpatient rehab?
Inpatient drug and alcohol rehab allows you to focus on your recovery without distractions and removes you from environments that may have been contributing to your drug use. Outpatient – This type of treatment often includes regularly scheduled addiction counseling appointments a few times a week.
What is a 12-step recovery program?
Many types of recovery programs—including outpatient, inpatient, and dual diagnosis— use the 12-Step model as an integral part of their treatment approach. In fact, about 73% of drug and alcohol rehabs in a 2016 survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) used 12-step meetings and introduced patients to the philosophy of these programs. 1
How does recovery help with addiction?
The recovery process from drug or alcohol addiction often involves a person making a significant change (s) to improve their quality of life, including overall health and wellness. It can also help teach people to feel empowered in their lives and reach their full potential.
Why is it important to take action?
Taking action is a very important step in the recovery process and one in which it’s important to have support as you make changes. It can feel stressful to change, which is why the support a person receives in drug and alcohol treatment can be so important in continuing the recovery process.
How to manage cravings?
One of the most effective ways to manage your cravings involves making a concerted effort to avoid the people, environments, and scenarios that act as triggers for you . Ideally, you should take the following steps to keep your cravings under control and reduce your triggers:
