Facts About Drug Rehabilitation

Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite detrimental consequences and long-term brain changes. Drug addictions is a menace in today's society. Substance abuse leads to behavioral and biological health issues. These issues affect individuals, families and communities, click over here.

Furthermore, substance abuse correlates with high levels of crime. Statistics show that about 50% of drug related problems are hereditary. High levels of poverty and unemployment exacerbate the situation. Drug addiction begins as a voluntary action of taking drugs. In the future, a person's ability to choose not to take them is compromised.

People assume that substance abuse describes only using forbidden drugs. However. This is not the case. It is surprising to note that there are more deaths recorded from the abuse of prescribed drugs for instance, pain medication much more than there are deaths from illegal drugs. Prescription substance abuse is bound to get the next largest drug problem around the world. Many drug overdose deaths have been credited to overdoses on p-prescription drugs.

Data shows that drug addiction is prevalent among the youths. Some of the commonly abused drugs are alcohol, heroin, cocaine, depressants, ecstasy, methamphetamine, over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs and nicotine.

Drug Addiction Stages

Stage 1: Experimentation

Experimentation is the stage of voluntary drug use of drugs without negative social or legal consequences. Experimenting may occur once or several times as a way to 'have a good time'. It occurs without a desire to continue using the drugs.

Stage 2: Regular Use

This stage can develop without dependence or addiction. People in this particular stage will manage to stop alone. The problem is that it increases the risk of substance abuse.

Stage 3: Risky Use/Abuse

In the risky stage, there is a continuous use of drugs even with severe social and legal consequences. The sign of addiction begin to appear just like cravings irritability and fatigue if the drug is not used.

Stage 4: Drug Addiction and Dependency

This is stage of dependency. There is a compulsive use drugs despite severe negative consequences to relationships and physical and mental health.

Drug abuse is a treatable condition through rehabilitation if the addict is willing and committed to see the whole process through. The process is not easy because it is alonged with adverse withdrawal effects. Drug addiction is a relapsing disease. It is it's not surprising that many recovering addicts fall off the wagon.

Drug Treatment

The objectives of addiction treatment are to aid a person completely stop using drugs, stay drug free and be productive in the society. Effective drug treatment is accordinged to the following principles:

• Addiction is a treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior
• A single treatment isn't right for everyone
• Quick access to treatment is needed
• Effective treatment addresses all the patient's needs
• It is critical to live in treatment enough time
• Common forms of treatment are counselling and behavioral therapies
• A combination of medications and behavior modifications are essential in treatment
• Treatment plans must be reviewed and modified to meet the change in patient's needs
• Mental illness should be addressed at the same time 
• Detoxification through medical assistance is just the beginning
• Effective treatment need not be voluntary
• Continuous monitoring of drug use during treatment
• Treatment programs should screen patients for an infectious or viral diseases including HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis

Sorts of Drug Rehab

The forms of drug treatment can possibly be categorized into two major styles of treatment: inpatient and outpatient, visit here for more.

1.) Inpatient drug addiction treatment

It is also referred to as residential drug rehab. Inpatient care offers structured intensive care for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Residential treatment includes the following settings:

Short-term residential treatment

This typically concentrates on detoxification and intensive counselling which is a preparation for community-based treatment settings.

Recovery housing

Recovery housing provides a short-term housing for patients on other sorts of inpatient treatment or help patients make a transition into independent life. Such houses teach people on managing finances, seeking employment and connecting back to the community.

2.) Outpatient drug addiction treatment

This program resembles inpatient care with the only difference being that individuals receive care within the day but return home in the evening. Outpatient care is designed for individuals who prefer to maintain a presence in your house due to the supportive environment or have a less serious condition that does not merit all over care.

Outpatient car provides a wide array of programs for patients regularly. The programs involve individual or group counselling or both.

Outpatient care begins intensively for the first few months with multiple sessions each week. After completion patients transition from intensive treatment to regular treatment with less sessions a week. There are other sorts of drug rehab and addiction treatment which help individuals with special needs or lifestyles. Such programs include:

3.) Women's drug rehab

These are gender based programs, specifically tailored to meet the needs of women addicts. They provide a safer place for women to speak openly about issues that directly impact their addictions like co-dependency or past sexual assault.

4.) Teen drug rehab

Adolescents are common addicts. Since their issues are quite different from those of adults, teen rehabs are very essential. They are unique in addressing the needs of teenage addicts.

5.) Dual diagnosis drug rehab

Dual diagnosis patients are patients who experience mental illness and addictions con-currently. They are high-risk individuals who need specialized care. Their treatment includes addiction treatment and psychiatric counselling.

6.) Holistic drug rehab

Some notable drug rehab programs include holistic methods of treating drug addictions. Yoga, acupuncture, nutritional counselling and meditation are several of the holistic programs included. Such programs enhance the individuals mind, body and spirit medications for drug addiction treatment.

Regardless of what kind of drug rehab you choose, every type of rehabilitation must follow these steps for successful treatment of drug addictions

i.) Detoxification.
ii.) Behavioral counselling.
iii.) Medication.
iv.) Evaluation and treatment of co-occurring mental issues.
v.) Longer term follow up.

1.) Detoxification

Detoxification is the general process of removal of toxic substances from the body. It is the first step when treating drug addiction. The goal of a detox is to heal the body after a long-term drug addiction. This is done by helping the boy rid itself of the drug and stabilizing the patient to transition to long-term treatment. Detoxification can occur in an inpatient or outpatient facility depending upon the severity of the addiction. A detox from opioids or alcohol may be dangerous because of the severe withdrawal system and requires medical supervision. The initial stage of drug detoxes very intense because it requires denying the body what it is used to. Medical staff are necessary to support with the adverse withdrawal symptoms which include insomnia, anxiety, agitation, muscle aches and sweating. These symptoms are not harmful but may be very uncomfortable for the patient. The first hours of a detox are characterized by violent tendencies and psychotic behavior. Drug withdrawal is associated with severe depressive symptoms which lead to suicidal tendencies. These acute issues should be immediately treated once they are identified until the patient is stabilized. There are factors that influence the length of complete detoxification and withdrawal symptoms just like:

• The length of addiction.
• The combination of drugs bused.
• The drug dosage when the patient begins detox.
• Existence of co-occurring physical or mental disorders.
• The half-life of the drug.

Detoxification can either be inpatient or outpatient depending on the intensity of withdrawal symptoms, check over here.