What You Need to Know About Drug Abuse Treatment
Drug abuse affects every social demographic in the country. Rich and poor, young and old, there is no segment of society that is free of this malady. This is all the more reason why everyone should be aware about drug abuse treatment. What it consists of, how it works, where to find it and why it is necessary.
Drug abuse treatment involves many components. It starts with addiction treatment, but also incorporates support counseling and may include medical and psychological interventions as needed. It is continuous and must be followed through, there is no such thing as a compact instant solution when it comes to battling drug abuse. The reason that this sort of treatment is so multi-faceted is due to the complex nature of drug abuse itself. First, different drugs have different level of physical addiction on the body. Second, people tend to abuse drugs to fill voids in their lives or due to other non-physiological factors. This means that a person that abuses a drug or series of drugs likely has underlying issues which need to be addressed as part of any successful treatment program.
The first step in drug abuse treatment must come from the person suffering from the addiction. They must recognize that a problem exists. This will prompt them to seek professional help themselves or at the very least make them receptive to the helping guidance of friends and family that will eventually lead to a drug abuse treatment program. As simple as admission to an addiction may sound, it is in fact one of the most difficult steps in drug abuse treatment. Most people suffering from such addictions live in denial of their problem. They either view their condition as normal, socially acceptable or non-existent. It usually requires the direct intervention of those close to them to help them realize the scope of their problem. Even then, some addicts will reflect blame off themselves and assign it to the pressures of daily life, the influence of those around them or society in general.
This is why many drug abuse treatment programs utilize a peer-based model. Interacting and sharing with other people that are addicts themselves helps to establish a sense of trust and understanding. It is this circle of trust which lays the foundation for desisting from the consumption of the drug and that provides encouragement and sustainment to remain off the substance. When an addict first stops consuming their drug, the physiological reaction to this can range from mild to severe. Withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, muscle pain, and nausea among others. This is why the first phases of treatment often require the person suffering from the drug abuse problem to intern themselves into the treatment facility. This allows for proper medical monitoring of their physical condition as they first detox themselves from the addictive substance.
There are three different type of treatment facilities. There are those operated by different levels of government, usually providing such help to those in economic need. There are those operated by private non-profit organizations. These usually accompany their programs with some sort of spiritual counseling as well. There are also the privately run treatment centers. The latter can range greatly in price for their services. Most of them are geared toward providing treatment services for those with private health insurance coverage. Some are very exclusive and offer state of the art facilities that resemble high-end resorts.
Regardless of the treatment facility that is chosen, what is of paramount importance is simply getting the person with the drug abuse problem the help that they need. Statistics show that if a person goes untreated for drug abuse they will be more likely to progress into other more addictive and dangerous drugs. Also, untreated they will be more likely to injure themselves or others. Their life expectancy will be curtailed severely and will be more likely to experience family disintegration such as divorce.
If you know of someone that is suffering from drug abuse, or if you know of someone who has a friend or family member that suffers from drug abuse, encourage them to explore the drug abuse treatment programs that are available locally. Advice them to consult with a trusted physician or community medical center for trusted referrals. The sooner an addict gets drug abuse treatment the better off they will be.