Approaches to Substance Abuse Rehab

Substance abuse rehabilitation may or may not be successful for those addicted to drugs. There are a variety of different approaches used in substance abuse rehabilitation, and not all approaches will work for all individuals. There are several approaches used in rehab that include medications, behavioral therapy, and aftercare programs. While these approaches may all be offered to every client, not every client will get the same medications or the same type of therapy or aftercare.

Medications may be taken for withdrawal symptoms and for treatment of the addiction. Medications given for detoxification (or withdrawal) can assist the addicted person to get through the horrible symptoms of withdrawal (diarrhea, chills, severe cramping, hallucinations, vomiting) and to the next phase of their rehab experience. Medications used in treatment help to reestablish brain function, prevent relapse and diminish the user’s cravings.

Behavioral therapy in substance abuse rehab consists of helping the addicted person modify their behaviors, change their actions, increase healthy life skills and assess why they started using drugs in the first place. There are two kinds of treatment options, inpatient and outpatient. Inpatient treatment is more intense and will require an individual to live in the treatment center for a specified period of time. Outpatient therapy involves attending meetings and groups at a treatment facility, and also working with a therapist for individual therapy.

After care programs consist of assisting the recovering individual in overcoming temptation, returning to normal life, finding a healthy social group and resisting the pull of their drug. Recovering individuals are encouraged to take part in support groups or 12-step programs. Individual therapy may also be continued throughout the aftercare process. If drug use was attributed to trauma or mood disorder, counseling and/or medications may need to be continued for several months or even years.

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What Happens in Detox?

If you are someone you know is dealing with substance abuse symptoms you may think the scariest part about the entire experience is the dealing with the withdrawal symptoms. While withdrawal symptoms are scary, detoxification is needed in order to move past the addiction and get treatment. Detox will rid your body of the drugs that have taken over. Detoxification is the first step to substance abuse rehabilitation, and primarily addresses the physical components to addiction.

While detox is a purely physical process, it can have very great emotional ramifications for the user. Detox symptoms may be temporary, but the pain associated with the withdrawal can be traumatic for many addicts. Detox should always been done under professional and medical supervision. This can help to make sure that pain is lessened and that symptoms are controlled and manageable.

Depending on the type of drug used, withdrawal symptoms may vary. Alcohol symptoms can range from dizziness and nausea to tremors and clammy skin. Detox from cocaine causes dizziness, anxiety, irritability and depression. Abdominal pain, agitation, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting are symptoms of opiate withdrawal.

Detox from substances can take three to seven days to be rid of the physical withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms can be very severe and detoxification should always be done under supervision of doctors. Opiate withdrawal can cause seizures and death, and should not be attempted on your own. Hospitals and rehab facilities have medications that can help ease the pain and discomfort during the detox process.

After the detox process occurs, and physical dependence to drug is complete it will be easier for an individual to then move onto working beyond the psychological issues of addiction. Psychological, emotional and behavioral therapy cannot start until the physical addiction is addressed. Detoxification is a difficult, yet very needed component to the recovery process.

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Inpatient Versus Outpatient Therapy

If you or a loved one is suffering from a substance abuse addiction, you may not know what the first step of rehabilitation is. There are two main types of treatment, inpatient and outpatient treatment. Both types offer help for those that are addicted to drugs or alcohol, but there are specific components of both types of treatment. Different individuals may need different types of treatment, or may even need both types at some point in their life.

Inpatient treatment is a type of treatment in which the addict is provided with 24 hour psychiatric and medical treatment. Usually patients will stay in this type of treatment for several weeks or months. Inpatient treatment may be voluntarily or involuntary, and may be in an open or a locked facility. There are doctors and nurses available around the clock at inpatient treatment facilities, and detoxification services are usually provided to the patient. This type of treatment is very structured, and often visitors are not allowed for a long period of time. Counselors offer individual and group therapy to all patients, with patients having a full load of sessions throughout their days and weeks in therapy.

Outpatient treatment programs are useful for those that must continue to work, attend school or take care of their family. These types of programs vary depending what the patient needs and what facility they use. Outpatient therapy usually consists of meeting a therapist for individual or group therapy a few times a week. This type of treatment does not usually address any medical problems or physical issues due to the drug addiction. This type of treatment is very flexible, more affordable and patients will learn how to manage their drug addiction while still dealing with their everyday lives. Outpatient therapy can last several months or years, depending on the needs of the client.

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Life After Rehabilitation

One of the most important things for you to consider when you decide to go into rehabilitation for a drug or alcohol addiction is that there is life after rehabilitation. Once you leave the rehabilitation facility where you overcame your addiction, your life is going to be in your hands once more, and you will be charged with taking the necessary steps to getting your life in order once and for all.

There are numerous steps involved in really getting a handle on your life once again following life with a drug or alcohol addiction and the subsequent rehabilitation. You will need to find a place to live and get a job that will allow you to support yourself. If you have not already gone to school, then now is an excellent time to consider getting a degree and finding a real career path. Individuals that have responsibilities are best suited for focusing and bettering themselves.

If you are working on bettering your life after spending some time in a rehabilitation facility, then you might want to consider an online university. An online course load will allow you to work for a living while supporting yourself. You can use services like EarnMyDegree.com to help you find the right course of action for your education and career future. An online school will allow you to get your life back on track because you will be able to attend classes on your own schedule and to work at your own pace until you are able to earn your desired degree. This is going to be the right type of learning for anyone that is focusing on a multi-faceted approach to overcoming a life of addiction or substance abuse.

You can pick up the pieces of your life and move on with the right education and the right attitude. Online courses will make it easier for you to get the help you need in starting over.

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What Type of Treatment is Right For Me?

Conversation between doctor and patient/consumer.

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If you or a loved one are addicted to a drug or addicted to alcohol, you may be struggling to figure out what the first step in recovery is. You may not even know if you need rehabilitation, or just may not want to go to rehab. If you are ready to take the first step in the rehab journey, you will need to decide what kind of treatment you are ready to commit to. There are major differences between the two types of rehab, inpatient and outpatient, and you will need to figure out which type is right for you.

  1. How Much Money Can You Afford to Spend on Treatment?: Outpatient treatment is much cheaper than inpatient treatment, if you don’t have insurance that will cover payment, cost will need to be factored in. Inpatient treatment is so expensive because food, housing and around the clock medical and psychological services are available.

  2. Are You Willing to Put in the Hard Work Required in Outpatient Treatment?: Attending outpatient treatment is very different from inpatient treatment because the there is no around-the-clock supervision and assistance. Outpatient treatment requires commitment to hard work done alone, without professional assistance.

  3. What Kind of Aftercare is Available if You Attend Inpatient Treatment?: You will need your rehab program to provide aftercare services and support. The hardest part of treatment is living life after you are done. After 24 hour support and living in a structured environment, learning to abstain on the outside can be very hard.

  4. Is Your Addiction Severe?: Has your addiction caused medical problems, life-threatening conditions, or totally taken over your life? If so, you may need inpatient treatment. If you are so addicted to your drugs that they are all encompassing and causing a danger to your body, you need the structured, medical environment of inpatient treatment.

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What are Outreach Clinics?

Outreach services are provided to at-risk populations that need substance abuse services. These populations include veterans, homeless, and the mentally ill. Outreach services often provide the substance abusers with drug and alcohol services, and services to help them with their homelessness, mental illness or other social problem that they may have. These outreach clinics often employ doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists and case managers.

Doctors and nurses are available to assist with assessment of medical and physical condition of the client. A substance abuser is often hard on their body, and many times there are secondary conditions related to drug use. The doctors and nurses will treat these issues, prescribe medication(s) as needed, and provide routine care to the patients that they may not otherwise receive. Nurses may also provide education about HIV, drug use and other public health issues.

Social workers in outreach clinics can help substance abusing clients with their other pyschosocial issues. This means assisting with housing, vocational issues, legal issues or any other issues that the client may need addressed. It is impossible to stay clean and sober if you’re life is in total disarray. Social workers help to empower clients to create the best environment for themselves as possible.

Psychologists can offer therapeutic services, like behavioral counseling, trauma counseling and cognitive therapy. Dealing with the issues that caused substance users to turn to drugs in the first place are important part of the recovery journey.

Case managers assist the other team members in making sure the client remains successful in their journey. The case managers follow-up with clients on a regular basis to ensure that the client stays clean and sober, has stable housing, has vocational goals and has positive social and healthy support. Case managers can also work with other agencies, like legal aid, Department of Human Services and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

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What is an Intervention?

If you have a loved one that you fear is addicted to drugs or alcohol and don’t know how to get them help before it’s too late-you may need to perform an intervention. The purpose of an intervention is to get the addicted person to to seek treatment. Intervention is defined as “getting involved in a situation as a way to stop an action or activity.” In terms of substance abuse, this means attempting to get the addict to stop using their drug(s) of choice. Interventions are usually held for those that have life-threatening addictions.

An intervention is usually called by a member of the addict’s family, and the family may ask the assistance of a substance abuse counselor to sit in and help. The addict doesn’t know that the intervention is going to take place, and the addict just believes that they are being invited to lunch or a family get-together. If the addict knew that the intervention was going to take place, they probably wouldn’t attend.

When the addict does show up to the intervention, they are usually very angry at being tricked and forced into treatment. The counselor (or person in charge of the intervention) attempts to assit the family members in telling the addict how important they are them, how much they love them and how much the addict’s drug addiction is hurting them.

During the intervention the addict may stay and listen to their loved ones read letters about how much their behaviors and actions have hurt them. These letters also serve as the final ultimatums from the family and friends. Such as not giving them any money any more, not putting them up in their home and no longer being in contact with them. After the letters are read they addict may choose or not choose to go to treatment. If they choose to go, treatment is already set up, and if not they leave the intervention alone.

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What is AA?

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Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an organization that was created to help people end their addiction to alcohol. There are currently over 100,000 gropus nationwide that provide support to recovering alcoholics. The groups are non-profit and rely on donations to provide literature for their meetings, rental spaces and refreshments. Usually the AA attendees donate money when they attend an AA meeting, but are not required to do so.

AA was started by a Christian society called the Oxford Group, which was founded by a doctor in the 1920s. The principals of AA are rooted in Christian beliefs, with the main idea of AA being that God can help individuals accomplish what humans are not able to do on their own. This principle can be applied to alcoholics, as God is the only person that can help you stop drinking.

The Big Book is a book used in AA, and in it the twelve step program is discussed. The Twelve Steps will help alcoholics gain freedom from drinking. The steps include the following ideals:

-admitting that a problem exists

-turning the problem over to a Higher Power

-admitting to the Higher Power and one’s self the exact nature of one’s wrong

-being ready for the Higher Power to remove character defects and stop the drinking

-making a moral inventory of one’s character’s defects

-asking the Higher Power to remove one’s shortcomings

-making amends with people that the alcoholic has hurt

-having a spiritual awakening that results in sobriety and honesty with oneself and others

When people enter AA they need to find a sober sponsor. The recovering person must attend meetings and meet their sponsor regularly and work through the steps. Sponsors have already worked through all twelve steps, and can offer advice and support to you during the difficult time. Completing the 12 steps may take months or even years.

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Finding Help for Substance Abuse

Substance abuse does not just affect the abuser. It also affects his friends, family, and coworkers. If you have a problem with substance abuse, there is help available to you to overcome your addiction, and get back to your life.

The first step to receiving treatment is to determine what type you need. Do you need to join a support group and attend meetings? Do you need the help of a professional counselor? Do you need in-patient treatment? To help you answer some of these questions, you should talk to your primary care physician, or a counselor. Tell him about your problem, and how far into it you are. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your doctor about it, call a help line and talk to one of the counselors over the phone. They’re there to listen and give you advice on treatment options may be available to you.

Once you’ve determined the best course of treatment and help for you, set up a plan with your sponsor, counselor, or doctor. Stick to this plan, and ask for help and advice when you need it. You should also get your family and friends involved in your treatment. Let them know what’s going on, and how they can help. By keeping them in the loop, you’ll ensure they’ll be supporting you throughout your treatment, and be aware of what to expect throughout the process.

Once you have gone through your treatment, you need to be aware that you will still be on the road to recovery, and need to continue seeking help with your addiction. Keep going to meetings on occasion. Talk to someone you trust when things are starting to get shaky in your life. Reach out when you need help with something. Keep your family and close friends in the loop. You can even start to sponsor others with substance abuse problems.

By seeking treatment, you’re taking the first step toward your recovery.

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Substance Abuse Help on the Internet

When you think of substance abuse treatment, you’re probably thinking about rehab facilities, NA or AA meetings, counseling, and other treatment facilities. The last place you may think to look for help for substance abuse for yourself or a loved one is the Internet. Surprisingly, the Internet can be a valuable asset in locating help for substance abuse.

The Internet is a great place to start looking up information about substance abuse when you or a loved one is having a problem. All of the information you could drive around to look for, such as finding research materials, locating treatment centers, finding a counselor, or locating local meetings, can be found on the Internet. You’ll be able to sit in the privacy of your own home, click away, and look at various information, and even finding contact numbers of professionals you can talk to for more help.

The Internet will also provide you with multiple locations of treatment centers, counselors, and meetings, so you can find one in the area of your choice. If you live in one area, but work in another, and would prefer to go to a meeting after work, you can easily find a location near work without needing to drive around. If you need a location that offers odd hours, such as late nights or on weekends, you can also search for them on the Internet instead of calling dozens of places and asking what their business hours are.

The Internet may even provide you with help you haven’t considered: an online support group. There are so many different support groups on the Internet these days, and substance abuse support groups are among them. You can check a few out and see how you like the, share as much or as little information as you’d like, and see if they help you at all.

The Internet can provide you with multiple amounts of information on finding help for substance abuse.

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