Drug Addiction is a disease; there are no two ways about. It is every bit as insidious as cancer or heart disease. Each year, roughly four million Americans receive treatment for their illness, many to great success.
What is drug addiction? Well, it is a nearly unstoppable craving for a drug or alcoholic substance that persists even as the adverse effects begin to reveal themselves. Many drug addicts do not enjoy their use of the drug, but are compelled nonetheless.
Like cancer, drug addiction can go into remission with effective treatment, only to return when the addiction rears its head. Like many chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma, drug addiction often requires return numerous treatments for the addict to free him or herself from the drug.
The aim of a good addiction treatment program is help the individual remain free of the drug on a permanent basis; but, more immediately; it is to get that person off the drug right now, so to enable that person to function in society.
Unfortunately, millions of people who need drug addiction treatment do not seek it or are not given the funds or latitude to receive it. If untreated, substance abuse can rip apart families, lead to child abuse, delinquent child-support, and is often the cause of violent infractions. This is leads to larger social consequences –increased welfare costs, unemployment and a loss of productivity. It is estimated that drug use costs our society billions of dollars each year; as healthcare and justice costs mount with each addiction. Addiction Treatment, if administered effectively, can help bring these costs down, as well as cut down on the number of secondary infectious diseases promoted by drug abuse –such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other potentially fatal illnesses.
Studies have shown that with effective drug addicton treatment, people can escape the clutches of addiction. There is an old adage that you are not what you feel, but what you do. In essence that means what you do can change the way you feel; and this is the purpose of addiction treatment: to change your behavior, and thus alter the physiology of your brain so as to combat the physical illness of addiction. This is not done simply; it is a long-term process and each individual responds differently to each treatment.
Some big keys to effective drug treatment are: availability, attention to the specific needs of the individual beyond his or her addiction treatment, therapy, regular counseling, and patience on the part of the person who has sought treatment. No one cures their disease overnight. Drug use is often contingent on other, seemingly unrelated emotional triggers; thus, a host of other behavioral therapies may be introduced to aid and bolster the treatment. Certain addictions may require the use of medications which, when working in concert with behavioral therapies, can be invaluable in combating addiction.
As well, effective addiction treatment should address the patient’s withdrawal syndrome, often the most difficult stage of treatment.
Does the patient have to admit themselves for the addiction treatment to work? Not at all. Studies have shown that involuntary patients, or people admitted after intervention, have worked equally well. People at the mercy of this insidious disease are often unaware of just what it is doing to them. If left to their own devises, they will destroy themselves from within.
Drug treatment is not a one-shot deal. It is requires frequent treatments, which include “booster sessions” and continuous care to monitor the behavior of each individual.
The course of effective drug addiction treatment is usually: 1.) Detoxification, 2.) Treatment, and 3.) Relapse prevention. One of the more important aspects of drug treatment is the reduction of withdrawal symptoms so as to prevent early relapse. That’s why a good drug treatment program examines each individual, his or her chronic addictions and secondary conditions and behavioral patterns, so as to be able to spot the warning signs before relapse can take hold. In such cases, family and community-based support systems may be consulted so to keep tabs on the individual once he/she is discharged.
Depending on one’s addiction, drugs such as Methadone or buprenorphine may be introduced, but almost always, the most crucial element in combating drug addiction is behavioral treatment. Highly-structured, addiction treatment programs have proven very effective in fighting drug abuse. Patience often check in for a period of 6 to 12 months. While there they may receive cognitive therapy, motivational incentives, and assistance with their more violent withdrawal symptoms. The benefits of inpatient versus outpatient treatment are often social: the addict immediately forfeits her or her support base (dealers, enablers, social dependents/combatants) and is isolated in a place where their addiction and only their addiction can be addressed.
Cliffside Malibu is an inpatient addiction treatment center overlooking the Pacific Ocean, designed to help the individual confront his or her addiction without interference from family, friends, etc. We understand that addiction-symptoms are not always universal, and may require a different approach. We hope that in your search for an effective drug treatment program, you will consider our facility.
