When an individual in the family starts to become drug dependent, loved ones naturally get into the picture and help him or her steer away from the dreaded vice. Sadly, this may not be enough. In that case, he or she has to be enrolled in a drug rehabilitation facility where experts can formulate a treatment program to aid him or her live a sober life. It is vital that families understand the central aspect of drug treatment programs.
There are two primary forms of drug treatment: residential and outpatient. In residential treatment, the patient moves in and stays, in a rehab facility for a specified time. This is typically the option recommended by specialists, especially if the person has a serious drug problem, since the shift from the setting at home forces the person to focus only on his recovery. Disruptions and temptations are practically non-existent.
In outpatient treatment, the individual undergoes the treatment during the day. Then he returns home to live a sober life in the evening. Outpatient treatment is often recommended for a person with a less-serious drug problem. Additionally, if the person is somehow unable to pursue treatment full-time due to other commitments, a drug rehabilitation facility may suggest outpatient drug treatment.
After the type of treatment has been chosen, the individual then undergoes the initial phase of the program, which is detoxification. Detoxification is about taking meds that cleanse the patient’s body of the drugs that he has taken or counteract the effects of the drugs. Detoxification can take three days to a few weeks. While the detoxification process is going on, the individual may suffer from withdrawal symptoms such as depression, anxiety, drug cravings, and anger. This is the time when the individual is most vulnerable to a relapse,thus, detox experts are always at the patient’s side to assist the individual focus on recovery.
After detoxification, counseling can begin. Counseling deals with the psychological elements of substance abuse, eating disorders treatment, and other addictions that have plagued the abuser. It focuses on creating strategies that help the individual to maintain sobriety for months and years to come after completing the treatment program. Counseling usually involves the addict, the individual’s family, and a group of substance abusers undergoing a similar kind of treatment.