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 brings about behavioral and biological health issues. These issues affect individuals, families and communities, additional hints.
Drug abuse correlates with high levels of crime. Drug addiction begins as a voluntary action of taking drugs.
People assume that drug abuse refers to only the use of illegal drugs. It is surprising to note that there are more deaths recorded from the abuse of prescribed drugs such as pain killers more than there are deaths from illegal drugs. Many drug overdose deaths have been attributed to overdoses on p-prescription drugs.
Data shows that drug addiction is prevalent among the youths. A few 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 by themselves. However, 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 drugs in spite of severe social and legal consequences. The indicator of addiction begin to appear including 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 all of the process through. The process is difficult because it is anded adverse withdrawal effects. Drug addiction is a relapsing disease. It is no surprise that many recovering addicts revert, check this site out.
Drug Treatment
The objectives of addiction treatment are to help a person completely stop using drugs, stay drug free and be productive in the society. Effective drug treatment is based on 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 counseling and behavior modifications
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 disorders 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 just like HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis
Forms of Drug Rehab
The forms of drug treatment could be categorized into two major styles of treatment: inpatient and outpatient.
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 counseling which is a preparation for community-based treatment settings.
Recovery Housing
Recovery housing provides a short-term housing for patients on other kinds 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 is similar to inpatient care with the only difference being that individuals receive care throughout the day but revert house in the evening. Outpatient care is designed for individuals who prefer to maintain a presence in the home as a result of the supportive environment or have a less serious condition that does not merit across care.
Outpatient car provides a wide array of programs for patients on a regular basis. The programs involve individual or group counseling or both.
Outpatient care begins intensively for the first few months with multiple sessions weekly. After completion patients transition from intensive treatment to regular treatment with less sessions a week. There are other forms 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 for example, co-dependency or past sexual harassment.
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 struggle with mental disorder and addictions con-currently. They are high-risk individuals who need specialized care. Their treatment includes addiction treatment and psychiatric counseling.
6.) Holistic Drug Rehab
Some notable drug rehab programs include holistic methods of treating drug addictions. Yoga, acupuncture, nutritional counseling and meditation are a few of the holistic programs included. Such programs enhance the individuals mind, body and spirit medications for drug addiction treatment.
In spite of what form of drug rehab you choose, every kind of rehabilitation must follow these steps for successful treatment of drug addictions
i.) Detoxification.
ii.) Behavioral counseling.
iii.) Medication.
iv.) Evaluation and treatment of co-occurring mental issues.
v.) Longer term follow up.
1.) Detoxification
It is the first step in the process of treating drug addiction. The goal of a detox is to heal the body after a long-term drug addiction. The first stage of drug detoxes very intense because it requires denying the body what it is used to.
The length of addiction.
The combination of drugs bused.
The drug dosage when the patient begins detox.
Existence of co-occurring physical or mental illness.
The half-life of the drug.
Detoxification can either be inpatient or outpatient depending on the intensity of withdrawal symptoms, click here for more info.