We have heard about people undergoing treatment for their addiction and substance abuse. Often, it is a hush-hush discussion with a conspicuous tone and a negative stigma. But what goes on behind the scene? How do rehabs treat the patients? Only a handful of people are aware of it. Addiction and health issues are synonymous with each other. And it is not just physical health, but mental health as well. People do not realise the importance of the mind in playing the role of a strict enabler in addictions. A person must focus mentally as much as they do physically to make their substance abuse habit redundant.
There are multiple avenues of substance use disorder treatment for the recovery process. One thing that has to be remembered throughout is that addictions do not have any cure, only recovery. When a person is addicted, their body and mind crave the substance. They cannot function properly without using the substance and continue to abuse it even further. This is a dangerous cycle that is difficult to come out of. There comes the point when the person wants to stop using but literally cannot. They feel helpless and do not know how to tackle their addiction.
At this point, they must seek help from an external service. Accepting that one has an addiction and help is required is a significant first step in recovery. It takes strong will and determination to undergo substance use disorder treatment programs. The path may not be easy. There will be voices raised, tantrums thrown, bursts of rage and anger or even violent episodes involved. But it is crucial not to react harshly towards these emotions and keep supporting the one seeking help. Hate the sin, not the sinner.
That's right; addiction takes away our life expectancy. A person who is addicted is much likely to live a shorter life than a teetotaller. With a problem of substance abuse comes a risk of diseases, infections and serious medical complications. Addicts have an increased chance of self-harm, suicidal tendencies, and risk of injury to others. There is also the risk of overdosing that can cause comatose and even death. Substance use disorder treatment plans focus on reducing and curbing the dependency on the substances and making the person better equipped to recover. Substance abuse treatment centres can be of different types –
● Inpatient Treatment Centre
● Outpatient Treatment Centre
● Rehabilitation Centre
These centres have different approaches and methods of treating the individual. While some use a more holistic approach, others execute a more robust method. Regardless of these differences, all the treatment plans for substance abuse have three common goals –
1. Helping an individual reduce their substance abuse or/and live a substance-free life
2. Increasing and maximising several different aspects of their life, it's functioning and expectancy
3. Increased aftercare, prevention of the high frequency and severity of the relapse.
These goals are the same regardless of the type of treatment centre. Ensuring these three goals enable a person to live a better, longer and healthier life.
There is a mix of techniques and therapies used to curb substances and treat addiction in an individual. Addiction does not have a cure; it only has recovery. The better a person responds to treatment, the quicker their recovery is. It has to be kept in mind that recovery is a life-long process; a single relapse can end all the hard work effort instantly.
There are several methods of treating addiction. One of the common approaches is undergoing de-addiction therapy. Helping people with addiction can be challenging even more if the person does not have a robust support system or are non-cooperative. De-addiction therapies of substance use disorder treatment can include the following –
● Assessment of the alcohol/ drug use problem
● Detoxification or withdrawal management
● Contingency management
● Behavioural therapies
● Individual therapies
● Pharmacotherapy
● Group therapy
As substance addiction is a chronic disorder, the short term one-time treatments do little to no help at all. For most, long term treatments with constant care, supervision and close monitoring, along with several interventions, are needed.
Apart from therapies and medication, strict monitoring is required in addiction recovery to prevent relapse. To ensure proper relapse prevention, the person undergoes rigorous aftercare and contingency management.
Rehabilitation centres are considered the last stage for intervention. When all ends fail, people turn to a rehabilitation centre for help. There is no doubt that these institutions believe in a robust approach in preventing drug use and abuse, and thus it is often considered the final choice of treatment for the loved ones of a family. Rehabilitation centres provide strictly and round the clock monitoring and care, which is impossible at home. There can be different types of rehabilitation based on drug or behaviour problems. The most common settings are substance abuse treatment centres, where individuals undergo abstinence from alcohol and relapse prevention. There are several benefits of undergoing treatment in a rehabilitation centre –
● The person gets a safe space for undergoing detoxification
● They have the necessary support when going through alcohol withdrawal
● They connect with others with similar experiences with the substance
● Through group therapy, they can understand that they are not alone on this journey
● They know why they started abusing alcohol in the first place
● Individual therapies help them to introspect and contemplate better
● Behavioural therapies enable them to control their emotions and feelings better
● They have increased willpower and self-esteem through Yoga and Meditation
● The person learns to value their life and all others along with it
Rehabilitation centres enable people to take charge of their lives instead of letting alcohol or substances control, run and ruin it.
Living with a person with substance abuse is difficult. Their immediate family and loved ones are most affected. It also affects the work and other activities of that person. They lose interest in activities they once took part in, disassociating themselves from others. With the help of a substance abuse disorder treatment, your loved ones can have the proper care that they require whilst undergoing recovery. At a drug rehabilitation centre, you will find services like –
● Behavioural Counselling
● Medication
● Withdrawal Management
● Treatment of co-occurring disorders
● Relapse prevention
Individual and Group counselling is emphasised in these rehab centres, and the person is made self-aware of the use and abuse of the drugs and other substances. The best opioid disorder treatment entails individual and group counselling. Drug rehab centres can also provide the following treatments and benefits –
● Increased Spirituality
● Higher Self–Esteem
● Elevated Understanding of Self
● Better Emotional Management
● Gaining Life Skills
● Life Management Sessions
● Journaling Sessions
● Just for Today Sessions
● Counselling Sessions
● Yoga and Meditation Sessions
However, like all things, rehabilitation also has certain drawbacks. All the positives will not be fair if a person is not informed of both sides. There are certain distinct negatives of rehabilitation centres –
● The cost of treatment is expensive
● The patient to staff ratio is high
● You can still have access to drugs and alcohol
● One might pick up and form negative associations
● Keeping the patients confined increases their violent behaviour and suicidal tendencies
● Lack of aftercare increases the chance of relapse.
Rehabilitation therapy is like a glove; one size does not fit all. Each person has their requirement, and just because one therapy is not as effective as the other does not mean that it is useless. It is just less effective for you.
SimranShri rehabilitation centre treats substance abuse in men efficiently; consult an expert before making any decisions for your loved ones. Addiction is no joke, and there is no point in glorifying drug use or abuse. Remember, life can take you higher than drugs. Don't let drugs trick you; they are not a treat.
