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Drug addiction is a complex illness of the brain that requires treatment in almost all instances. Although most people assume that drug addiction is something that affects only those who deliberately abuse illegal drugs for recreational purposes, the reality is that drug addiction can happen to anyone who uses a mood-altering substance and allows its use to spiral out of control. Even those who have never used illegal drugs can develop a drug addiction to prescription medication.
What all drug addicts have in common though is a need for help to get better. The treatment for drug addiction consists of detox and rehab, which should be followed by a programme of aftercare. This helps to give the best chance of long-term success. However, finding the right treatment programme requires careful consideration, to ensure you choose a private rehab clinic that suits your individual needs and circumstances.
Do You Need a Drug Detox and Rehab Programme?
When trying to find out what the best drug detox and rehab programme is, you will initially need to establish how severe your problem actually is. It may be the case that you have a physical dependence on the substance you are taking that has not yet progressed to addiction. Or you may have a severe addiction that is having a negative impact on your ability to go about your daily life. Knowing whether you have an addiction will help you to determine what type of treatment programme you need – if any.
If you are worried about your own use of an illegal or prescription drug, it is important to look closely at how you are using it. For example, have you found the drug to be less effective than it used to be? And if so, have you started to take more of it to achieve the feelings you desire?
This is due to an increased tolerance to the effects of the drug and means that your brain and body have adapted their response to its effects. This is something that happens regularly with mood-altering drugs.
Increasing the dose might seem harmless enough, but it can be dangerous in that it can result in not only an overdose, but it can also raise the risk for addiction. Increasing the amount of drugs you are taking tends to lead to a physical dependence. When this happens, you might begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit or cut back on your use.
Many individuals find the withdrawal symptoms unpleasant, realising very quickly that taking more of the drug makes these symptoms subside. It is common to get caught in a cycle of abuse when trying to avoid withdrawal symptoms though.
However, even having a physical dependence on a drug does not automatically mean having an addiction. Nonetheless, if you are suffering problems in your life and are finding it difficult to meet commitments and responsibilities because of your drug use, it is likely that your situation is more serious. If you continue to use drugs despite the harm it is causing, you almost certainly have an addiction and hence need help to get better.
How is Drug Addiction Treated?
Overcoming drug addiction is a lengthy process so you will need to be patient as you will not get better overnight. You will need a drug detox in the first instance to break the cycle of abuse, which will then need to be followed by rehabilitation.
Understanding what the best drug detox and rehab programmes are means finding out a bit more about your requirements. You should have some idea now of whether you have an addiction, but how severe this is will determine the type of programme that you need.
For example, if you have realised quite early on that you are struggling with a particular substance, you may be able to detox at home, provided you speak to a doctor and put plans in place for a safe withdrawal. On the other hand, if your addiction is severe, it will be better for you to detox in a dedicated facility. In such a facility, you will be monitored by medical staff who can administer medication to ease any symptoms you experience – if deemed appropriate, of course.
In terms of rehabilitation, treatment will take place in either an inpatient facility or outpatient one. The type of programme you choose will typically be determined by a few factors, including how severe your illness is.
Most individuals with a severe addiction will benefit from inpatient programmes, where they will be fully immersed in a programme of recovery that has no distractions. They will not have to worry about everyday life issues while they recover, which allows them to focus only on getting better.
Outpatient programmes are not as intensive as their inpatient counterparts as patients must incorporate their therapy sessions into daily life. These programmes are suitable for patients with either less severe addictions or those who cannot commit to a programme of residential care.
What Happens During Detox and Rehabilitation?
When you have decided on the right type of detox and rehab programme, you will be able to get started on your recovery. You may be wondering what that will mean for you though.
When you quit the drug that you have been taking, your body will start to heal itself; this process is known as detoxification. As the remaining chemicals and toxins are flushed from your system and your body tries to restore normality, you will probably experience various withdrawal symptoms. The type of symptoms will depend on the type of drug that you were abusing, how long you were using it for, and how heavily you were using it before you quit.
Your mental and physical health will also play a role. If you have underlying health problems, for example, you might experience symptoms that are more severe than someone who was otherwise healthy apart from having an addiction.
Detoxing in a dedicated facility is considered safer and more comfortable and is therefore recommended for most affected people.
Rehab tends to treat the underlying emotional issues associated with addiction. Irrespective of whether you have selected an inpatient or outpatient programme, you will have several counselling sessions where the cause of your illness will be identified.
You will be taught how to recognise the negative thought patterns and processes that have thus far driven your maladaptive behaviours. When you have learned how to recognise these negative thoughts, you can then go about challenging them and subsequently replacing them with positive alternatives. This is an important part of the healing process and one that will allow you to move forward with the tools required to avoid a return to addictive behaviour in the future.
Relapse prevention is also a big part of recovery and one that any treatment provider will place a lot of emphasis on. It is important that you learn what triggers your behaviour so that you can avoid it going forward. You will also be taught methods and techniques to use when or if these do arise.
For more information on what the best drug detox and rehabilitation programmes are, you can speak to your doctor or call us here at Primrose Lodge. One of our advisors will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.