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Treatment & Rehabilitation of Drug Addiction

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a yearly average of 5 million Americans 12 years and older participated in self-help group sessions in the prior year due to alcohol or illegal drug use. Through treatment and rehabilitation there is hope for the drug addict.

  1. Withdrawal Symptoms

    • Drugs are mentally and physically addictive. Therefore, when an addict decides to get clean, his body reacts negatively, spawning withdrawal symptoms. Cocaine withdrawal symptoms include insomnia, anxiety, nausea, vomiting and depression. Withdrawal from methamphetamine includes severe fatigue, irritability, disrupted sleep pattern, confused mind, psychotic behavior, anger and depression. Withdrawal from opiates includes yawning, perspiration, abdominal cramps, watery eyes, jumpiness, anxiety, diarrhea and a racing heart. Benzodiazepine, a medication used to treatment anxiety, causes withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, sweating, irritability, and in severe cases, seizures.

    Treatment

    • Medication and behavioral therapies are recommended treatment for drug addiction. It is recommended that are used together instead of alone. Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) while there is medication available for opiate addiction, medication for stimulant (cocaine) and cannabis (marijuana) addiction are still being developed.

      Buprenorphine is most commonly used to treat opiate dependency. It is a fairly new FDA-approved drug, which is considered to be a safe and effective addiction treatment. Methadone is also used to treat opiate addiction. Buprenorphine and methadone work by blocking withdrawal symptoms and suppressing drug cravings. Behavioral treatment therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy teach the addict how to change his negative thought processes and behaviors so he exhibits positive ones.

    Rehabilitation Programs

    • Rehabilitation programs offer inpatient and outpatient care. Depending on the individual's case, he may undergo one of the two. Generally, if the individual faces severe health risks during the withdrawal process, he may be required to undergo inpatient care where he can be closely monitored. Individuals undergoing outpatient care must have a sober individual present in his environment and must check in with the treatment facility regularly.

    Support and Roadblocks

    • Overcoming drug addiction is a difficult task. An addict can benefit from seeking assistance from groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). The individuals participating in these programs are also struggling with their own addictions and can therefore identify with the newcomer facing similar issues. Addicts who find excuses not to seek the necessary help or support tend to claim that they can stop using drugs at anytime, yet they are still addicted. Others tend to claim they don't have the time or money to get treatment. These excuses become their roadblocks to recovery.

    Staying Sober

    • Once an individual is on the road to recovery, he must endeavor to remain on track. This is never easy. To minimize the risk of relapsing, he should remain active in a support group, practice a healthy lifestyle by eating right and getting enough sleep, work on his coping skills when life becomes stressful, learn what places, things and people trigger his desire to use drugs, and get the necessary treatment for any medical or psychological problems.

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