Treatment Approaches for Alcohol & Drug Dependence

The goal of drug and alcohol treatment is sustained abstinence from the addicting substance. This is the long-term and most important goal. More immediate secondary goals are to ease the physical and psychological suffering of withdrawal symptoms. Detoxification, or detox, from alcohol and drug dependency should always be carefully monitored by a professional. It can be a physically and psychologically dangerous undertaking.

Medication

• Medication is often used to restore brain function. It can also reduce the cravings that often lead to relapse. Antianxiety medications are often used to ease the psychological side effects of withdrawal. Some medications such as Antabuse and Revia can even make drinking an unpleasant experience by nauseating the drinker and preventing intoxication. These substances are especially helpful for recovering addicts not in inpatient facilities. Outpatients have less accountability so medication is an added assist in keeping them on track.

Behavioral

• Psychotherapy is a necessary part of treatment. It is used to determine the thought and behavioral patterns that lead to addictive behaviors. If these patterns aren't identied and changed, patients have less of a chance of successful recovery.

  One behavioral modification that is recommended is altering the patients' circle of friends. Most recovering addicts will be more successful if they are no longer spending time with the people they drank or used drugs with. In this same category is the recommendation that the client avoid the places he or she frequented while intoxicated.

  Cognitive behavioral therapy is commonly used in drug and alcohol treatment. This therapy focuses on identifying the reason the patient engages in self-destructive behavior such as drinking and drug abuse. Once the patient understands a behavior, the strategy goes, they'll be empowered to change it.

Inpatient

• Inpatient care is sometimes utilized to treat drug or alcohol dependence. The patient is in a safe environment and is cared for by trained professionals in a facility known as a rehabilitation center, rehab for short. Not recommended for everyone, a case usually becomes quite extreme before inpatient is prescribed. Some of the benefits of inpatient treatment are distance and protection from negative relationships and surroundings, along with the inaccessibility of alcohol and drugs. Another benefit to a rehabilitation center is that medication can be administered in a safe, controlled way.