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Treatment Approaches for Alcohol & Drugs

Drug addiction statistics in the United States are staggering. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that in 2006, 22 million people had a substance abuse or dependence problem. Alcohol Health & Research World reports that an estimated 14 million people meet the criteria for alcohol abuse. The National Survey on Drug Use & Health indicates that cocaine is the second most commonly abused illicit drug, after marijuana. Is it possible to recover from an addiction? The answer, clearly, is yes.

  1. Treatment Goals

    • A 2005 government study showed that after a year in recovery for alcohol dependence, 40 percent of people were overcoming their addiction. About 20 percent stopped drinking completely, and an equal number reported having an occasional drink without a major relapse. But that's not to say having a drink---or using a drug--once in a while is for everyone. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) declares that the goal for drug-addiction treatment is to help an individual achieve lasting abstinence.

    Treatment Approaches

    • Though every individual's needs should be assessed on a regular basis, NIDA has suggested guidelines for treatment. The first step in treating a drug addiction is withdrawal. During a period of about five to ten days, the patient can take medications to ease symptoms of withdrawal like tremors, cravings, depression and possibly seizures. Withdrawal from drugs or alcohol is best done in a residential treatment facility under the supervision of trained medical staff. The second step in recovery is getting treatment. Medication can help prevent relapse, curb cravings and help re-balance brain chemistry. Though not everyone who enters into a withdrawal program continues drug-treatment therapy, this is not recommended. Patients who resist further treatment, reports NIDA, continue to behave like people who have never had any treatment at all. These people are also more likely to relapse. Replacement therapy, where the addicted person is given a safer dose of a controlled medication to help manage withdrawal symptoms, has been shown to be more effective at this stage of recovery compared to a cold-turkey approach.

    Treatment Programs

    • Outpatient treatment involves going to a treatment facility anywhere from two to five days a week. Patients will have access to individual counseling, group therapy and educational lectures. Some facilities will offer a more intense program like cognitive therapy, which helps a person identify why they use drugs and what their triggers are. Family therapy can help the entire family cope with addiction. Residential treatment facilities are structured, in-patient programs. Programs vary from 28 days to 12 months. Here, a person will have access to one-on-one treatment, group therapy, family therapy, and programs that will help them reintegrate themselves into society while leading drug-free, productive lives.

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