Effective Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "Approximately 14 million Americans---7.4 percent of the population ---meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or alcoholism," and about 10.8 percent of teens aged 12 to 17 have tried illicit drugs. Drug and alcohol addiction are common problems, and taking steps to achieve recovery, including entering rehabilitation programs, improves lives and families.

Understanding Addiction

• An individual addicted to a drug or alcohol develops either a physical or mental dependence on the substance, or both. Physical dependence to drugs or alcohol causes uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms such as nausea or fever when the substance is no longer taken. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a person who abuses drugs for extended periods of time experiences physical changes, including changes in the brain, that persist even after the person stops using drugs.

  Mental dependence causes the addict psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety when he is no longer using the substance. Additionally, the addict facing mental dependence craves the substance or the high produced by the substance for a long time after he is done using it. Effective drug and alcohol rehabilitation treats both physical and mental dependence to drugs and alcohol.

Drug Rehabilitation Options

• Seek information on all options available for rehabilitation. Treatment for drug and alcohol addiction occurs in both inpatient and outpatient settings. It's important to note that overcoming addiction is not simply a matter of having more willpower, although the addict's willingness to participate actively in the treatment process helps recovery progress. Finding a treatment plan that appeals to the addict and her family aids the process.

  Inpatient treatment options allow patients to recover in the safety and security of a hospital setting, free from the worries of housing and meal preparation. Inpatient treatment is ideal for the addict who has begun drug-seeking behavior such as stealing or sneaking drugs or alcohol, because it offers protection from these behaviors. By restricting an addict's lifestyle, inpatient treatment restricts his access to dangerous substances.

  Use outpatient treatment for drug or alcohol abuse alone, or in combination with inpatient treatment. Outpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation consists of psychotherapy, prescribed medication, doctor's visits, and support groups, such as 12-step program meetings. Programs that follow the 12-step model, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, supplement professional medical treatment and help enable addicts to live a lifestyle of abstinence and self-control.

Additional Steps in Effective Drug Rehabilitation

• Inform a doctor about any troubling withdrawal symptoms, whether physical and mental. In some cases, a doctor can prescribe medications to ease discomfort and aid the withdrawal process. Psychological therapy helps patients recover from the drug and alcohol addiction, as well as any root causes of the addiction, such as a past trauma.

  Communicate openly with family and friends about the addiction. Letting others know when cravings become intense, finding social diversions from drug and alcohol use and leaning on the support of loved ones help ensure successful recovery.

  Recognize addiction as a chronic illness, and that relapses are unfortunately common. Accept relapses not as a sign of failure, but as a stumbling block on your path. Continue to make progress after the relapse, learning from those episodes. Face fears and guilt as you move forward.