Drug addiction is a very serious affliction that affects many people. An individual suffering from an addiction to drugs might feel as though their life is spiraling downwards, out of control and that there’s no hope of ever living a normal life again. But professional help is out there for people with drug addictions and recovery is always possible. There is a range of different treatment options open to those seeking to fight addiction, but arguably one of the most effective ways to start recovery is to sign up for an inpatient drug rehabilitation program. To ensure you choose the most suitable program, here are six vital tips to keep in mind:
Looks For Specialized Drug Rehabilitation Programs
Any good drug rehab center will now offer treatments tailored to a specific drug addiction, such as an addiction to sedatives, opioids, alcohol, uppers or meth. To increase the chances of successful recovery, an addict needs to select a program that is customized for their specific drug addiction.
Find Out What Sort Of Detoxification Therapy The Program Uses
Depending on the type of drug an individual is addicted to, it’s possible that any withdrawal symptoms will be very severe once the person stops using. Withdrawal symptoms start to occur when a patient’s body tries to rebalance its internal chemistry once the drug is no longer in the system. The duration of withdrawal can vary from several hours to weeks. The Mayo Clinic notes that drug addicts need to undergo detoxification therapy in order to manage withdrawal symptom. The detoxification process can often involve gradually reducing the amount of the addictive agents in an addict’s system or administrating a less harmful drug that mimics some of the effects of the drug the addict normal uses.
Find Out If The Treatment Costs Are Covered By Insurance
Many medical insurance plans cover the costs, or at least a percentage of the cost, of treatment for drug addictions with a registered provider. In addition, many employers cover the cost of treatment for mental health conditions, which can include drug addictions. You need to research exactly how much the treatment will cost and if insurance will cover some of that cost. The last thing a person needs to be dealing with when entering a recovery program is money issues, so the costs should be researched in advance.
Remain Open To Different Treatment Options
Many drug addiction rehabilitation programs now offer a combination of different treatment options as opposed to just focusing on one form of treatment. When multiple treatment options are explored, a more effective treatment plan can be created for each individual. The two main types of drug addition therapy listed in the NIDA are medication therapy and behavioral therapy.
Medication Therapy: As many addictive drugs impact cognitive functioning, medications are often prescribed to help a person feel more level headed and to aid with sleep. Medications that help to reduce cravings and thus avoid a relapse are also often prescribed.
Behavioral Therapy: This type of therapy focuses on changing a person’s mindset and behaviors around drug use and teaches them healthier ways of coping with stresses in life. Different types of behavior therapy can include individual, family and group sessions.
Keep In Mind That Treatment Duration Times Are Often Measured In Months Not Days
While many people think that they can attend a 30-day treatment program and walk out completely free from their drug addiction, the reality is that effective recovery programs tend to last several months. According to The NIDA, the most effective treatment programs take at least 90 days. Any individual accessing a drug addiction rehabilitation program need to consequently be ready to dedicate months to their recovery.
Remember That Rehabilitation Is Just Stage One Of Recovery
Recovery from a serious drug addiction can be a lifelong process. Attending a rehabilitation program is only the initial stage. People should not expect to be completely cured of their addictions after just one program. Instead, addicts need to attend rehab with the mindset of not just getting help through withdrawal but also in anticipation of learning life skills that can help them to maintain sobriety once they exit the program.