Proven Drug Addiction Treatments
Finding the right drug addiction treatment is a challenge because no single treatment
is guaranteed to be effective for any person. As always, there are a number of
factors to consider when choosing suitable treatment. One of these is the type
of drug that one is addicted to and another is the extent or duration of addiction
to it.
Drug rehab statistics show that, across all ages and sexes the common drugs
or substances abused are:
- Prescription drugs
- Marijuana
- Methamphetamines
- Alcohol
- Ecstasy
- Heroin
- Cocaine
The physical and mental health of the drug addict is a major factor to consider
when choosing drug addiction treatment because such problems can make the treatment
more difficult and complicated. Some of these problems may be the part of root
cause of the addiction, or they may be as a result of the addiction.
There are various drug addiction treatments to choose from. Some people who
are just in the beginning of their addiction may be treated through psychological
therapy while others who have gone too far for this can only be treated with
drug medications.
Take a look at the following drug addiction treatment but make sure that you
get the opinion of a medical professional before choosing which of these treatments
is right for the person addicted to drugs.
1. Medical detoxification.
This is the initial phase of any drug addiction treatment as it makes sure that
the drug addict is detoxified from the drugs he is addicted to. Simply said,
it is the method of ceasing drug use as well as in addressing the withdrawal
symptoms that comes with detoxification. The attending doctor will prescribe
some medication depending on the withdrawal symptoms exhibited by the person.
This a dangerous phase as the person being treated can exhibit tremors and seizures
and may be subject to medical emergencies that are best treated in a drug rehab
facility.
2. Use of drugs like Naltrexone.
Opiate addicts are usually given Naltrexone after the medical detoxification
stage. It is a narcotic antagonist which helps rid the patient of his dependence
on opiate drugs. While it has several side effects it is not addictive and is
taken orally daily or several times a week depending on the recommendation of
the doctor. It is known to be quite effective. However, the effects of this
treatment method are best coupled with drug counseling and therapy. The use
of Naltrexone is highly recommended for those who have been fully detoxified
and who have the desire to be rid of their addiction. A person who has undergone
detoxification and has taken Naltrexone can successfully return to normal life.
3. Scientifically-based treatments
Although the patient has been cleared of his addiction and has been released
to perform his normal societal functions, there is always the possibility of
a relapse so he must continue with scientifically-based treatment such as those
recommended by the National Institute on Drug Abuse or NIDA. To avoid relapse,
a patient can participate in a cognitive-behavioral therapy program. The program
includes the monitoring of drug cravings, development of techniques to identify
the pros and cons of continued drug use and development of strategies to cope
with life after addiction.
There are a variety of drug addiction treatments and each one can be a possible
cure to drug dependency. The trick is to first choose the right treatment and
complete this with the help of professionals who are experienced and medically
capable of meeting the complexities of drug addiction.
Drug Rehab
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