Understanding Drug Addiction: Hope for Recovery

Treatment for Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is a complex disease that is profoundly difficult to recover from. Effective treatment for drug addiction does not only come in forms of medicine and physiological management. Treating addiction could be done using many types and modalities. Commonly, treatment starts with detoxification and withdrawal that is controlled by prescribed medicines. During detoxification, the body starts to eliminate and clear itself from the fragments of drugs. This process also helps the body manage the potentially harmful physiological effects once the body will stop the intake of drugs.

Albeit these advantages have been pointed out, detoxification only plays a big role in the physiological aspect of addiction. The social and psychological aspects, has yet to be managed, especially since addiction begins when the mind starts to crave. Change could be possible when the right treatment and support is given to address the root cause of the addiction. It’s normal to feel the struggle about giving up the taking of drugs, even when a person realizes it’s causing problems in his/her life.

Treatment could be given when there is a strong decision to make a change. Change includes the modification of a person’s way of dealing with stress, with relationships, with pressure and with how they see themselves as a person. These simple yet major modifications of a person’s lifestyle would require commitment, motivation, courage and support.

Therapy in Treating Drug Addiction

There have been many approaches used in treating drug addiction. What are commonly used are behavioral approaches that help engage people in drug abuse treatment, provide rewards and reinforcement for them to remain sober, modify their beliefs and perception towards drug intake, and develop their life skills in handling stressful circumstances and environmental situations. Some behavioral therapies have shown to be effective in treating drug addiction such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, family behavior therapy, and behavioral therapies specifically for adolescents.

Effective treatment for drug addiction does not solely depend on the technique or approach used. It should be kept in mind that treatment for drug addiction is not a one-time deal, and no single treatment is right for everyone. Treatments should be able to address the patients varying needs, not just his or her drug abuse. It should be dynamic to be able to deal with other possible underlying mental disorders and social problems so that the individual will progress, not just from the addiction itself, but holistically as a growing and advancing individual.

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