Alcohol and Drug Treatment

Treat the Addiction Disease

Substance abuse can be caused by different factors. Some people buckle under out of curiosity, social credence, depression or self-destruction. It also takes many different forms. One can be addicted to Nicotine, Cocaine, and Heroin, Marijuana or many other substances.

Whatever reason, when drug addicts first ventured into the dangerous world of addictive drugs, none had a clear view of the things they were getting themselves into – particularly the torment and despair that takes over their lives. Even if they were trying to destroy themselves, they never realized the pit they’ve entered until they are already trapped and powerless. Before they know it, their life is a batch and drug rehab is severely needed.

It’s sad that many drug users commit crimes such as theft, prostitution or selling drugs in order to support their uncontrollable needs. While intoxicated, some become crimson and inflict harm on them just to have a closer feel of reality. Even worse, sometimes they harm other s.

Aside from the physical damages substance abuse brings, its effects on the person’s emotional and spiritual well-being is more devastating. Families are torn apart, friendships are shattered and their souls left empty. More heart-breaking is that our society often presents the evils these abusers are committing, but they fail to expose the other side of the story. People don’t want to be around intoxicated people for fear of being harmed. They are left to rot alone in their own misery thus causing them to seek more refuge in drugs to cover up the pain. 

Often what society loses sight of is that the addict is a victim as well— a victim of losing control of their actions and the desire to bear on themselves. We can’t always focus on the harm they bring others but need to consider the harm they bring to themselves as well… especially if these are people we love and care for. They need our help.

Will you condemn a cancer patient for being sick? Obviously not. The best course of action is to take him to the hospital and have him treated. Will you blame a dead person for not being able to rise up? The same goes for drug abusers. Why bury them in shame and isolation when there’s still hope to get their lives back? Wouldn’t it be better if that cancer patient gets well and starts again with new strength to enjoy life and make up for lost time with his loved ones? Of course.

Drug addiction should be treated the same way—as a disease. It can be cured if proper medication and attention is given. Fortunately, there are many drug rehab facilities out there dedicated to restore people’s lives.

Time spent in these drug rehab institutions or homes can help them overcome their addiction and come out physically, emotionally and most importantly spiritually healed. The approaches taken by treatment centers may differ but they are all headed toward one goal – curing and healing the addict.

If you have a loved one suffering from drug addiction, the best way to show your love and concern is to encourage them to redeem themselves. This can be achieved in several ways and rehabilitation houses are definitely worth considering. Find a place that cares not only for their bodies but for their souls. It’s never too late to make things better. Even in movies, happy endings are usually depicted by scenes of families being reunited, lessons being learned and second chances being given. This, too, can happen in real life.

Learn more about the benefits a trusted drug rehab program can offer.

                                              

Affordable Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment

It’s an unfortunate fact that alcohol and drug addiction treatment is often needed most by those who can least afford to pay for it. It can be a vicious circle: unemployment, for example, can lead to drug or alcohol abuse, but the unemployed are likely to have no health insurance and no disposable income with which to seek help. If you have a dependency problem, though, don’t despair. There are options for affordable alcohol and drug addiction treatment.

If you are employed or have health insurance through a spouse or parent, your first step should be to see whether treatment for addiction is covered, and if so, whether the policy covers inpatient or outpatient treatment and the length of time or number of appointments that will be covered. Many facilities will accept insurance, but you should contact the treatment center of your choice to inquire.

If you don’t have insurance, but may be able to pay for your treatment over time, use the filter on our home page to find treatment centers that will set up a financing plan for you. Many treatment centers are willing to work with you to aid in your recovery.

Resources for Low-Cost Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment

Those with poor or no credit, or who don’t realistically have the option to finance their treatment, should investigate non-profit and publicly funded treatment. Here at Sober Recovery, we have compiled a listing of such resources for you.

To find facilities in your area, use the filters on our home page. Let’s say, for instance, that you live in or near Toledo, Ohio. Under “States & Regions,” click on “by Individual States,” then click “Ohio programs.” On the left side of your screen, there will be a drop-down menu of Ohio cities. Click on “Toledo,” and you’ll find a menu listing a variety of resources that are available to you in that region, many of which can accommodate low-income clients.

 Alcohol and Drug Treatment for Specific Populations

It is generally acknowledged that alcohol and drug treatment is more effective when the client works on recovery in the association of peers, who are more likely to understand the underlying emotional issues that lead to addiction. Adolescents, for example, are dealing with social pressures and identity issues that differ from those of a surgeon or a CEO. Alcohol has a different effect on females than it does on males. Veterans understand each other in ways that those of us who have never been in combat cannot.

For this reason, there are a great many alcohol and drug treatment programs that specialize in helping a particular clientele, including specific cultural, ethnic and age groups. For instance, AAIR (Access to American Indian Recovery) is a program developed to serve the recovery needs of Native Americans and Alaskan Natives. AAIR uses tribal, cultural and spiritual traditions such as drum circles, storytelling and sweat lodges to aid in the recovery of native peoples.

Alcohol and Drug Treatment for the GLBT Community

Members of the GLBT community have a relatively high risk of addictive behaviors. This is largely due to the stressors involved in coming to terms with sexual identity and dealing with the reactions others have to that identity. A club culture that encourages alcoholic consumption and the use of “party drugs” is also a factor.

There are many treatment facilities that either work with a GLBT clientele exclusively or have a GLBT track within a larger community. Recovery is a difficult process under any circumstances, but it can be made easier when you are working with people who need no explanation about basic issues you all have in common. You can use the link on our home page under “Programs by Client Type” to find gay-friendly facilities.

Treatment Centers for Dual Diagnosis

The term “dual diagnosis” is used when a patient exhibits both an addiction, such as alcoholism, and a mental illness, such as depression, anxiety attacks, or post-traumatic stress syndrome. There are a great many variations within this spectrum. Psychological disorders might be caused, wholly or in part, by substance abuse (the rage experienced by steroid users, for example) or by withdrawal symptoms (hallucinations and psychosis caused by heroin withdrawal). It is often difficult for a layman to differentiate. A true mental disorder such as clinical depression may seem similar to physical issues that result from the addiction, such as hangovers or the crash following the euphoria produced by many drugs.

Which problem came first varies from case to case. Often, substance abuse arises from the patient’s attempt to self-medicate for psychiatric disorders, as when a depressed person turns to alcohol or cocaine to feel livelier or an anxiety-ridden person uses tranquilizers and sedatives to calm down. For adolescents, the opposite is often true: they use the drugs or alcohol and then develop a dependency, which leads to mental disorders.

Dual diagnosis can be difficult to recognize, even for medical professionals. Often, the patient must undergo detox at a treatment center in order for a doctor to know whether there is a mental issue or a substance issue or both.

How Does a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center Work?

The treatment for substance abuse and for some mental issues overlap in talk therapy. Individual, group and family counseling sessions can help the patient learn the underlying causes of both disorders and work on both simultaneously. However, it is best to choose a facility that specializes in working with dual diagnosis patients. You can find a listing of such treatment centers by using the filter under “Special Focus Programs” on our home page.

Treatment Centers

Making the Transition: Outpatient Treatment Centers

Residential treatment centers are the all-important first step toward recovery from an alcohol or drug addiction. During your time in residence, you are supervised 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Almost all of your time is scheduled. There are individual, group and family counseling sessions. There are probably twelve-step meetings to attend daily. There may be physical activities to help your body back to health. All of this supervision and scheduling not only helps in your recovery per se, but also makes you feel secure so that you can focus your attention on breaking your addiction.

Once the residential program is over, however, you may feel apprehensive about your ability to maintain sobriety without all that help. If you feel that it’s too soon for you to be thrown back into your everyday environment, with all its stresses, temptations and challenges, you might want to consider going to one of the many residential outpatient treatment centers that exist to help you make that transition.

Find Outpatient Treatment Centers to Help You Adjust

Outpatient facilities run the gamut from bare-bones dormitory style to luxury accommodations. What they all have in common is that they provide a place where you can make the transition to living on your own, yet have help available to it when you need it. Outpatient facilities have resident staff available, and generally provide transportation to AA or NA meetings. You share the facility with others who are also making the transition to sober living, and can find support from each other. Depending on how upscale the facility is, you may also find holistic treatments available, such as yoga, Pilate’s, gym equipment, nutritional counseling or massage.