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Long Term Drug Addiction Treatment

Long term drug addiction treatment is a process whereby individuals who have struggled with drug addiction can get the help they need to overcome this devastating problem. Millions of people struggle with addiction, and without effective help many lose everything and succumb to their substance of choice. When someone accepts treatment, they regain control of their lives. There are a variety of drug treatment programs available to help individuals struggling with addiction, but because each individual is unique and has unique circumstances, effective drug treatment must be tailored to meet these needs.

Drug treatment programs with the highest success rates offer a full spectrum of services, and take into account all aspects of an individual's life and treatment issues. For example, women have different needs than men in drug treatment. Older individuals may have different needs than the younger generation. But whether an individual is male or female, young or old, long term drug addiction treatment statistically offers the best results because the overall goal of sobriety is taken into account along with all of the challenges, and individuals are allowed to remain in treatment for a substantial amount of time to address all of the issues that got them hooked on drugs in the first place.

The first step of drug treatment at a long term drug addiction treatment facility is a detox from drugs. Most long term drug addiction treatment facilities offer in-house detox, but some treatment facilities do not. If this is the case, the individual will not be allowed to start treatment until they have been drug-free for at minimum 2 days. The individual will need to get through this process at a facility which can deliver a drug detox such as a hospital. Because of the some of the peculiarities and risks involved with detox and some forms of withdrawal, it is recommended that all drug detox is carried out under 24-hour medical supervision and care.

While detoxing from drugs or alcohol, individuals will go through what it commonly known as "withdrawal". Withdrawal is a result of dependence, both physical and psychological, that individuals have built up over time to their drug of choice. A lot of these symptoms are physical, and can be very painful and uncomfortable. The addict will typically experience intense cravings for their drug of choice during this time, which would quickly extinguish any withdrawal symptoms. This is why it is important that individuals who want to stop using drugs do so with the appropriate care and in the appropriate setting such as in a long term drug addiction treatment facility. This way, there will be no drugs around and drug treatment staff can help ease symptoms and cravings through a variety of means.

Individuals will experience the onset of withdrawal symptoms within 3-24 hours of the last time they used. The intensity and duration of symptoms varies, depending on which drug the individual is detoxing from. Individuals withdrawing from cocaine for example will typically experience fatigue, lack of pleasure, anxiety, irritability, sleepiness, and sometimes agitation or extreme suspicion. Opiate withdrawal comes with a myriad of intense physical symptoms, and has been described as similar to flu, but only ten times worse. Typical methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms include exhaustion, depression, mental confusion, restlessness, insomnia, and deep or disturbed sleep. Most withdrawal is not life threatening, just uncomfortable or painful. Drug treatment counselors work around the clock at a long term drug addiction treatment facility to make withdrawal as smooth as possible.

Of more concern is withdrawal from alcohol and a type of prescription drug known as benzodiazepines. In more serious cases of alcohol withdrawal individuals can get a very high fever, have high increased heart rate, hallucinations, blood pressure, and Delirium Tremens. Delirium Tremens is a serious condition which causes panic attacks, uncontrolled shaking, and severe hallucinations. The condition of DTs must be closely monitored to avoid the risk of death due to high blood pressure and increased heart rate. In the case of benzodiazepines, which are typically prescribed for anxiety but also commonly abused, withdrawal can include extreme anxiety, irritability, insomnia and sensory disturbances. Because of the risks associated with alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal, individuals who have abused these substances on a long term basis should never go through withdrawal unsupervised. Drug detox facilities and long term drug addiction treatment facilities have the tools and wherewithal to safely get individuals through this type of withdrawal.

Getting through drug detox and withdrawal is merely the first step of any effective long term drug addiction treatment program. Most individuals who only detox and don't continue with long term drug addiction treatment, quickly relapse. Following detox, drug treatment professionals work with the individual to do the real work that will get them rehabilitated. There may still be challenges at this point, and individuals should expect to experience drug cravings for some time. Relapse is highly likely at any point prior to program completion, but being in a long term drug addiction treatment setting offers a safe and drug free environment which offer the appropriate level of care and support to avoid this at all costs.

Long term drug addiction treatment offers an environment that allows for complete focus on recovery. Instead of being in an environment which can trigger drug use at any time, individuals who undergo long term drug addiction treatment live at the drug rehab facility, anywhere from 3 months to a year. This allows the individual to immerse themselves completely in the process of overcoming addiction. They literally have nothing else to focus on but making themselves and their lives better. Addicts will work intensively with professional drug treatment counselors who know what they are going through and have helped many before them. Counselors at a long term drug addiction treatment facility will typically utilize use both individual and group counseling and therapy to address issues which may be causing addictive behavior, or may cause such behavior when the individual completes treatment and returns home.

Probably the most important aspect of recovery and long term drug addiction treatment is education. When the individual understands the mechanics of addiction, they can recognize situations and influences in their own life which may have caused abusive patterns and behaviors and prevent these things from from happening in the future. If an individual can pinpoint a certain individual which always causes problems for them or nurtures their drug use, they can rid these types of individuals from their lives completely and have a much better shot at maintaining their sobriety. These influences and other triggers can be rooted out one by one, allowing for a much better outlook long-term.

Group and individual counseling is an important factor in most successful long term drug addiction treatment programs. Through counseling, individuals participating in long term drug addiction treatment can discover what may have caused their addiction issues and how to recognize things in their lives which they must change in order to maintain long-term sobriety. Group sessions help individuals gain another point of view and get peer support regarding their addiction. Counseling often includes family and loved ones as well, who can be a part of the healing and rehabilitation process.

Due to a growing need, long term drug addiction treatment counselors are becoming trained on how to identify individuals that may be struggling with what has become known as co-occurring disorders. This is because individuals in need of drug rehab sometimes also struggle with both drug addiction and either a mental health or co-occurring alcohol disorder. Staff at a long term drug addiction treatment facility can assist in getting individuals properly diagnosed so that it can be treated in addition to any standard treatment the individual may receive. If the co-occurring disorder is not addressed, the individual will be at risk of relapse as a result of the unaddressed disorder. However, there are drug rehab facilities which specialize in dual-diagnosis treatment and integrate this treatment as part of their program.

For a drug addiction treatment method to be effective, the individual should remain in treatment for an adequate amount of time. This timeframe varies from person to person and program to program, and depends on history of drug use including the type of drug the individual is addicted to and other factors. For individuals struggling with long-term addiction for example, it is recommended that individuals participate in a long term drug addiction treatment program which requires at least a 90 day stay. Most long term drug addiction treatment programs can actually take anywhere from 3 months to a year. The important thing is not how fast someone can get through treatment, but remaining in treatment as long as it takes to do everything it takes and utilize all tools to ensure that drug addiction is a thing of the past, and not a threat to their future. The longer the individual applies themselves to treatment, the better the results.

Counselors at a long term drug addiction treatment program may actually recommend an integrated continuum of care or aftercare program which may include respite care, a half way houses, a "step-up" houses for senior residents, etc. Statistics have shown that a strong aftercare program plan designed to enhance the progress already made in long term drug addiction treatment works wonders and can help provide a stable transitional environment. A halfway house or sober living facility for is a drug-free environment where the individuals would reside once rehab treatment is complete. At this type of facility, the rehabilitated individual is encouraged to continue take part in counseling and other programs which will help them with their transition and make it possible for them to go back to a normal life without the risk of relapse. Some of these facilities even have beds for individuals to bring their children to live with them at the facility until they have more appropriate accommodations. Individuals are encouraged and supported in their efforts to better themselves and do anything which may help them be better able to support themselves and start a new life once they leave the facility.

Long term drug addiction treatment is designed for individuals who have struggled with an extensive history of addiction and require a more intensive course of treatment. While other less intensive programs which may be shorter in duration offer a success rate of about 20%, long term drug addiction treatment have much higher success rates, with some of the more successful programs being as high as 75%. So while receiving a minimal amount of treatment in a short amount of time may seem convenient and a good idea, it isn't worth the risk of relapse and all of the destruction and havoc that this can wreak in one's life. Individuals who take part in a short-term program for example are barely able to overcome the withdrawal period and get back to normal physically. A significant amount of time is needed to address the underlying issues, which are at the root and are the real cause of the individual's addiction issues. If just one of these issues is left unresolved, it leaves the individual in a bad position when they leave treatment and most will relapse.

While it can take a considerable amount of time to fully address what caused the individual to begin using drugs in the first place, it can be done and it has been done for thousands of people as part of long term drug addiction treatment. Long term drug addiction treatment works to fully address any issues in the way of sobriety and a healthy life. If you or someone you know if struggling with addiction, contact a drug treatment counselor at a long term drug addiction treatment program in your area to get started in treatment today.

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