Substance abuse happens when an individual develops a dependency on alcohol and drug use so much so that it causes significant clinical and functional impairment. More often than not, this leads to severe drug addiction.
Drug and alcohol addiction is a complex illness that has severe effects on the physical, mental, and emotional health of the user and their loved ones.
While a substance abuse disorder is a serious problem, it can be treated with the right kind of therapy and rehabilitation. Unfortunately, because of the shame and stigma associated with addiction, some people still bear the false assumption that treatments are ineffective.
Living a life of sobriety after a drug dependency diagnosis is, however, very much possible thanks to substance abuse rehabilitation.
Substance rehab helps people struggling with addiction. Drug dependence is a complicated physical and mental problem that requires a holistic approach to treatment. There is no ‘one size fits all’ strategy to treating substance abuse. You also have to consider that every individual has their own unique conditions that have to be factored in.
Below is a comprehensive breakdown of substance abuse, the different kinds of substance therapy options, and a brief insight into what you should consider when choosing a rehabilitation center. Click here to reach out the best rehab center in your area.
Understanding Substance Abuse
Substance misuse impacts a person’s health, finances, their understanding of reality, and how they deal with their everyday routine. For people with families, the consequences can have a much bigger and longer-lasting effect, especially on the children.
Substance use counts as abuse when the substance is overused, used for a different purpose other than what it was originally meant for, used to impair cognitive abilities, or when the user becomes dependent on the substance to function.
Examples of these substances include illegal drugs such as cocaine and LSD, alcoholic drinks, solvents such as glue, and prescription meds like codeine, valium, and morphine.
Possible Causes of Drug Abuse
The cause of drug abuse disorder is still not clear. Genetics, however, account for about 50% of a person’s risk. It usually starts out as curiosity before developing into concurrent use, heightened tolerance, before maturing into full addiction.
Some people with a substance abuse disorder have been found to harbor a recurring mental condition such as depression or anxiety. Other factors that may lead to drug addiction include insomnia, relationship issues, family conflict, chronic pain, financial difficulties, or lack of parental attachment during childhood.
Different Types of Drug Treatment Centers
The Alvarado Parkway Institute estimates that more than 22 million Americans suffer from a chemical dependency on alcohol or drugs but only a minor fraction of them actually seek help.
There are plenty of substance therapy centers with a wide variety of different programs ideal for treating different addictions. With so many options to consider, deciding how and where you should receive your drug rehabilitation treatment can be a confusing affair.
Let’s look at the various types of substance rehab available.
1. Residential (Inpatient) Centers
Residential rehabilitation centers help patients focus on their recovery by plucking them from their everyday setting and accommodating them for an extended amount of time (usually between 30 to 90 days).
Many patients at a time can be accommodated at the facility 24/7 with personnel available round the clock to help with anything that might come up. The patients are provided a low-stress, safe, and serene space that is conducive to their healing and recovery process.
2. Outpatient Drug Rehab Centers
For some people, dropping everything in their lives and moving to a residential rehab facility for a month or two is just not possible.
As a solution, there are outpatient drug rehab centers that offer many of the same programs available at inpatient centers such as detox and counseling. However, while both inpatient and outpatient drug rehab centers are great for treating drug addictions, the latter is more ideal for those with a less severe disorder.
Outpatient centers are more affordable and convenient for people who have to go to work or live at home because of family responsibilities.
3. Fellowship Support Groups
Contrary to common belief, substance rehab is not restricted to outpatient and inpatient rehab programs. Millions of people have successfully recovered from their addictions by using fellowship groups such as Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous.
These support groups are so successful that several rehab centers have adopted some of the strategies used by these support groups.
Choosing a Drug Rehab Center
There could be plenty of ways to go about one problem. You’ll find that each person probably has a way of going about the problem that works best for them.
For instance, some people choose to brush their teeth before breakfast while some do it after. Some people take notes in class while others prefer to listen to the lecturer. The same is true when it comes to drug abuse treatment.
When it comes to choosing among the various types of rehabilitation options, you need to go with the one that is the most in line with the needs of the patient.
You also have to factor in the cost of the program. But avoid the mistake of thinking that a high-end rehab center gives you the best chance of success. A low-cost outpatient program can work just as well as long as the patient is motivated to recover and stays sober.
If you have a family at home to take care of, you also need to consider an outpatient center or who will be responsible for the family’s care if you were to check into a long-term residential center.
Recovery Is About Progression, Not Perfection
Substance addiction comes in various forms, necessitating the need for just as many options for recovery. Substances are solvents, illegal drugs, and even prescription medicines whose use or overuse, causes people to change how they think, act, and feel.
There are numerous approaches that inpatient and outpatient drug rehab centers use for substance use therapy. Finding the right substance rehabilitation center for you or a loved one will determine how smooth and fast your recovery journey will go.
If you feel that you or a loved one needs professional help, do not hesitate as your life could very well depend on it.
