Drug rehabilitation, often referred to as rehab, encompasses a variety of in-residence and outpatient treatments directed towards freeing a person from his or her addiction. Programs differ in length and content, but commonly include medical supervision, individual and group therapies, and an on-call personal support system. Drug rehabilitation at its best uncovers hidden triggers or stressors that drove the patient to the addiction, and attempts to address these issues with behavioral changes that allow the patient to deal with stressors in a healthier, more productive manner.
When a party is not willing to get help on his or her own, concerned family members might opt to contact a local drug rehabilitation center to arrange an intervention. An intervention is a last resort when all other attempts to get the party to voluntarily seek help have failed. In an intervention, family, loved ones and a professional interventionist ‘surprise’ the addict with a sit-down meeting, encouraging him or her to agree to help. The interventionist meets with parties beforehand to outline the structure of the actual intervention. In-residence drug rehabilitation should be arranged beforehand so that once the party agrees, action can be taken immediately to get him or her to a facility.
While intervention can be a great tool for getting help to a loved one, the most common reasons for failed interventions include not having a professional interventionist involved who can guide the process; believing the party will attend meetings him or herself; and not having a plan of action ready when the addict agrees to treatment. Divided family members who act as enablers, and choosing the wrong drug rehabilitation program can also lead to failure. Research centers and options beforehand and meet with a few interventionists to pick the one you feel most comfortable with to clear the way for success.
Once a patient enters treatment, the first line of action will be detoxing, or withdrawal from the addiction. Medical supervision and psychological counseling are provided to help the patient get through this stage as quickly and painlessly as possible. Often patients feel tempted to leave drug rehabilitation programs shortly after becoming sober, invigorated by their newfound health and reclamation of sense of self. This is a poor choice, as the real work of drug rehabilitation comes once the patient is sober and able to participate in various therapies that can help build a new mental and emotional framework to prevent or greatly reduce future abuse.
Drug rehabilitation programs vary in length, but for someone who has never attended rehab, the longer one can stay, the better the chances of remaining clean when released home. The types of cognitive behavioral therapies that are part of drug rehabilitation take time to teach, practice and implement, making 90-day programs a better choice than 30 or 60-day programs when money and time permit. In other situations, someone revisiting rehab might seek a shorter 30-day program as a boost to get him or her back on track. The degree and kind of addiction can also make a difference in treatment choices, as can many other factors.
If you or someone you know would like to get help but don’t know where to start, you might consider contacting a placement organization. For example, in the U.S., Drug-Rehab.org is a non-profit company with information about drug rehabilitation centers in every state. They will suggest centers based on information you provide them, whether seeking help for addiction to street drugs, prescription drugs or alcohol. Their job is to match you up with an effective, appropriate drug rehabilitation treatment center that will best meet the needs of you or your loved one.
While convenient to attend a drug rehabilitation center close by, if the best center is located in another city or state, it can be beneficial to make this commitment. Leaving familiar territory where the addiction has been reinforced to attend treatment in a new, fresh location can act like a psychological break. Some people might be more willing to “rebuild themselves” in a new town where no one knows them. The change of scenery can be helpful.
Drug rehabilitation is a gateway to rediscovered health, happiness and reparation. There is no reason to live miserably, lose family and friends, and sacrifice happiness for the sake of an addiction. It only takes getting well to see the world new again. A drug rehabilitation center can get you there, expertly, lovingly and before you know it. Just think where you or your loved one could be at this time next year. Reach for the phone. Call someone today. You only have to take the first step on your own. People are waiting to help you with the rest of your journey.