Addiction to drugs or alcohol can wreak havoc on the life of anyone afflicted with the disease, as well as the lives of those close to him or her. Substance abuse rehab refers to a method of addiction recovery that involves rehabilitation therapy. Often, the focus is on helping the addict overcome his or her chemical addiction through detoxification, counseling, group therapy, motivational lectures, coping strategies, and, sometimes, medical intervention.
The majority of people who seek treatment in a substance abuse rehab facility do so to overcome an addiction to alcohol or common street drugs, such as cocaine or heroin. Sometimes narcotic painkillers, such as OxyContin® or Percocet®, are the source of the addiction. Depressants, like Xanax®, or stimulants, such as Ritalin® are also commonly abused. More often than not, addicts are dependent on more than one substance. In many cases, they are aware of their problems long before seeking treatment.
Addiction treatment can be sought voluntarily, or when a person admits and recognizes the seriousness of his or her problem, and how it is negatively affecting home and work. Often, it occurs after a significant event in someone’s life, which may have directly resulted from the addiction. Such instances can include the loss of a job due to excessive drinking, or an arrest resulting due to being intoxicated.
In other cases, substance abuse rehab can be court-ordered, by a judge. Cases such as this may follow the conviction of a person charged with driving under the influence (DUI). It may also be ordered in response to domestic violence situations, in which the addiction is a contributing factor to problems in the home. Sometimes, a judge may order substance abuse rehab in lieu of jail time.
Many substance abuse rehab centers cater to those addicted to drugs and alcohol on an inpatient basis. Upon entry to a drug treatment center, the first priority is usually to detoxify the patient. This is often a painful and uncomfortable process, and sometimes medicine is administered to ease the symptoms of withdrawal. Depending on which substance has been abused, and the length of time the addict has been addicted to it, detoxification can take several days to several weeks. Once the initial process is complete, the professionals at a substance abuse rehab center work closely with the patient toward recovery.
Substance abuse rehab therapy often continues even after an individual leaves an inpatient rehabilitation center. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a form of group therapy in which recovering addicts meet regularly, and collectively work with each other to help overcome addiction and prevent relapse. AA meetings often emphasize spirituality and encourage members to adopt prayer as part of their daily recovery efforts.
