subject: Successful Drug Treatment Programs Require Some Essential Components [print this page] Addiction to drugs is a complex illnessAddiction to drugs is a complex illness. It involves uncontrollable and extreme cravings for certain substances. Only a minuscule number of drug addicts are able to overcome the habit without drug treatment Minneapolis. Due to the cravings, the addict's time is constantly devoted to seeking out his or her next 'fix'.
Because there are numerous components to addiction, a successful treatment program must comprise many facets. Every facet is directed at a certain area of addiction and the consequences. The addict has to cease use of the drug, re-establish himself or herself as a functioning member of society, and to live a life free of drugs.
Addiction is a serious illness. No-one can stop using a substance for a couple of days and expect to be cured. The majority of addicts require long-term treatment to attain abstinence. Therefore there are certain key elements that need to be included in every treatment program.
Addiction causes changes in brain functioning and behavior. While addiction is complicated, it can be treated. However, no single treatment will be successful for every addict. The first requirement is that the treatment program should be readily available.
Effective treatment must cater for the individual needs of every patient. It should not only focus on the drug abuse. The patient must remain in treatment for as long as it is deemed necessary. He or she must also participate in group therapy sessions, in addition to one-on-one counseling.
Medication often needs to form part of therapy. It is especially essential when treatment is aimed at behavioral counseling. Every individual's therapy plan must be constantly monitored and re-assessed to ensure continual progress.
Most addicts suffer with psychological disorders and these will also have to be dealt with. Although medical detoxification is useful in the initial phase of treatment, its success is not long-term. Contrary to popular belief, treatment is not dependent on the addict's voluntary admission. His or her family is able to enforce legal intervention.
All patients must undergo tests for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis and other contagious illnesses. If the test is positive, the patient should be informed how to prevent the spread of the illness. And those who test negative should similarly be informed how to avoid becoming infected.
Family members must become part of the program, especially when the patient leaves the drug treatment center. Everyone concerned should be educated about the possibility of relapse and how to deal with it. A family-based support system is essential for the successful rehabilitation of an addict.
