subject: Choosing The Best Substance Abuse Rehab [print this page] Drug abuse is no longer believed to be a simple habit or lifestyle gone haywire. Today it is considered as a critical medical issue. Addictions to substances including drugs, alcohol and prescription drugs are complex things often combined with deep psychological and emotional scarring and demand a long rehab period to get over. When a person reveals substance abuse issues as well as mental and/or emotional issue, they are said to be suffering from a dual diagnosis disorder. This is certainly one of the most challenging conditions to handle as the person has to undergo mental and psychiatric help in addition to Drug Abuse Rehab. If you think that this might be your case then read on for more information on how it is possible to cope with it.
Dual Diagnosis - How common is it?
These days it is understood that more than 50% of all people with a serious mental health issue also abuse some substance, for example a drug (heroin, cocaine, meth) or alcohol. Alternatively, an equal number of drug users and 37% of alcohol abusers also are considered to be struggling with psychological trauma. This trend supports a strong correlation between the psychology of a person and their disposition to abuse a substance.
Strategy to Dual Diagnosis
Given that the individual is addressing two related issues, an alternative integrated approach is necessary to treat them properly. For a better chance at long term recovery, the treatment must deal with both the issues at the same time, and if at all possible should be implemented by the same team of medical doctors.
The very first step in dual diagnosis treatment is detoxifying the individual from their addiction to the substance. This can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to three to six months of therapy based on the seriousness of the obsession. After effectively withdrawing from the drug abuse, the individual can then participate in a more integrated therapy where his/her addiction and the associated mental illness is focused. Such programs may use:
1. Therapy sessions just for dual diagnosis people in which group therapy could be performed on individuals struggling with similar issues.
2. Case management services where| services offered by a team of doctors are implemented in a case by case way and where full communication and cooperation is ensured between all those involved.
3. Family members and friends are brought in to offer assistance and reassurance.
4. Life-skill training, education and employment support.
5. Medication recommended and taken under controlled supervision of medical doctors.
Drug And Alcohol Treatment Centers utilizing these or a combination of these methods are quite successful in treating dual diagnosis disorder and can very successfully help you or a person you love to get rid of their issues.
