What are the Three Most Common Addiction Treatments?
What are the Three Most Common Addiction Treatments?
In the field of addiction treatment today, there are hundreds of options to choose from to ensure getting the best treatment possible. So, what are the 3 most common addiction treatments in the United States today?
Making the decision to find help for a drug or alcohol problem is never easy. Even if the initial choice seems obvious, following through on that decision often proves to be incredibly challenging for many people. Most people did not develop their problems overnight, and addressing those problems often requires an extended commitment to the process of rehabilitation. Fortunately, today’s most common forms of rehabilitation prove effective for many patients. This is especially true when one is willing to keep trying, even if success is not immediate.
The path to recovery is often a long one, but it is worthwhile nonetheless.
3 Most Common Addiction Treatments Today
It is important to keep in mind that rehabilitation is the process that occurs after the initial detoxification period.
Detox, which in times past was often given the most attention, is actually only the beginning of the recovery process. While important, detox only occurs over a short time period, days to weeks, while rehabilitation is the more long-term effort to prevent further substance abuse.
Inpatient Rehabilitation
Inpatient rehabilitation is widely known as the most effective method for addiction treatment and recovery.
- Individuals who come to inpatient programs are often in poor health, and programs will focus on better nutrition and exercise, along with more standards programs of individual and group therapy. Twelve-step programs are also often featured in an inpatient program.
- Focuses on making the most out of the typical 21-day program. Individuals leave with the necessary skills, health, and understanding to avoid going back to their old ways.
- Are the most expensive of the three most common addiction treatments. Even inpatient programs that are not resort-like still require a large staff of highly trained professionals, making the cost of attendance prohibitive for some. Health insurance, Medicaid or other forms of assistance are available. Some inpatient programs also allow payment up front based on a sliding scale that adjusts according to the patient’s income.
- Occurs in an inpatient facility, where the user has constant access to medical staff and support staff for the extent of his or her stay. Inpatient care lasts an average of 21 days, a stay that focuses on abstinence from drugs and alcohol, altering old behavior patterns that lead to drug use, and adoption of a substance-free lifestyle.
However, 21 days is not enough to create permanent change. Further counseling is necessary, making the next of the most common addiction treatments, outpatient, a part of any rehabilitation process.
Outpatient Rehabilitation
Outpatient rehabilitation is similar to inpatient rehabilitation, but it is structured around the regular lives of patients. It is often done on nights and weekends, a allows patients to go about their day-to-day lives while participating in treatment. As stated before, it is a necessary component of any long-term treatment plan. However, some patients will opt for only outpatient rehab, either due to cost or differing needs.
Outpatient programs often last between a few weeks and a period of 18 months. Restructuring habits and life skills takes time, and outpatient programs allow individuals to work on those necessary changes while working to pay their bills. These programs often employ a similar staff as inpatient programs, as the needs of patients are often quite similar.
Part of what distinguishes outpatient programs, however, is the opportunities that arise from their extended time
frame.
Therapy options are available, particularly those involving family, which can do a great amount of good for patients.
Family therapy is a process that assumes that the home environment of a patient, and his or her relationships with close family members, has a part to play in substance abuse patterns. By participating in family therapy, the entire family can come to better understand the role each individual plays in the patterns of the household. The entire family unit can adjust its behavior, and individuals can critically examine how to assist their loved ones in promoting a healthier environment.
Involving a patient’s family is an excellent way to adjust his or her environment, but rehabilitation also requires personal changes. Individuals in outpatient programs also participate in personal behavioral therapy. This therapy involves teaching the patient how his or her behavior patterns contribute to substance abuse, and how to alter those harmful patterns. Change is not always easy, making it often necessary for patients to continue in therapy for extended periods of time.
Social Programs
Programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and Employee Assistance Programs are all based on creating a sense of community and support for users. These programs are often important for users committed to long-term recovery, and many patients will spend years participating in them to aid in preventing relapses.
Social programs are often an addition to inpatient or outpatient programs and are typically only a part of the necessary work required to get clean.
Some social programs, such as the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, draw criticism for their emphasis on spirituality. Many of the twelve steps involve turning over problems to a higher spiritual power, something not all patients are comfortable with. Not all social programs are like this, though, and there are other options available for patients who are uncomfortable with the 12 steps.
Social programs gain much of their effectiveness through the upfront acknowledgment of substance abuse problems by members. One must admit that a problem exists and that the problem will take time and effort to address. This honesty, combined with the ongoing support of a community of individuals in similar circumstances, has proven a powerful tool for some recovering substance abusers.
The Importance of Medical Diagnosis
These three most common addiction treatments are used all across the country to help individuals suffering from substance abuse problems. However, it is important to realize that only a medical professional can give an accurate assessment of the ideal treatment for an individual. A physician may prescribe all three of these most common addiction treatments, depending on the individual patient’s needs and circumstances.
Rehabilitation programs provide a framework and a support group that allows users to recover and stay that way. What works best for one may not work best for another. The fact remains, however, that effective options are out there for any situation.
Rehabilitation does work, especially when one continuously commits to getting and staying clean.
