7 Ways that Treatment Facilitates a Successful Recovery from Drug Addiction

by | Feb 12, 2018 | Addiction Treatment | 1 comment

Struggling with Drug Addiction

Many people struggling with drug addiction dismiss their problem as “not that bad” or worry that “there’s nothing I can do about it anyway.”  Although the public perception of drug addiction is that it is a problem of willpower, the scientific research suggests otherwise.  Several decades of research have demonstrated that addiction is a disease that causes changes to brain structure and function.  These brain changes keep you stuck in a cycle of cravings and drug use.

Although struggling with the disease of addiction is difficult, treatment can help.  Medication management, psychotherapy, and other interventions can break the cycle of drug addiction.  Following are 7 ways in which treatment can help to facilitate a successful recovery from drug addiction:

Providing Individualized Care that Targets Each Person’s Unique Needs

   No two people are alike.  So why would it make sense to treat them with the same approach?  Successful treatment programs individualize their care to each person who comes through their doors.  This individualized care accounts for medical history, duration of substance abuse, types of drugs used, family relationships, religion and spirituality, and other factors unique to each client.

A Focus on All of a Person’s Needs, Not Just Drug Addiction

  You are more than just a substance user.  Treatments that focus solely on drug use without addressing contextual factors may be doomed to failure.  Successful treatments focus on all of a person’s needs, from employment to life skills to relationships to spiritual practices.  Only by addressing all of the areas of life that may be out of balance can treatment successfully help you overcome addiction.

Access to Experts in Addiction Care

  If you had cancer, you would want to see the best oncologist in the area.  So too with addiction care.  Entering a professional treatment program provides access to experts in addiction medicine who have devoted their lives to helping people overcome substance abuse.

An Emphasis on Making Behavioral Changes in Your Life

  If kicking your drug habit was easy, you would have done it yourself.  Treatment professionals can help you recognize patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that perpetuate the addiction cycle.  Learning new coping strategies and making behavioral changes is a core component of successful treatment.

Treatment of co-occurring mental health problems

Treatment of co-occurring mental health problems.  According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly 9 million people are struggling with substance abuse and a co-occurring mental health problem.  Getting treatment is a great way to address addiction and mental health concurrently, viewing them as intertwined problems.

Providing a dynamic approach with appropriate support at each stage.  Treatment naturally progresses through phases.  The most support — whether medical, psychological, or emotional — is often needed during the initial phases of treatment.  As you complete the withdrawal process and learn new strategies for coping with cravings, you may gradually need less and less support.  Treatment programs facilitate a successful recovery by providing access to support with the goal of helping you transition to an independent, drug-free lifestyle.

Access to a supportive aftercare environment.  Like most chronic diseases, recovery from addiction is a long journey.  Going “cold turkey” or undergoing a rapid medical detoxification may work in the short term, but many people fail to achieve long term success with these approaches.  In contrast, getting treatment gives you access to aftercare support.  This helps many people navigate challenges as they successfully transition back to their everyday lives.


References:
  1. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Principles of effective treatment. December 2012.
  2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association. Rates of co-occurring mental and substance use disorders.