Alcohol
Detox
Alcohol detox is the first step in treatment. What does it mean to enter an alcohol detox? The definition of detoxification is as follows: "A treatment for addiction to drugs or alcohol intended to rid the body of the addictive substances, and the physiological and mental readjustment that accompanies the process." This definition refers to the physical withdrawal symptoms of alcohol abuse, as well as the psychological symptoms experienced while in alcohol detox.
Alcohol abuse and addiction require detox before beginning treatment and recovery. When alcohol residuals remain in the body, cravings will continue and recovery from alcohol addiction will be very difficult to achieve. Alcohol detox should be done under the care of a licensed medical facility. Attempting to detox from alcohol without the proper professional help is extremely dangerous. It can result in serious physical, psychological, and emotional consequences which can include death.
Drug
Detox
The goal of drug detox is to rid the body of toxins accumulated by drug use. The first step of detox is drug withdrawal. Drug withdrawal is "the act or process of ceasing to use an addictive drug." Once an individual has discontinued using drugs physical and behavioral withdrawal symptoms may follow. Drug detox is a process that helps diminish the uncomfortable symptoms of drug withdrawal.
Drug detox is performed in many different ways depending on where you decide to receive treatment. Most drug detox centers simply provide treatment to avoid physical withdrawal to alcohol & other drugs. A quality drug detox program will not only to provide the individual with counseling during detox but help with the physical withdrawal and the psychological root cause of the individual's addiction problem, so as to decrease the chances of relapse.
Drug detox can be
viewed in three separate stages:
1. Medical Detox: A medical doctor will need to supervise your medical withdrawal from drugs, ensuring you complete this phase safely and with minimal complications. Medical detox can take several days.
2. Physical Detox: Once your body is no longer dependent on drugs, you will need to work on building up your physical health. A nutritionist can be helpful during this phase, enabling you to develop a balanced diet to help you through the rest of the drug detox process.
3. Emotional Detox: Detox can be extremely difficult on your emotional health, which is why most treatment centers offer counseling during detox. Because drugs have become an integral part of your mental, emotional and social life, you will need emotional help as you detox.
Alcohol
Treatment
Alcohol treatment is a place where an individual who has a drinking problem can receive help. Treatment means that an individual enters a program that helps them with their alcohol addiction and provides them with the tools necessary for a complete recovery.
Alcohol treatment works for many people who have problems with alcohol abuse and addiction. But just like any other drug of abuse, the individual has to be committed to make a change for the better. Some people stop drinking and remain sober. Others have long periods of sobriety with bouts of relapse. And still others cannot stop drinking for any length of time. With alcohol treatment, one thing is clear: the longer a person abstains from alcohol, the more likely he or she will be able to stay sober.
Long
Term Treatment
Long term treatment involves individuals spending a substantial amount of time on their drug addiction treatment program. Generally, long term treatment is conducted in residential treatment facilities. When an individual enters a long term treatment program they know that they have truly dedicated themselves to recovering from their drug addiction. Long-Term Residential Treatment provides care 24 hours per day, generally in non-hospital settings. The best-known long term treatment model is the therapeutic community (TC), but residential treatment may also employ other models, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Long term treatment generally lasts anywhere from 3 to 12 months and is focused on the "resocialization" of the individual. Long term treatment uses the program's entire "community," including other residents, staff, and the social context, as active components of treatment. Long term treatment focuses on developing personal accountability and responsibility and socially productive lives. Long term treatment is highly structured with activities designed to help residents examine damaging beliefs, self-concepts, and patterns of behavior and to adopt new, more harmonious and constructive ways to interact with others.
Counseling
Counseling focuses on the symptoms of drug addiction, the individual as a whole, and the content and structure of the individual's recovery program. It gives the person coping strategies and tools for recovery. The primary goal of counseling is to assist the individual in achieving and maintaining abstinence from drugs and alcohol. The secondary goal is the help them recover from the damage addiction has caused in their life.
Counseling works by first helping the individual recognize the existence of a problem and the associated irrational thinking that comes along with drug addiction. Next, the person is encouraged to achieve and maintain abstinence and then to develop the necessary psychosocial skills to continue their recovery. In counseling, it is the individual who must take responsibility fro working on and succeeding with a program of recovery.
Drug
Intervention
Drug intervention is a process that helps a drug addict recognize the extent of their problem. Individuals who are addicted to drugs or alcohol usually do not know their addiction is out of control. They tend to look at those around them as a measure of how right or wrong their actions are. These individuals need objective feedback on their behavior. It is through a non-judgmental, non-critical, systematic drug intervention process that the individual is able to see their own lifestyle choices. When they truly understand the impact that their alcohol dependence or drug addiction has on others, they may truly begin to see they are hurting those around them.
The goal of drug intervention is for the addict to accept the reality of their drug addiction and to seek help. The process of conducting a drug intervention is a difficult and delicate matter. It is important that it is done correctly, otherwise the individual may feel cornered and become defensive. Advice from a trained professional is useful in determining the proper strategy and timing for your specific drug intervention.
Alcohol
Intervention
Alcohol intervention is a process that helps an individual who has problems with alcohol recognize the extent of their situation. Those who have a problem with alcohol usually do not know they are out of control. They look at their alcohol-using peers/friends and their own use appears normal in comparison. They need objective feedback on their behavior. Through a non-judgmental, non-critical, systematic process, the individual is confronted with the impact of their alcohol abuse. The goal of alcohol intervention is for them to accept the reality of their problem and to seek help.
An alcohol intervention is a difficult and delicate matter. It is very important that they be done properly. No alcohol intervention should be undertaken without advice and counsel of a professional experienced in the alcohol intervention process. Furthermore, since people embarking on an alcohol intervention often feel ambivalent and apprehensive, it is important that they trust the interventionist.
Meetings
Meetings can complement and extend the effects of professional drug addiction treatment. The most prominent meetings for those recovering from drug addiction are those affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Cocaine Anonymous, all of which are based on the 12-step model. There are other groups who provide meetings such as Smart Recovery and others not based on the 12 steps. Most drug addiction treatment programs encourage patients to participate in meetings to solidify the recovery process during and after formal treatment.
Meetings many times are free of charge, self-governing and self-supporting. Information regarding day, time, and locations of meetings held by 12-Step organizations can be found by calling a central group telephone number in the yellow pages under "Alcoholism" and "Drug Abuse and Addiction". Typically meetings are held one or more times a week, at the same location and at the same time. Meetings focus on members sharing with other members their experience, strength, and hope in terms of recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction. |