The number of people who are struggling with addiction has gone up considerably in the last decade or so. When you think about the reasons for this, they aren’t that difficult to figure out. Between the pandemic, the socioeconomic present, and the mental health decline, addiction has been a logical consequence.
Perhaps the biggest reason for such widespread addiction is the accessibility of incredibly powerful synthetic opioids, painkillers, and other neuroscientific creations. The stigma surrounding addiction is going away through its commonality and treatments have responded. Below are the essential types of addiction recovery treatments.
Dual Diagnosis
Dual diagnosis might be the most important modern addiction treatment method because it aims to get down to the core of the problem. Addiction typically comes from a response to another co-occurring and underlying condition. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder are some of the most common disorders that are self-medicated with drugs and alcohol, but there are many others. Even if a patient doesn’t have an underlying condition, the point is that addiction needs to be treated comprehensively. The person struggling with substance abuse and dependence is a patient, first and foremost.
Detoxification
Whether you are looking for detox outside Riverside, California, Ithaca, New York, or Tallahassee, Florida, you can find a facility near you. Depending on the type of drug and the severity of the dependence, detoxification occurs. Withdrawals vary based on what substance is being used and how long they’ve been using it.
Alcohol, opiates, and opioids have some of the worst symptoms, but all kinds of drugs can have uncomfortable and dangerous withdrawal periods. That’s why it’s integral to be supervised when you are coming off a drug. When a patient is detoxing, they need medical attention. Supervision and medical care make the whole process smoother and easier, making room for long-term work.
12-Step Program
After detox, most people start the 12-step program in either an inpatient or outpatient setting. This can include support group meetings, working with a sponsor, and getting individual counseling. The program has helped people from all walks of life get sober and stay sober, even after relapses. You don’t have to treat the program in any way you don’t want to, but even just going, sharing, and listening is a great way to keep moving forward in recovery. The context in which you do it is up to you.
Residential Treatment
Another type of treatment that is very effective for people is based on the residential mode. This model has people who are in recovery living together to establish a sober living environment and support each other through the process. You can do inpatient treatment for 30 days in a residential setting, but there’s also the option to stay in a sober house as long as you want. During the early days of recovery, these homes will host meetings at night and have a counselor, sponsor, or both living on site with everyone. It can be a great way for people to build camaraderie and support each other in sobriety while removing temptations from the living situation–even in an aftercare setting.
Outpatient
Lastly, it should be noted that all of these treatments can be done in the context of outpatient treatment. It is rare for someone who has recently stopped using drugs or alcohol to be able to stay abstinent without supervision of some kind in the early days. Still, there are people who are highly functional when they are using and need to be as functional in their sobriety. When you have a job you have to do or a family you have to take care of, outpatient treatment can provide all the counseling and benefits of rehab without sleeping at a facility overnight. It works for a few, but for them it can be transformational.
There are many ways to treat addiction. People are unique. They have become dependent on different things. They have their own underlying issues and trauma. Whatever the case, it’s important to tackle addiction head on and understand that to achieve long-term sobriety, the person needs to be treated as a patient from the moment they start detox. Then, if the person is willing and dedicated to making their life better, they will do what they need to do. This willingness on both ends is needed to establish a healthy recovery and long-term sobriety.
