Drug Addiction Treatment Research

The principles of drug addiction are sometimes very unclear. What causes addiction? Why are some people addicts, while some aren't? How do you deal with dual diagnosis (a mental health disorder and a substance abuse issue) in a successful way? These questions cannot be answered simply, just as drug addiction cannot be treated simply. In order to approach the difficulties that result from drug addiction, drug addiction treatment is designed in a way that focuses specifically on certain aspects of the addiction and the consequences that follow. Addiction research is largely evidence based, which is reassuring to those who are taking part in drug rehab treatment. However, there are many professional researchers working on new methods of treatment and new ways for successful recovery. Of the existing drug addiction rehab treatments available, research has show two very successful methods: Pharmacotherapies and Behavioral Therapies. 

Pharmacotherapies are mainly used for opioid addiction, tobacco addiction, and alcohol addiction. In this type of therapy treatment, an addict is given different drugs to allow full recovery by lessening their dependence slowly but surely. Opioid pharmacotherapy is widely controversial because it is viewed as simply replacing one opioid for another more acceptable form of opioid. However, research has shown that taking the opioid prescriptions such as methadone and buprenorphine, an opioid addict can hold a steady job, avoid crime and violence, and reduce the risk of HIV through injection. For alcohol addiction, there are many different drugs that allow for a more comfortable withdrawal period. There are also some that, when taken, will cause the user to feel very ill if they drink alcohol. This is helpful for highly motivated persons, or in high-risk situations, such as parties where alcohol will be present. All of these drugs that allow for comfortable and reasonable changes in a person's lifestyle have been shown to work significantly better with the help of behavioral therapy, but it is also shown that with most addictions, what matters most is getting help.

Behavioral therapies have always been shown as the most helpful, probably because of the way they compel a drug user into approaching their abuse through the idea of complete treatment. They are forced to confront their problems – not only problems with drug use, but in the rest of their lives as well – and thus choose to modify their attitudes toward drug abuse. Many addicts will increase their life skills in drug rehab, relating to stressful situations and the cravings for drugs. There are numerous behavioral treatments as a result of positive study results. A few of the most common and successful are cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, the matrix model, 12-step programs, family behavior therapy, and behavioral therapies primarily for adolescents.

Through a drug and alcohol addiction assessment given by a treatment center, you will be able to join the therapy situation the best fits your needs and your life situation. Do not wait to get help – find treatment that works for you. Drug addiction is a scary thing to deal with, but you don't have to do it alone.  

Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment

Prescription drugs can be very effective in treating certain conditions, however they are often abused by users for non-medical reasons. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, it is estimated that roughly 20% of people in the United States have taken painkillers for recreational or self-medicating purposes. There are hundreds of different prescription drugs on the market today that can be abused by prescription drug addicts, ranging from stimulants to sedatives, and including brand names such as OxyContin, Vicodin, Adderall and Xanax. In the past couple of decades, it has become increasingly easier to obtain pills without a prescription, especially with the advent of online pharmacies that will ship prescription drugs right to your door.

There are a variety of reasons why people take prescription drugs. Painkillers such as hydrocodone are used to treat physical trauma and injury, whereas benzodiazepines are used for patients with anxiety, and stimulants that include methamphetamine can be used to treat attention deficit disorders. Although patients suffering from certain conditions can benefit from taking certain prescription drug addicts, they are often abused for their intoxicating effects. Prescription drug addiction has become an increasingly serious problem in recent years, and thousands of people check into drug rehab treatment each year to treat their diseases of addiction.

In addition to their properties for treating pain and certain mental or emotional disorders, many prescription drugs also have side effects of euphoria, which is why drug addicts often abuse them. High-strength painkillers especially can induce feelings of ease and contentment when abused. Amphetamines, on the other hand, can give the user feelings of increased energy and alertness, similar to using cocaine or crystal meth. Prescription drug addiction is rampant in today's society, and it can often lead to the abuse of harder narcotics such as heroin when painkillers become too expensive.

In some situations, taking prescription drugs in order to treat certain conditions can lead to drug abuse, and eventually addiction. Although it may not be the intention of the patient to become hooked on prescription drugs, they often succumb to the addictive and euphoric qualities of the drugs and develop a prescription drug addiction. In these situations, prescription drug addicts may not be able to quit on their own and might require drug rehab treatment in order to get clean.

Rehab has proven to effectively addictions to prescription drugs, alcohol, narcotics and other substances, and it is often the best way to get sober and stay sober for many addicts. Drug addiction can easily take control of one's life, leading to numerous problems involving their work, relationships and financial affairs. Addiction is a disease, and when someone is in the throes of a serious drug addiction, they become focused on one thing and one thing only: getting high and staying high. It can be sad, painful and stressful to watch the ones you love be addicted to drugs or alcohol, and sometimes they need help in order to get better. It can be extremely difficult to get through to a drug addict or alcoholic, and often times drug treatment professionals are the best persons for this job. If you are suffering from a drug addiction, or you feel that someone you know may have a problem with drugs or alcohol, contacting a licensed rehab professional may the best thing you can do in order to save your life or the life of one you love and care about. 

Inpatient Drug Rehab Treatment

When someone has an addiction to drugs or alcohol, sometimes the most effective way to get their lives and physical and mental health back in order is through treatment. There are many different programs available for drug addicts and alcoholics. For some who have serious addictions that are taking control of their lives, inpatient treatment is often recommended. Depending upon the individual and the inpatient rehab treatment center they attend, the drug rehab treatment or alcohol treatment they will receive can vary greatly. There are many different programs aimed at helping individuals recover from their addictions, and they involve a variety of different exercises and sessions with licensed treatment professionals.

Before anyone considers going to inpatient drug treatment or alcohol treatment, it is important first to fully understand what is inpatient treatment. Before being accepted into an inpatient rehab treatment center, you must undergo a series of assessments and evaluations that measure the severity of your addiction and also focus on the emotional or mental issues that may be driving your alcoholism or drug addiction. Some people may be referred to outpatient treatment instead of inpatient treatment. The decision is based on the criteria gathered from the evaluations and the diagnosis of the substance abuse counselor.

There are many benefits of inpatient treatment over outpatient treatment. For severe addicts and alcoholics, some of these benefits may be necessary in order to stay clean during their recovery process. In an inpatient rehab treatment center, the patient is there for 24 hours a day, and often for months at a time. During this period, they are under the direct supervision of doctors, nurses, psychiatrists and psychologists. Being in such a structured environment allows for much less of a chance for relapse. In outpatient treatment, recovering addicts still have to face the constant temptations of daily life – triggers, stress, peer pressure, and others that may provoke a relapse. While on an extended stay at a treatment center, the alcoholic or addict can focus solely on their recovery and not the everyday stress presented from the outside world.

In addition to the benefits of isolation in inpatient drug treatment and alcohol treatment, patients are also under constant medical supervision. This can be crucial in the most severe cases of addiction. When an individual develops such a strong dependency on drugs or alcohol, their body can go into shock during the detoxification process. Depending upon the excess of their addiction, this shock to the central nervous system from stopping the use of drugs or alcohol can be extremely detrimental to one’s health, and even fatal in some cases. Under the constant monitoring of medical professionals, those in treatment can also be sent to the hospital for instant medical care if necessary. Sometimes being in a controlled environment during the rehab and detox process can save a recovering addict’s life.

It is common for drug addicts or alcoholics to refuse treatment because they feel that it is a failure on their part that they could not get clean on their own. These feelings of regret and shame for their drug oralcohol abuse do nothing but feed into the vicious cycle of addiction. It is important for anyone with the desire to get sober and free from their addiction that treatment can be a second chance at life and an opportunity to move on and lead a healthy and happy life in the future. Denial does nothing but fuel the fire of addiction, and admitting defeat is the first step toward recovery and living a life that is not controlled by the preoccupation with drugs or alcohol.

Inpatient Drug Rehab Treatment