Drug addiction treatment: What all is involved?
Although drug addiction treatment programs differ,
the basic elements are similar. Most drug abuse programs
include some or all of the following: Assessment,
Treatment Plan, Medical Care, Group Counseling,
Individual Counseling, Assignments, Education about
Substance Abuse, Life Skills Training, Relapse
Prevention Training, Orientation to Self-Help Groups,
Treatment for Emotional Problems, Family Education and
Counseling Services.
Assessment - All good substance abuse
treatment begins with a clinical assessment of a
person's needs. This assessment helps in the development
of an effective treatment plan. Assessment should be
ongoing throughout the program and the plan should
change as a the patients needs change.
Medical Care - Some drug treatment programs
can provide medical care on site. Medical care typically
includes screening and treatment of hepatitis,
tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and other health related
concerns. Programs that do not provide care on site
should be able to refer the patient to quality care.
Treatment Plan - The treatment team, along
with the person in treatment develops a treatment plan
based on the assessment. A treatment plan is a written
guide to treatment that includes the person's goals,
treatment activities designed to help meet those goals,
ways to tell whether a goal has been met, and a timeline
for meeting goals. The addiction treatment plan helps
both the person in treatment and treatment program staff
stay focused. As stated earlier the treatment plan
should adjust over time as the patients needs are
reassessed.
Group and Individual Counseling - At first individual
counseling generally focuses on motivating the person to
stop using drugs or alcohol. Treatment then shifts to
helping the person stay drug and alcohol free. The
counselor attempts to help the person to:
- See the problem and become motivated to change
- Change
his or her behavior Repair damaged relationships with
family and friends
- Build new friendships with people who
don't use drugs
- Create a recovery lifestyle
Group
counseling may be different in each program, but group
members usually support and try to help one another cope
with live without using drugs or alcohol. They Share
their experiences, talk about their problems and
feelings, and find out that they are not alone.
Individual Assignments - People in drug abuse
treatment may be asked to read certain things, listen to
audiotapes, watch videos, complete written assignments,
and try new behaviors.
Education About Substance Use Disorders -
Patients learn about the symptoms and the effect so of
drug use on the brain and body. They also learn what
makes addiction a disease and how to manage this
illness.
Life Skills Training - The training can
include learning and practicing employment skills,
communication skills, leisure activities, social skills,
communication skills, anger management, goal setting,
and money and time management.
Testing for Drug and Alcohol Use - Program
staff members regularly take urine or saliva samples
from people for drug testing.
Relapse Prevention Training - Relapse
prevention training teaches people how to identify their
relapse triggers, ho to cope with cravings, how to
develop plans for handling stressful situations, and
what to do if they relapse.
Orientation to Self-Help Groups - Participants
in self-help groups support and encourage one another to
become or stay drug and alcohol free. Twelve-step
programs are probably the best known of the self-help
groups; however, there are others.
Treatment for Emotional Problems - Many people
with a substance use disorder also have emotional
problems such as depression, anxiety, or post traumatic
stress disorder. Treating both the substance abuse and
mental illness increases the chance that the person will
recover.
Family Education and Counseling Services -
This education can help family members understand the
disease and its causes, effects and treatment. Family
members should participate as fully as possible in the
family counseling the program offers.
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