For those who have a problem with drugs or alcohol, overcoming your addiction is no easy task. Studies show that 70 to 90 percent of individuals who undergo rehab will experience one or relapses before finally putting substance abuse behind them for good. For that reason, many rehab facilities of customized treatments to help improve an individual’s chances of achieving both long and short-term addiction recovery. It is important to note, however, that there are certain aspects of addiction recovery that are the same regardless of the type of addiction an individual is trying to overcome. For example, when an individual turns to a rehab facility for help with overcoming their addiction, they can expect to go through 4 distinct phases, intake, detox, rehabilitation, and, lastly, aftercare.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING INTAKE
In understanding that there is no such thing as a one size fits all approach when it comes to addiction recovery, many rehab facilities will invest a lot of time in the evaluation process, which happens during intake. This phase of addiction recovery is critical in that it provides physicians, counselors, and addiction experts with invaluable insights relative to the extent of an individual’s substance abuse problem. Beyond that, these evaluations are used to create a treatment plan that is tailored to meet the unique needs of that individual. When carried out properly, an evaluation will reveal the following:
- Whether an individual is addicted to drugs or alcohol
- Whether or not an individual is struggling with a co-occurring disorder
- The extent to which substance abuse is impacting the individual’s life
WILL A CO-OCCURING DISORDER AFFECT YOUR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENTS?
Before creating a customized treatment plan, most rehab facilities will want to confirm whether or not an individual has a co-occurring disorder, a mental health condition that exists alongside their substance abuse problem. After all, a co-occurring disorder will require a higher level of care and an even stronger emphasis on mental health counseling.
DETOX
Detox is an aspect of addiction recovery that vary significantly from one person to the next. As the body works to rid itself of drugs or alcohol, many people will experience severe withdrawal symptoms. And these symptoms can vary in intensity depending on the substance and how long an individual has been using. As such, most rehab facilities will offer a customized detox program that includes the use of specific prescription medications to help individuals overcome these withdrawal symptoms. For example, those with an alcohol use disorder might be given disulfiram, acamprosate, or naltrexone, which are all aimed at combating withdrawal symptoms that are specific to alcohol cessation. Conversely, those who are struggling with opioids might be given Methadone or Suboxone, both of which are FDA-approved to treat opioid-related withdrawal symptoms.
REHABILITATION
After completing detox, rehab facilities will often work with individuals to determine which rehab program would be best for rounding out their addiction recovery treatments, an inpatient or outpatient program. Those with a severe addiction to opioids or alcohol, for example, are usually advised to complete their addiction recovery treatments in an inpatient program where they will have round-the-clock access to physicians, counselors, and addiction experts. On the other hand, those with a mild addiction to marijuana, for example, might be advised to complete their treatments in an outpatient program, which offers the flexibility of being able to fulfill work or home obligations in-between treatment sessions.
AFTERCARE
After an individual completes detox and rehab, they will need to follow-up with the right kind of aftercare to ensure that they can remain clean long-term. This aspect of addiction recovery is tailored to the unique needs of the individual. For example, those who are still struggling with the psychological aspects of addiction may benefit from behavioral therapy, which will enable them to address the underlying issues that contributed to their addiction and also learn how to cope with cravings and temptation. Note, behavioral therapy can be in the form of one-on-one, group, or family therapy sessions. Many rehab facilities will also encourage individuals to join support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, as they can further improve an individual’s chances of achieving long-term recovery. Lastly, for those who are not ready to transition back to the “real world” after completing detox and rehab, most facilities will recommend a sober living house where they can receive additional therapy and support until they feel confident enough to return home.
BOTTOM LINE
All in all, there are multiple ways to customize substance abuse treatments to improve an individual’s chances of putting addiction behind them once and for all. To learn more about how the substance abuse treatments detailed in this article can be customized to meet your addiction recovery needs, consider speaking with one of our associates today at (440) 253-9915.
