Drug addiction is a chronic health condition that inhibits an affected individual’s ability to control their behavior and impulses when it comes to their drug intake, despite the negative health and social consequences of their drug use. Drug addiction is such a dangerous disease because the long-term use of the drug affects our brain chemistry, leading to changes in our reward systems.
Drug addiction is widespread, in that one-in-ten adult Americans suffer from a Substance Abuse Disorder of some kind, according to the National Institute of Health. The Institute also reports that less than 20 percent of adults actually receive any type of treatment. This is due to a variety of factors that include distrust or a lack of belief in drug treatment, the stigma that lingers around drug use, a lack of education about drug abuse, and a lack of access to addiction treatment centers, like drug rehab austin.
Given that the criticism about treatment could stem from a lack of awareness about the process, here are the major steps of the treatment process explained. The process consists of the following steps:
- Detoxing and managing withdrawal
- Rehabilitation
- Relapse Prevention
1. For Drug addiction Treatment – Detoxing and Managing Withdrawal
Detoxing refers to the process by with the drug is removed from the patient’s body by ceasing drug use. It is recommended that detox be done under the care of medical professionals due to the symptoms that present during withdrawal. These are experienced by the afflicted patient as the body and brain adjust to the absence of the drug and can include sweating, nausea and vomiting, cramps, an erratic heart rate, auditory and/or visual hallucinations, constipation to name a few. drug detox austin tx is an example of a treatment center that caters specifically to this part of the process. In addition, to help manage the discomfort, medications can also be used during this process to counter withdrawal symptoms.
2. Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is a treatment process that combines medications with behavioral therapy to help identify triggers in patients’ lives and offer alternatives to drug use for coping with those triggers. Drug addiction affects in too many things, from personal to professional life. Even if you are applying to a job and addicted in a drug, then you have to worry, do you know what happens if you fail a drug test in recruitment process, there’s a 100% chance that you might get rejected, and the only solution is to get rid of addiction.
Rehabilitation clinics cater to a spectrum of patients, from high-end clinics to more affordable options. Rehabilitation offers a great benefit to recovering patients in that it provides an isolated environment in which they can slow down and take the time to deal with their disease.
Going to rehab doesn’t have to be voluntary, but does require the patient to take an active effort in improving and changing their behaviors and patterns. It teaches them new coping mechanisms and life skills and proves them a chance to network and find a community of those afflicted with the same condition.
3. Relapse Prevention
This involves both medication and checking in on the patients after they leave the rehabilitation center. This is key as relapse is preventable with the right changes in behaviors and with a strong support system. Most centers offer an aftercare program that could last up to 15 months after release and includes check-ups, help managing medications, and offering patients coping strategies that could help them offset cravings.
Drug addiction is a dangerous disease made even more threatening by the lack of access to care. Demystifying the Drug addiction treatment process and educating others on the steps you have to take could make the difference in whether someone gets treatment or not. If you or a loved one needs help battling this disease, take the first step and reach out to a loved one or a trained professional, such as a drug detox austin.
