Substance Abuse Treatment
Substance abuse, whether is alcohol abuse or drug abuse, is a big problem in our society today, but there is much substance abuse treatment out there for people that want to get on the road to recovery. There are many types of treatments such as a more intense inpatient substance abuse treatment and outpatient treatments, which are more counseling based, to just name a couple. No matter what type of substance a person is addicted to there is a substance abuse treatment center that can fill their specific needs.
Importance of Substance Abuse Treatment
Substance abuse treatment is very important and the more the person is addicted to drugs or alcohol the more important the treatment is. Many times a person addicted to drugs or alcohol will thing they can go at it alone and while some can do it by themselves it lessens the chance of success if a person does not take advantage of what a center for substance abuse treatment has to offer. Even if a person does not opt for an inpatient substance abuse treatment a counseling based treatment can still be of great help for someone looking to kick his or her substance abuse habit. When a person tried to quit going “cold turkey” they do not have a support system, not to mention medication that may be needed and counseling, which is what a substance abuse treatment center can provide.
As stated before the more a person is addicted to alcohol and especially drugs the more a treatment center can help. People that are addicted to such drugs as heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamines may need to use various types of medication in order to kick the habit. This is mainly the case when addicts will go through the detoxification process. The detox process is when a person stops taking the substance to clean their system of it. Many times a user will go through withdrawals and medication can be used to ease their pain and make the process easier.
Substance Abuse Treatment Options
While there are substance abuse treatment options for alcohol abuse and drug abuse, as well as for specific drugs, the main types of treatment centers are outpatient or inpatient. In outpatient substance abuse treatment the person will typically have counseling in the day or evening and then be able to return home in the evening. With inpatient treatment a person will stay at the center for substance abuse treatment for a certain period of time and they will basically live there and not go home. Various centers have different time amounts for their treatment, as it will depend on the person and their specific needs. These types of treatment centers are very advantageous to people who have an extreme addiction to a substance. The reason for this is that they will not have the chance to leave the center to use more of the substance they are having problems with.
There are also holistic types of substance centers where treatments such as yoga, meditation, or acupuncture are used in order to help the person deal with their substance abuse. A holistic center for substance abuse treatment is not very intensive, but it has worked for many people addicted to alcohol or drugs.
Understanding Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment
It is important to know how inpatient substance abuse treatment works. A person that checks into an inpatient substance abuse treatment center will be staying there for a certain amount of time and they will not be able to go home in the evening. Many times, especially for the addiction to harder drugs, inpatient treatment will be a combination of both medication to help the user get off drugs as well as counseling. Inpatient treatment not only helps the user medically, but they can also help give a pillar of support. They will have trained doctors, nurses, and counselors on staff and their one and only goal is to help a user get off alcohol or drugs. Also, other people in the inpatient treatment can give each other support, as they are not going at it alone. If a person does not have much willpower inpatient treatment is the way to go since they cannot leave the treatment center to get alcohol or drugs.
Choosing a Substance Abuse Treatment Center
Choosing the right substance abuse treatment center can be very hard, but it is very important that the person picks the one that is right for them. Any person that is looking to deal with their substance abuse problems should talk to a drug treatment professional in order to find out what treatment center is best for their specific situation. They can let the person know what options are available and if they should take part in outpatient or inpatient substance abuse treatment.
Important questions people can ask about a potential treatment center, what are the programs offered, what are the credentials of the center, what is the cost, and do they have an experienced staff. People should try to find a substance abuse treatment center that has several types of programs available. For people that have extreme cases of addictions it is always a good idea to find a treatment center that will offer both medical treatment as well as counseling treatment. Many times when people are done with the detoxification process they are not cured of their addiction and this is when counseling can be of great help. It is also important to find out the cost of the program and if an insurance carrier will cover the costs of the center for substance abuse treatment.
For people that are looking for medical services in their drug treatment it is vital to make sure if the treatment center is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The JCAHO is an accreditation that shows that the substance program follows the guidelines for legitimate medical care.
A very important thing to look at when choosing what substance abuse center to use is to find out if they offer continuing care after the program is over. This is especially the case for inpatient treatment centers. After the substance abuse program is complete does the center give a type of ongoing care? If they do not a person should see if they will recommend ongoing care. Continuing substance treatment care after the program is important, as it increases the chance that the person will not suffer from a relapse.
As you can see there are various types of substance abuse centers and there are things people should look for in order to give them the best chance to get back on the road of sobriety.