Addiction to alcohol and drugs is a complex problem that might include uncontrollable cravings and compulsive drug-seeking. Although users can notice that their actions have contributed to devastating consequences, they continue to use harmful substances. In reality, drug abuse is powerful, overwhelming, and has several dimensions such that it becomes challenging to rectify it.
For a substance abuse patient to recover, it means they will maintain a drug-free lifestyle to engage in constructive activities in society. In most cases, an effective recovery program will integrate several different components that address particular aspects of dependence and the associated effects. This guide highlights the principles and methods used in substance abuse recovery.
Principles of Substance Abuse Recovery
In treatment centers, therapists design effective treatment programs based on the following principles:
- Patients need to spend adequate time in recovery.
- The user should know they can readily find treatment
- One cannot get a specific recovery option that guarantees work for all patients
- Patients should know that drug dependence is a complex problem that therapists can treat. However, it affects the brain and behavior, leading to an impulsive and uncontrollable need to use drugs.
- The treatment should address more than the abuse of drugs by addressing several that need to be considered effective.
- It is not a must for treatment to be voluntary to be regarded as effective
- One of the first steps to treating drug addiction is detoxification, but it offers a limited contribution to alleviating lasting substance abuse when used alone.
- Therapists need to assess and continuously modify the patient’s recovery program to ensure it aligns with their changing needs.
Substance Abuse Treatment Methods
The methods employed in treatment are based on the substance abuse patterns and health of an individual. In particular, drug addiction counselors organize therapy options into a group or individual sessions, including:
Biofeedback therapy
It is a kind of drug-free therapy that assists people in recovery by understanding the body’s involuntary processes. When undertaking biofeedback sessions, a therapist will place electronic sensors on the patient’s skin to monitor the activities in the brain. After reviewing the brain wave patterns, the therapists can recommend various technological psychological techniques that they can employ to overcome drug-abuse addictions.
Dialectical behavior therapy
During dialectical behavioral therapy, the therapist will treat severe mental illnesses, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, in conjunction with a drug-use disorder. The therapy offers stress-management skills, enhances self-esteem, and encourages people under recovery programs to eliminate triggers from their lives.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Therapy is employed to assist people in recovery to unearth problematic feelings or thoughts which might contribute to relapse or compromise their sobriety. It is also helpful in treating co-occurring conditions, including bipolar disorder.
Holistic therapy
When employing holistic therapy, therapists focus on the overall wellbeing of the patient while treating physical signs and symptoms of withdrawal. Most substance abuse treatment centers worldwide employ holistic therapies such as guided meditation, art therapy, acupuncture, and yoga.
Experiential therapy
Under this therapy, physicians will use non-traditional methods to assist addicts in overcoming repressed emotions and feelings which might contribute to their substance abuse addiction. The most common methods include outdoor recreational activities such as biking, massage, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and rock climbing.
Motivational enhancement therapy
It is used to help patients to learn how they can change behaviors and negative thoughts attached to their addiction. Therapists use this therapy to treat patients in substance abuse recovery with co-occurring conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder.
Due to the availability of different drug rehabilitation and treatment methods, one needs to weigh the options to make an appropriate decision. If you wish to read more about possible substance abuse recovery methods, you can look at Infinite Recovery.
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