The Many Facets of Drug Rehabilitation
I welcome the opportunity to offer you this informational piece from our friends in the US. Despite a few cultural differences there are many points referred to that are equally relevant the world over. Guest author, Rachel Vickers writes about addiction and counseling with reference to Drug Facts (updated in 2016).
Drug rehabilitation entails medical or psychotherapeutic intervention following drug dependency. Typically, once someone reaches a low point with alcohol, prescription drugs, or street drugs, they require the help of drug counselors, doctors and/or interventionists to lift them out of a self-created hole.
The idea behind drug rehabilitation is twofold – to give the previous drug dependent inpatient his or her life back by getting that particular person clean and, secondly, to promote the future psychological, occupation, spiritual, and emotional freedom for a repentant ex-user. These goals are accomplished via an array of treatment options. If someone you know has a related problem, here’s what you should know about all of this.
Counseling
Drug abuse counselors help addicted individuals kick the habit and find healthier ways to live in the process. As drug dependency can be both physiological and psychological in nature, drug abuse counselors attack addiction with a host of weapons. Patients are encouraged to form new friendships at the treatment facility and forgo association with old friends who are still struggling with addiction. The Twelve Step Program, as an example, forces previous alcoholics to not only cease the use of alcohol and various other drugs but also alter the habits and lifestyles that lead to the addiction in the first place. The Twelve Step Program and Narcotics Anonymous inform inpatients that addiction is an ongoing process for which vigilance is required to avoid rekindling the fires and tribulations of addition.
Beyond Inpatient Care
Some drug treatment facilities promote the following alternatives to inpatient care:
- sober houses
- regional support groups
- addiction consultation
- medical treatments
- mental health advisement
It’s important to note, however, that research from the seventies onward demonstrates that addressing the particular patient’s needs is favorable to doggedly applying one method to arrest addiction in all patients. In other words, patients have dissimilar preferences and needs that should be creatively addressed in therapy and drug rehabilitation. Recently, the National Institute of Drug Abuse advocated for the use of behavioral therapy and medical intervention (where appropriate) to curb addiction.
One Size Fits All?
Although individuals should be seen as individuals whilst tailoring treatment options, famed psychologist, Carl Rogers, noted some commonalities that should be present in all treatment:
- empathy
- genuineness
- positive regard for the patient’s needs
By taking this route, drug counselors treat the patient’s specific addiction and help the patient get in touch with underlying problems afflicting the psyche and wellbeing of the individual. This type of therapy effectively couples the psychodynamic approach and client-centered approach into a potent weapon against addiction and the patient’s underlying personal demons. The truth is that therapy that is client-centered and coupled with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which has its roots in both behaviorism and cognitive psychology, demonstrates lower levels of relapse than most other treatment options for addiction.
Getting Clean
Drug rehabilitation must take into account the client’s individual needs. Modern research has shown that a combination of therapy options, notably medical and therapeutic intervention, provides the best results and lowest rates of relapse back into addiction. Addiction is a lifelong struggle and a journey that requires constant commitment and vigilance.
Bob Brotchie is a counsellor, mindset consultant and creator of "Conscious Living by Design"™. He writes for Anglia Counselling, is featured on various other websites and introduces us to many guest writers all covering topics related to mental health and wellbeing.
Bob provides bespoke counselling services to individuals and couples in the privacy and comfort of a truly welcoming environment at his Anglia Counselling company office, located near Newmarket in Suffolk, England. Bob also provides professional online counselling, for local, national, and international clients. The therapeutic models offered are bespoke to the client’s needs, especially those in receipt of 'childhood emotional neglect' (CEN), whilst integrating a mindful approach to psychotherapy and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) principles. For clients experiencing trauma and/or phobia, Bob offers EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing).