Substance Abuse Treatment Options
Substance abuse and addiction affected over 20 million American families in 2007. Substance abusers often display different temperaments, act out of character and inadvertantly hurt those around them when the drug cravings are worst. This mental and physical affliction affects both whites and minorities, the rich and the poor, broken families and happy households, children and adults. Curiously, dabbling in an illicit drug can quickly spiral into an out-of-control addiction, especially with heroin or crack-cocaine. Relapse is common, although individuals enjoy more success with programs that target the root causes of substance abuse, as well as the physical and emotional symptoms. For instance, what good is sobriety when a person goes right back to joblessness or an abusive relationship?
Residential Inpatient Treatment
Residential inpatient treatment requires patients to live at a special facility for an extended period of time so their behavior may be monitored and around-the-clock assistance may be administered. Treatment can be as short as 30 days or up to one year, although research suggests it takes at least six months for a successful outcome. This type of treatment program is especially effective for substance-abusing youth, criminal inmates and people with long histories of addiction.
The aim of residential inpatient treatment is to re-socialize patients to a drug-free, alcohol-free, crime-free life. They will receive the medication and the 24/7 support to combat the sickening symptoms of withdrawal syndrome. They will also be given the tools to cope with life after substance abuse, and counselors will address some of the issues that led to addiction in the first place.
An example of a residential facility is Miramar in Laguna Beach, California. Substance abusers are treated by an expert team of medical professionals, including behavioral therapists, psychologists, acupuncturists, nutritionists, masseuses and other health care professionals. The facility is equipped to complete one-on-one therapy, as well as family therapy. In addition to medical treatment and counseling, individuals may participate in planned activities like acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga, cardio workouts, swimming, nature walks, art therapy, beach outtings, tennis, biking and pet therapy.
Intensive Outpatient Program
Intensive outpatient programs typically meet three days a week for two to four hours per session. These programs can be easily scheduled around work or school to allow individuals to continue earning money or pursuing their careers, while seeking substance abuse help. The cost of an outpatient program is significantly less than inpatient care, which makes it a better option for many people.
Outpatient facilities offer behavioral treatments to help individuals make better decisions and lead healthier lives. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy provides the necessary tools to recognize, avoid and cope with life situations that contributed to substance abuse in the past. Family members are often invited to attend therapy sessions at these clinics, too, so they have the tools to support the recovering patient through this difficult time.
Many of these programs are called "12-Step Programs" like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. The treatment steps will help the patient admit she has a problem. There is sometimes a religious overtone to these programs, which helps some substance abusers cope with life and overcome addiction. The patient will be paired up with an inspirational sponsor, a former addict who has experience remaining sober and can provide guidance every step of the way.
Counseling
Counseling works best with other types of treatment, rather than stand-alone. In fact, this approach is inherent in almost every other type of program. A psychologist can help recovering addicts find the root causes of their behavior and learn new coping mechanisms, so they can make better decisions. Sessions can be one-on-one, group or family-oriented. Most often, individuals can attend counseling sessions during evening or weekend hours, which work around a busy schedule.
Sober Living
Once an individual leaves residential treatment, the "real world" awaits. To help former substance users adjust and stay on track, they are often sent to a sober living facility. This could be an apartment complex or a house where there are other former patients who are trying to stay sober. The recovering addicts can support each other and provide a drug- and alcohol-free environment. A sober living arrangement is best for addicts who are triggered by the people and places around them.
Medical Detox / Hospital Care
Medical detox usually begins with a trip to the Emergency Room. Usually, this type of treatment is for serious abusers who are at moderate risk for relapsing. Individuals have a more one-on-one type of treatment for the most part, although some group counseling may be available. A detox program is used to prevent relapse by meeting frequently throughout the week and providing medical monitoring.
An example of a hospital detox program is Michigan's Brighton Hospital, which is the second-oldest drug and alcohol treatment facility in the country. Here individuals can choose between a 30-day residential program or an outpatient drug treatment with partial hospitalization. Customized individual plans usually include family counseling, a 12-step program, counseling, medical assistance and after-care follow-up.
Medication
There are many types of medications that assist with substance abuse treatment. The first step in treating serious addiction is to cut a person off from the substance and help him manage the withdrawal symptoms. Often, the nausea, behavioral changes, anxiety, tremors, depression and mania are so unbearable that it sends substance users right back to their old ways. Taking carefully monitored prescription drugs can prevent immediate relapse by stabilizing brain function.
Medications are most commonly used to treat heroin, morphine, tobacco, cocaine, methamphetamines and serious cases of marijuana or alcohol addiction. Common drugs include Methadone and Buprenorphine, which target the part of the brain that is affected by heroin or morphine use. Disulfiram, naltrexone and acamprosate are all used to help patients avoid alcohol.
Finding a Program & Determining Success
The best place to start looking for a program is the website of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. There is also a toll-free helpline: 1-800-662-HELP. The best programs are accredited and licensed with no complaints listed at the Better Business Bureau. They also publish statistics and studies of their effectiveness and provide an aftercare program to prevent relapses.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that there were several factors that led to better success with substance abuse patients. One factor was the type of substance the patient was hooked on: people in for alcohol abuse reported better outcomes than people in for opiate or cocaine abuse. Education was another factor: the higher the level of education, the more likely a person is to complete the treatment. A third factor is how patients ended up in the program: those who were referred to treatment by an Employee Assistance Program or by a criminal justice system mandate were more likely to successfully complete treatment as well.
The saying "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink" is especially true of patients entering a substance abuse program. It's difficult -- and often painful -- for friends and family members to watch their loved one struggling with addiction. It can be frustrating and hard to understand how a person can't just "snap out of it," so other individuals may want to consider counseling to help themselves deal with the complex emotions of being involved with a substance abuser. For the recovering patient, there is simply no substitute for a caring support network.
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