Sunday, June 23, 2013

Different Types of Substance Abuse Treatment Approaches

Drug addicts with chronic conditions are recommended to seek treatment in a drug inpatient rehab center. The long-term use of drugs may have already damaged their brain that resulted to losing control over their actions and behavior. Thus, drug addicts lose their judgment capabilities, particularly when it comes to thinking of what is right and wrong. This is also why risk exposures to criminal attempts are high among drug addicts. Inpatient drug treatment programs are typically designed for patients suffering with severe effects of drug abuse. It is where they are taken in a residence program to receive therapy. This kind of therapy may last up to 12 months depending on the severity of the condition. During this program, patients are expected to actively participate in the therapeutic activities conducted by the communities they stay in.
Medications are also an important part of the treatment program. Such approach is used to treat withdrawal symptoms and re-establish the brain function of the patients back to normal. Most residential drug treatment programs use medications for preventing relapse and cravings for nicotine, opioids, alcohol and marijuana addiction. The challenge here for practitioners is that patients with chronic addiction issues are poly drug users. Thus, they will need treatment for all of the dangerous substances that they have abused before. It is this reason that rehab centers should be able to provide a custom-made treatment plan for a variety of patients that they have. For users of opioids (morphine and heroine), medicines like naltrexone, buprenorphine and methadone are proven effective drugs to use for treatment. These medications have a specific task of targeting the brain to effectively suppress relapse tendencies and withdrawal symptoms. Medications primarily help the patients develop distaste from using illegal drugs and disengage them from criminal-related behavior.
When treating nicotine addiction, a nicotine replacement therapy is used. Most of these formulations are available at leading drug stores. A few examples of such formulations include nicotine patches, lozenges, gums and spray. Medicines like varenicline and bupropion have been approved by the FDA as treatment for tobacco addiction. It targets the brain to perform action that can help tobacco users avoid having episodes of relapse. This is especially helpful for individuals who have the desire to quit smoking but do not want to enter rehab.
Substance abuse treatment also includes behavioral therapy. This kind of treatment program disengages patients from displaying an ill behavior. Basically, there is behavioral therapy available for both outpatient and inpatient drug or alcohol users. Outpatient therapy covers a variety of programs for patients that involve either group or individual counseling. This program encompasses cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational incentives and interviewing, and multi-dimensional therapy. As with residential treatment, it is best for treating patients who were previously diagnosed with severe drug abuse condition. Most inpatient rehab centers have well-structured programs, in which patients need to sit in for residency. Therapeutic communities usually differ from other types of treatment because it primarily uses the community as the main support system. This support system is expected to influence the patients to have a positive world view.


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