Posts Tagged drug addiction treatment

Alternative Methods for Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Rehabilitation on August 21st, 2011

When we say counseling and therapy, people often picture a scenario where a conversation between a patient and his psychotherapist takes place. Yet when it comes to alcohol and drug addiction recovery, therapy and counseling could mean more than “talk.”

fee yourself from drugsTherapy and counseling now involves physical, mental, and social transformations which have been proven to be more effective in helping troubled individuals.

Here’s what a particular treatment facility offers to its patients to be able to achieve lasting recovery results with regards to alcohol and drug addictions treatment.

1. Exercise. Physical activity is very important especially when a patient is in a residential addiction treatment set-up. Fitness therapists and facilities are essential for a patient to have a well-organized, long-term physical fitness plan. Some examples of exercise methods used are swimming, walking or jogging, weights training, yoga and visits to recreational facilities.

2. Art. This is a method of psychotherapy which helps promote creativity and self-discovery of patients. Do not underestimate simple shapes and colors as they can be very powerful tools in a therapeutic treatment process. There are times when individuals have difficulty in expressing themselves and this is where artistic expression comes in. No boundaries and limits are set when it comes to art which makes it an ideal tool in facilitating one’s self understanding.

3. Pharmacotherapy. This therapy may not sound too promising for most, but the key factor is how drug therapy is applied and just how much is enough to treat mental problems of addicts. Rehab facilities make it a point that they use medications that have the lowest risk of dependence and all procedures must be approved by chief psychiatrists or medical directors before given to a particular patient.

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New Treatment for Drug Addiction Offers Longer-Lasting Effect

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Treatment on October 20th, 2010

A new option for the treatment of addiction to heroin and narcotic painkillers has the ability to give longer lasting relief, which may address issues that may arise from daily medication.

once per month shotAt present, the main treatment options for addiction involved medications – methadone and buprenorphine – that need to be taken daily. These medications act as substitutes for the drug being abused, and curbs withdrawals and cravings without the high. Daily medications, though, are prone to being skipped, and skipping a dose may trigger a relapse. At the same time, keeping one’s self faithful to following the daily regimen takes more willpower than someone who is not in the same predicament may think, as shared by Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

One of these new treatment options is the monthly shot Vivitrol, which received approval from the Food and Drug Administration last week. Vivitrol is designed for the long-term treatment of addiction to heroin, as well as to such prescription painkillers as morphine, OxyContin and Vicodin. Vivitrol has the ability to block the high should a recovering addict slip up, and it is not addictive.

Years ago, medication that contained Vivitrol’s ingredient, naltrextone, started out in the same way as methadone and buprenorphine: as a daily medication. It was soon realized that too many patients were skipping pills, so much so that Alkermes, Inc. created a longer-lasting version to treat alcoholism in 2006. And now, there is a version that can be used for opioid addiction.

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The Spiritual Approach to Drug Addiction Treatment

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Rehabilitation on December 23rd, 2009

Being a drug addict is something that most would not be able to admit easily, much less accept. This reality is haunting – and we probably won’t be able to swallow that we’ve fallen so dependent on something that bears little significance to our lives. How can we, after all, become slaves to something so small, so unnecessary?

faithIt is during this time that a drug abuser’s spirit would feel devoid – believing that nothing in the world can take them away from their condition, and that nothing can save them from their fate. They give in to despair, completely giving up on life and bringing pain to their friends and family. Their loved ones would stay as long as they can to help, but their efforts would be in vain if the abuser will not help himself.

One effective approach to treatment is through faith. While there is a personal dimension to faith, belief in a higher power can help them see that their situation is not as helpless as they think it is. The important thing in this method is to allow them to realize that in each of them lies an innate strength granted to them by a Higher Being.

In this case, Scripture readings have a powerful effect on the drug addict. Parables of repentance and of salvation are the things that those in recovery yearn for the most. Not only are these reassuring, but the readings can give them a sense of hope that they too can be healed and saved from their plight.

Faith is a powerful tool to utilize during drug addiction treatment, and it is seen by many as one of the most effective methods. The spiritual approach to treatment can give them something to look forward to in their lives, as well as hope that they can be delivered from their situation.

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Role of the family in Treatment of a Drug Addict

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Prevention, Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Addiction, Drug Facts, Drug Rehabilitation, Drug Testing, Prescription Drug Abuse on December 8th, 2009

It's a hard life.

The participation and encouragement of the family members has a crucial role to play in the treatment of an addict. But an essential fact is that the family members are also often extremely distressed and confused. They often face innumerable problems ranging from violence, separation, divorce, inappropriate role models and extreme financial crisis. The problem of addiction creeps in silently until it is finally detected and it is perhaps only then faced by the family. However, by that time it has left a mark on each family member. Thus initially even the family members require a lot of assistance and encouragement to enable them to support the person in treatment.

Drug addiction is not a condition which can be completely cured once it is treated. It is a chronic, relapsing condition and the chances of reverting to the same situation is quite high if the individual along with his family members do not take adequate precautions. Treating addiction thus involves more than just getting the dependent to stop using drugs. It also involves counseling the family members thus improving the family relationships and functioning.

The family members have an important role to play in helping the recovering drug user adapting to the substance-free lifestyle. Extra money can always lead to a relapse. Thus the family should guide the person in managing finance in a better way by making use of some of the options like clearing his previous debts, budgeting current expenses or investing for the future.

Time management is one of the most important tasks of a recovering drug user and the family can play a critical role in this area by helping the individual schedule activities, engaging him in some activities of his interest.

Re-integration with the family is foundation of any treatment approach. The understanding, support and co-operation of the family members can help these hapless individuals come back to the mainstream of life.

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Effective Methods of Drug Abuse Treatment

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Treatment on November 30th, 2009

There may be numerous methods of treating drug addiction, but the basic goal remains the same — to help individuals kick the habit off and get it completely out of their system. Since drug addiction is a disorder that results from drug usage over an extended period of time, it would be a bit much to expect for positive results from only a single treatment. Therefore, treatment is also a long-term, ongoing process. This is done in order to prevent relapse, which can render the time and money spent for treatment utterly worthless.

drug abuseThe methods utilized in treating drug addiction vary, and this can range from behavioral therapy to medication prescription. Behavioral therapy, for instance, aims to target the patient’s reasons for drug use, which are usually grounded on social context. Methods such as counseling, contingency management, and social analyses are often used in this kind of therapy, and the intensity of each session can also vary in proportion to the severity of the patient’s case.

On the other hand, medication prescription is a method utilized in order to find substitutes for the drug. For instance, those addicted to nicotine are offered medications such as gums, patches, and lozenges, which contain chemicals that mimic the nicotine’s effect of the body minus its adverse effects.

Of course, the effectiveness of these treatments also depends on factors such as proper monitoring and intervention measures. After all, it would be pointless to undergo treatment if the patient is going to revert to using drugs afterwards.

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Drug Addiction: How Family and Friends Can Make A Difference

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on November 24th, 2009

The consequences of being addicted to drugs are many, and most, if not all of them, are adverse. So, what should you do when you find out that your friend or a member of your family is a drug addict, but wants out of the trap that he has fallen in? Can your actions, however small they are, make a difference in his life?

treatment supportThe answer is yes – your presence can make a big difference. Drug addicts often have no one to turn to regarding their problems, and this sense of isolation is one of the main motivations for prolonged drug use. Family and friends play a significant role in helping them get out of that rut and accept the reality of their situation. Remember that social connections can influence the individual’s perception of right and wrong, which can determine their decisions and actions later in life. By extension, the influence of these groups can help drug addicts change the way they see themselves. In this case, it’s to let them see that the drugs are in fact damaging their body, mind, and social lives.

The main thing you can do for your friend is to slowly convince and motivate him to undergo treatment, which becomes harder and harder as he becomes more and more dependent on the drug. In this case, social reinforcement becomes a vital component in motivating the soon-to-be patient. Also, involvement in a treatment program can help the individual come to grips with his situation, and can encourage him to go all the way through with the program.

Monitoring the individual’s actions is also important in order to avoid a relapse, which is the one thing that can waste the efforts done during treatment. It may take a very long time, but with your help, it is possible. And it also helps to believe that you can make that happen.

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