Addiction Advice

The search for sound addictions advice by the family or friends of an addicted person can often result in an orchestrated crisis (see our articles on intervention) that results in the drug addicted patient accepting their need for proper treatment. The most common misperception about drug addictions and their effective rehabilitation is that the patient must be entirely ready for and committed to treatment for rehab to be effective. The stark reality is that by its very nature addiction makes the patient, and sometimes their loved ones a little too, deluded in this specific area.

So family may function well and be rational in all area’s but when it comes to their loved ones addiction they just can’t define the best way forward, hence the need for sound drug addiction advice. The best drug addiction advice will probably come from those working in the treatment field. These professional addictions counsellors, doctors, nurses, psychologists and psychiatrists have the necessary training and experience to identify the nuances of specific dependency problems.

It may seem obvious, but as drug addiction is such a stigmatised condition that can draw the family in emotionally and everybody seems to have such strong opinions on, I’ll say it anyway – please ensure that you get help from professionally qualified, well experienced, addiction treatment consultants. Not all people are similar and different drug addictions, whether to alcohol, gambling, cocaine, meth amphetamine, marijuana, all have specific problems that may arise with resulting specific needs for each individual.

Drug addiction is a progressive disease that takes over the entire life of both the sufferer and also has the capacity to delude their closest loved ones. It can seem overwhelming to deal with and getting the right drug addiction advice can make the ensuing steps much easier for all concerned. Often, once we’re contacted for advice on addiction and the recovery process, we can educate people and their families alleviating much of the anxiety associated with this difficult time. Making it easier to handle and far less daunting is our task.

Coming to us for drug addiction advice lets us do what we do best and allows the family and friends close to the addicted person, and more importantly the patient themselves, to focus their attention and energy on their recovery. The following six points offer some sound drug addiction advice and will help give a greater understanding of what to expect from an addictions treatment centre or alcohol rehab and the entire recovery process.

Commitment from the Individual

All quality drug addiction treatment centres will insist on an assessment prior to admission. The initial screening interview is done to assess eligibility (can you afford them) and appropriateness (whether the clinic is best suited to meet your needs). Some patients may be psychotic as a direct result of drug taking or organic dysfunction and will need to be accurately assessed and perhaps stabilised at a psychiatric unit prior to admission at a drug addiction rehab. Hopefully at that stage they would be entirely detoxified and some of the work will have been achieved when they’re admitted, although some drugs, like benzodiazepines have protracted withdrawals with the detoxification lasting up to 12 weeks. Another form of addiction withdrawal to be aware of are Post-Acute Withdrawals (PAWS) which are the sobriety based emotional and psychological withdrawal symptoms. As the name implies this occours after the acute phase of detoxification.

Post-acute withdrawal occurs because the addicted brain’s chemistry is little by little returning to normal. As your brain gets better the levels of chemicals vary approaching the new balance causing post-acute withdrawal symptoms. Other patients may have a propensity toward violence and be at a risk of harm to those around them and would generally not be accepted at an addiction rehab centre until they were at minimal risk to those around them. Some patients may be at risk of harm to themselves either through attempts at suicide or self harming. Again a psychiatric setting would be more appropriate until they’re stable and willing to engage in non-violent communication.

Seeking advice from a qualified and experienced professional addictions counsellor would result in each individual case being assessed and a comprehensive treatment plan drawn up as a result of these assessments. You may now be beginning to get a feel for how important it is to seek addictions advice from a qualified professional as there are a multitude of different paths that can result from the initial screening assessment.  Quality drug addiction advice would help you to determine whether;

You’re addicted or abusing drugs and therefore whether out or in-patients treatment would be better suited to your needs. You’re entirely suited to that clinic and they’re best placed to meet your needs.

This is where our treatment coordinators specialise in placing addicted people in the most appropriate addictions treatment centre for each individual persons needs. For independent and expert advice on any and all addictions please call us today. However it’s important to remember that any drug addictions advice given during a screening assessment is also a two way street. It’s important for you to consider the look and feel of the centre, the way they treated you or even perhaps someone that you know from active addiction is already on the programme?

If there’s someone already on the addictions treatment programme that you have an active addictions association with it can make hamper treatment for both of you, decreasing the chances of success. Having someone that you used to party with, drink and use drugs with will make the necessary transition to recovery behaviours more problematic. Quality drug addictions treatment centres will look to stagger these admissions where necessary and possible.