Did you know that being pressured by into a drug addiction treatment centre is common and that this can actually increase rehab’s effectiveness?
It’s often assumed that for alcoholism or drug addiction treatment to work the patient has to enter rehab of their own accord. This is untrue. Most patients have a very low level of insight into their condition and it takes the pressure, cajoling and coercion from family, friends, employers and even the court system to get them into and to keep them in, a drug treatment centre.
This external pressure helps achieve a positive result from rehab.
One of the primary tasks of addiction treatment consultants in rehab is to work with patients and their families to find ways of increasing the level of awareness around the severity of the addiction and insight into what needs to change to help the patient become more motivated to make the necessary alterations.
A drug treatment centre is often the place where an addict first starts their journey of recovery. Addiction recovery is a journey and not a destination because it really is a process of continual personal growth. Abstinence from drugs is the first stop in this process but not the end point by any manner of means. Recovery focuses on improving the quality of life in all areas of life and this is the goal of drug rehabilitation.
Complete abstinence from drugs is seen as the first and essential step into recovery. Moderation – or controlled using – does not appear to be an option for people with a history of drug addiction or alcoholism. There is some debate whether people still in the substance abuse phase will be able to return to social drinking and using.
Why can’t addicts stop by themselves?
The answer to this question lies in the medical condition of physical drug dependency. If a person uses drugs for a long enough time their body eventually becomes so accustomed to the presence of drugs that it can’t function properly without them.
If the addict stops using the drug (s)he will suffer from withdrawal symptoms – unpleasant physical pains and symptoms. Doctors at a drug treatment centre will usually prescribe medication to reduce the effect of these symptoms and allow the addict to successfully detoxify.
Another part of drug addiction and alcoholism is the mental dependency. This is also addressed in the programs offered at quality addiction treatment centres. By teaching the patient to live in a drug free environment and to cope with stress without resorting to drugs patients are taught to overcome the mental side of addiction. They learn that they are able to live without drugs and overcome their psychological need to use drugs.
Social support and drug treatment centres
Patients are encouraged to break off contact with friends who they may have used drugs with. These harmful influences can lead to a relapse. In order to build social support patients are referred to twelve step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous. By attending these meetings for a period of time after leaving the drug treatment centre patients are helped to stay in addiction recovery and continually improving their life.
Ongoing attendance at twelve step programs encourages patients to examine the habits and attitudes that surround their addiction. Most rehab programs will suggest that their patients continue attending these support groups indefinitely as they continue to offer benefit even after several years.
Mindfulness programs in drug treatment centres
Research has been conducted into the role that regulating emotions takes in the treatment of substance abuse and drug addiction. Principally this form of treatment is based on the observation that drugs have an effect on the brain and influence emotions.
Because using the substance has a known effect (“outcome expectancy”) it becomes alluring to the addict. These outcomes can include euphoria or even just the cessation of withdrawal symptoms.
Therapy in a drug treatment centre will look at these outcomes and look at how mindfulness approaches can help patients to recognise negative emotional states. By recognising and being aware of the state they can predict that they are at risk of using a substance to try and “deal” with it and therefore consciously decide to use a more proactive coping strategy.
If your life is spiralling out of control due to drug addiction or alcoholism and you want help in regaining a full life please contact us today.