Friday, April 30, 2010

Successful Drug Treatment Programs Require Some Essential Components

By Mark Miller

Drug addiction is a complex condition which is characterized by uncontrollable and intense cravings for a particular substance. Only a small number of addicts manage to stop the habit without some kind of drug treatment Minneapolis. Apart from the addiction, the user's life is dominated by the quest to obtain their 'fix'.

Because addiction is such a multifaceted problem, treatment also needs to be multifaceted. Every area of the addiction needs to be confronted to enable success. Success involves three vital criteria. Firstly, use of the drug has to stop. Secondly, the addict has to become a functional member of society and, thirdly, he or she must live without drugs.

Addiction is a severe disease. There is no way that an addict can simply cease use of a drug for several days and be cured. Most need to undergo a lengthy treatment program to achieve complete abstinence. As such, an effective program needs some key principles.

Addiction causes changes in brain functioning and behavior. While addiction is complicated, it can be treated. However, no single treatment will be successful for every addict. The first requirement is that the treatment program should be readily available.

The needs of each individual patient must be accommodated. The addiction itself should not be the primary focus. Patients must stay in treatment for as long as required. They must also be made to take part in group therapy meetings and individual counseling.

Many patients will need medication as part of their treatment. This is especially important when combined with behavioral therapy and counseling. Each individual's treatment plan should be regularly monitored and assessed to ensure that progress is being made.

Most addicts suffer with psychological disorders and these will also have to be dealt with. Although medical detoxification is useful in the initial phase of treatment, its success is not long-term. Contrary to popular belief, treatment is not dependent on the addict's voluntary admission. His or her family is able to enforce legal intervention.

Every patient should be tested for hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. If a patient is positive, he or she must be counseled as to how to prevent the spread of their disease. Similarly, patients who are negative must know how to prevent being infected from someone else.

Family members must become part of the program, especially when the patient leaves the drug treatment center. Everyone concerned should be educated about the possibility of relapse and how to deal with it. A family-based support system is essential for the successful rehabilitation of an addict.

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