1. Four types of drug addiction treatment programs
Drug addictionischaracterizedasa braindisease.One thataltersthe overall chemical makeupof the
brain.Thisalterationof the normal brainprocessescancause the addictto engage in self-destructive
behavior.The behaviorcancause frictioninthe addict'sinterpersonal relationships,cause the addict's
professionalreputationtobe destroyed,andcause the addict'soverall healthtodecline significantly.
In orderfor an individual toregainstabilityinhisorherlife,theyneedtoadmitthattheyhave a
problemandare powerlessovertheirdisease.Once the individual admitsthattheyhave aproblem,
enteringadetoxification programwill be the nextstep.
Detoxificationconsists of the bodyclearingitself of the drugsthe individual hadbeentaking.
Detoxificationfromdrugsmaypresentveryuncomfortable side effects.Medical professionalsmay
provide medicationtorelieve the symptomsassociatedwithdetox.
Types ofdrug addictiontreatment programs
There are fourtypesof drug addictiontreatmentthatmanyrehabcentersoffer:
1. Long-termResidentialTreatment
Whenit comesto long-termresidential treatment,addictsare providedcare 24 hoursa day.For
the most part,these residential treatmentprogramsare innon-hospitalsettings.The lengthof
stay that youcan expectdiffersbetweeneachindividual.Typical long-termresidential
treatmentstaysare between6and 12 monthsina residential therapeuticcommunity.
Drug addictiontreatmentinlong-termresidential settingsare extremelystructuredand
designedtohelpindividualsunderstandandexaminetheirself-destructive beliefsand
behaviors.Grouptherapies,individual therapies,andfamilytherapiesmake upalarge chunk of
the long-termresidential treatmentexperience.
2. Short-termresidentialtreatment
Thistype of drugaddictiontreatment,while itisbrief,isveryintensive.Manyof these short-
termresidential treatmentprogramsbase theirtreatmentbythe 12 stepapproach. It is
importantto note thatwhile the 12 stepprocessmainlyaddressesalcoholism, itstartedto
include varioustypesof drugsafterthe cocaine epidemicthatoccurredinthe middle of the
1980s.
Thistreatmentmodel consistsof a3 to 6 weekstayina hospital-basedtreatmentprogram,
whichisfollowedbyoutpatienttherapyandrequiredparticipationinself-helpgroups,suchas

2. AA,NA,and more.Engagementinthese programshelpreduce the riskof the individual
relapsing.
3. Outpatienttreatment programs
The outpatienttreatmentprogramsavailable veryinintensityandspecifictypes.Outpatient
treatmentprogramsare not as costlyas residentialtreatmentprograms,andisknownto be
more suitable tothose whohave employmentobligations.Groupcounselingisknowntobe an
integral componenttoanindividual'srecovery.There are afew outpatienttreatmentprograms
that treatindividualswhosufferfromothermedical issues,includingmental healthdisorders.
4. Self-helpgroups
Many townsand cities acrossthe country offerprograms,suchas alcoholicsanonymousand
narcoticsanonymous.These programsare designedtohelpindividualsmaintaintheirsobriety.
If you, or someone youknow,maybe sufferingfromadrug addiction,contactyourlocal drug addiction
treatmentcenter.
For more informationgoto: http://www.drugaddictsupport.com/