Medical professionals and other people who treat addictions to alcohol, drugs or other substances regard them as chronic diseases. Just like other chronic diseases, they have to be treated if the sufferer is to have any chance of recovery. Addicts cannot rely on willpower alone to get their addictions under control.
Rehab recovery programs and therapy can mean the difference between addicted people keeping control of their addiction, or relapsing into the oblivion of drug or alcohol abuse. For help finding recovery programs to overcome addiction, reach out to Chesapeake Drug Treatment Centers at (877) 804-1531.
When addicted people take part in rehab recovery programs and therapy, they will be offered education and therapy that will help them to gain insight into the reasons for their addiction, to recognize what forces or events trigger the desire to take drugs or alcohol, and the techniques they can use to win the battle against these negative forces.
There are numerous different recovery programs and therapy options available. It is important to realize that there is no set formula that will work for every person. All programs will have to be modified to suit the needs of each patient. Additionally, there is no one program that will provide all the answers for every addict.
The majority of addicts will derive the most benefit from taking part in a variety of programs. Various programs may focus their attention on different aspects of addiction and ways to get it under control. The following is a small selection of the types of drug treatment programs that have proven effective at helping addicts recover from drug addiction.
The treatment known as Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of many types that looks at the role behavior plays in addiction, and in the lives of those who develop addiction. The principal concept behind CBT is that drug or alcohol abuse is often a recourse used by addicts as an inappropriate response to a particular situation. An example would be when an a person runs into financial difficulties and turns to alcohol or drugs to suppress the issue, rather than seeking a resolution to the problem. In essence, the behavior in response to the situation needs to be modified into something more positive.
There are different models of therapy that come under the umbrella of CBT. They are modifications or amendments of the core principles that may target specific groups of people or specific problems. For example, the Matrix Model is adapted especially for people with addiction to stimulants.
12-step programs were some of the first structured programs to help addicts quit and stay clean, and they have been used for more than 70 years. 12-step programs are extremely effective, but most have a deep, spiritual aspect that does not appeal to everybody.
Addicts must accept that they have lost control of their drinking or drug taking, and they must turn to a higher power for help. They must also accept the blame for all the negative things they have done, and strive to make amends. This type of self-analysis and honest self-evaluation must continue for the rest of the person's life.
Like so many other therapies, SMART (Self-management Addiction Recovery Treatment) tries to impart deep self-awareness, and ways to improve responses to events. SMART is a 4-step program that promotes self-empowerment, and many of the concepts of the 12-step program are entwined in it, but without the spirituality.
There are a wide range of rehab recovery programs and therapy treatments that can help people who are struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. Call Chesapeake Drug Treatment Centers at (877) 804-1531 to find out more about available treatment options.