Friday, April 15, 2011

How Drug Addiction Can be Treated?

Less than ten percent of people with substance abuse disorder and less than forty percent of the people with a substance dependance disorder requires treatment. The main objectives of drug addiction treatment are abstinence, relapse prevention, and rehabilitation.

During the initial stages of abstinence an individual who suffers from chemical dependency may need help avoiding or lessening the effects of withdrawal and this is called detoxification. In this, patient may be treated in a hospital or other inpatient settings and the medication is given to reduce the symptoms of withdrawal and medical monitoring is also provided. Medications used for the detoxification depends on the substance abused and also on the health of the individual.

Another way to treat the drug abusers is through rehabilitation and it includes treatments like residential treatment also called as inpatient treatment, out patient, local support groups, extended care centers, and recovery treatment. Some rehab centers also offer age and gender based treatment programs. People who have less severe drug dependency can be treated through outpatient treatment program and the patients who have severe addiction can be treated in an inpatient drug treatment center.

It is also important to consider if the drug addict has other health problems while providing treatment for drug addiction. An addicted person also needs help from the family members and friends in the treatment process and these addiction problems can also be treated by giving counseling. Treatment for substance dependency for children and adolescents is further different from that in adults. Relapse is a common part of the recovery process from drug addiction and it provides an opportunity to learn from the mistakes and correct the treatment course.

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