Drug Addiction Treatment

Procedures and practices which have been accepted or debated as methods which are helpful in drug addiction treatment vary widely depending on the duration of the addiction to drugs, any medical complications involved, the needs of the individual from a social standpoint, the types of substances in question and the level or amount of the drugs which are required in order for the individual to be momentarily satisfied. Drug addiction treatment must include extensive treatment for not only the addict, but for other significant persons in their sphere of influence.

12-Step Drug Addiction Treatment

The 12-step program for drug addiction treatment is just one of numerous methods for drug recovery. Well-known examples of a drug addiction treatment 12-step program are Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous. These programs are commonly known and used for any of many types of addictions for the individual concerned as well as the family members.

Drug addiction treatment centers known as substance abuse rehabilitation centers or, more commonly 'rehab centers' often provide a program where the seriously addicted person is housed in a residential treatment program so the there is an isolation factor involved in keeping the patient away from drugs and from old relationships and behavior patterns which repeat when there are other dealers and users involved.

Outpatient drug addiction treatment centers usually provide both group and individual counseling. There will often be a psychiatrist or physician who can help with dispensing prescriptions that give relief from the side effects associated with addiction. The most common side effect of drug addiction which can be helped by medications is anxiety.
Individuals who want to avoid the use of medications to assist with the detoxification process have stated that acupuncture detoxification is a viable alternative, although the evidence for use of acupuncture in drug addiction treatment is mainly based on clinical reports and on anecdotal evidence.

Within the broad scope of drug addiction treatment lies residential drug treatment modalities which can in turn be broadly grouped into two types of programs--12-step programs which are in the majority or Therapeutic Communities. The 12-step type programs provide an immediate support network for social needs, but many addicts find that they are uncomfortable with the heavy spiritual context involved with this type of drug addiction treatment.

Drug addiction treatment which avoids the concept of spiritual implications offer a wide range of different approaches. However, the most widely used and popular at this time may be the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach. CBT reviews the complex relationships between thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and theorizes that changing any of the areas will impact the entire scope of behavior. CBT views addiction as not a disease, but as a behavior and therefore considers it to be curable or at least unlearnable. CBT proponents even believe that some individuals who are addicted can become controlled users rather than having to abstain completely.

Another type of drug addiction treatment is known as replacement therapy. Under this treatment mode, drugs such as methadone are prescribed in order to stabilize the opioid levels which can then be gradually reduced and the gradually reduct the amounts of the replacement drugs. Methadone and many other replacement drugs are also addictive.
Alternative treatments like acupuncture and others can be utilized to assist in alleviation of symptoms, but the American Medical Association has taken the policy position that there is little well-design empirical evidence that alternative remedies, including acupuncture are efficacious.

Many factors will enter into the decision for the best kind of recovery program for an addicted person. Some of the major decisions which must be made will be impacted by the cost of the program, the availability locally, whether there is physical or mental illness present, the concept of religious faith or spirituality, the nature of the addictive substance used, and the type of personality of the addicted person.

A commonly used psychoactive drug that unpleasantly interferes with the addictive response is currently being reviewed for treatment and effects when addicts are involved with SSRI, nicotine, heroin and cocaine. The clinics offering ibogaine drug addiction treatment are commonly found along the border between the United States and Mexico.
There has been a great deal of discussion about the definition of a successful recovery from addiction. At present, a successful outcome for recovery is considered to be abstinence from any addictive substances.

A series of 47 best-practice manuals known as Treatment Improvement Protocols have been published by an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, under the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The Treatment Improvement Protocols are produced by panels of administrative, clinical, and research experts and distributed to facilities and individuals in the field of substance abuse treatment facilities throughout the United States and its territories.

Treatment Improvement Protocols have dealt with all manner of substance abuse treatment from the assessment and other procedures performed at intake, to comprehensive treatment in counseling and other treatment methodologies and finally with post release care standards and possibilities. Administrative and programmatic issues such as workforce development, accreditation, training, collaboration between various agencies are also included in the TIPs. Other drug addiction treatment TIPs cover such subjects as substance abuse treatment, mental health concurrent problems, issues of the criminal justice system, primary care and housing. TIPs are finalized and approved by the CSAT and ultimately printed through the Government Printing Office.

Newer TIPS are now being made available in downloadable format or PDF format. They are also accessible on the internet through the National Library of Medicine. The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) makes these TIPs available at no cost.

TIPs are considered to be standard recommendations which have been proven to be efficacious in drug addiction treatment. There is still a great many clinical studies of the some the gains put out by proponents of one program or another, particularly those in the area of alternative medicines.