What is Drug Rehabilitation?
Almost half of all Americans have witnessed at least one family member or close friend struggle with drug addiction. Pew Research studies have shown that drug abuse and addiction are roughly the same across gender, racial, economic, and political lines. Drug abuse has gotten so rampant that the United States government has declared it a national emergency. Drug rehab is the answer to the problem.
Estimates state that one in ten Americans over the age of 12 is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Addiction is an all-consuming disease, destroying people’s health, finances, and their lives. In 2016, more Americans died of drug overdoses than in the Vietnam War. 64,000 people lost their lives to the drug epidemic which has swept the country since the turn of the century. In fact, the explosion of drug overdose deaths for middle-aged Americans has single-handedly lowered the life expectancy rate.
There are many factors which can lead a person to drug addiction. Over half of those struggling with addiction are using the substances to self-medicate painful mental health conditions and emotional despair. The increase in overdose deaths amongst poorer, white Americans has some calling the epidemic ‘deaths of despair’ because of a bleak economic outlook amongst the demographic.
Medically Assisted Detox
The medical community points the finger at the stigma and lack of resources available for mental health conditions. If someone avoids or is unable to get treatment for a mental health disorder, they will often turn to drugs or alcohol. Once addiction sets in, these people have a double-dose of societal shame heaped upon them for their circumstances. Many do not seek help because they are scared, in denial, embarrassed, and don’t know where to turn.
Because the drug and opioid addiction crisis has reached such epidemic proportions, the United States government and local officials have been working together to reform the criminal justice system and facilitate greater and easier access to treatment for drug addiction and abuse.Help is available. There are numerous resources that someone can access for drug addiction. Drug rehab facilities and medical detox centers are fully staffed with doctors, therapists, and social workers. Substance abuse has its roots in many complex biological and sociological determinants which the staff at a rehab and detox center understand. Since most drug abuse cases have their origins in an untreated mental health condition, rehab centers are fully equipped with mental health resources to get patients the help they need.
Furthermore, research shows that attending a drug rehab and detox center is one of the best ways for someone to maintain lifelong sobriety. Customized treatment plans are put in place to help individuals acquire the tools necessary to deal with life stressors positively and productively, limiting their chances of relapse. Even if someone does relapse after attending rehab, ongoing maintenance plans are created and executed to minimize the harm associated with relapse.
Staff at rehab centers are knowledgeable and trained to work with a person’s insurance company to get them the help they need and deserve. If someone is uninsured or uncovered, drug addiction rehab centers offer financing for qualified individuals, and the U.S. government also maintains a database of free and low-cost treatment methods and centers for low-income and indigent persons.
What should someone expect when attending detox and rehab?
First, people who are addicted to drugs need to complete a stay at a medical detox facility. In a medical detox facility, patients are assessed for underlying physical and mental health conditions, how long they’ve used drugs, how much they’ve abused, and if they are polydrug abusers. The patient’s circumstances are also taken into account, and from there, a treatment plan is created by a team of dedicated doctors, therapists, and social workers.
How long will someone stay in a detox facility?
The length of stay depends on the individual. Usually, it takes at least two weeks for painful withdrawal symptoms to subside. But, the withdrawal timeline is determined by several factors. What drug or drugs the person is addicted to and the person’s overall physical health and metabolic rate play a huge factor.
Drug addiction is unique to every individual. Two people who have been abusing the same drug for the same length of time may have completed different withdrawal timeline trajectories. Regardless, people can stay in a medically assisted detox center for as long as it takes for the drugs to fade from their bloodstream safely.
What kind of staff are available in a rehab and detox facility and where are these facilities located?
Rehab and detox facilities are staffed 24/7 with doctors, nurses, therapists, counselors, and social workers. All of these professionals are required to be highly trained in treating drug addiction and abuse. This constant availability of specialized knowledge and care is incredibly useful for treating abuse and keeping patients safe from painful, deadly withdrawal symptoms and relapse.
There are multiple facilities scattered across every state. The Salvation Army currently maintains a list of drug rehab centers online.
What do patients do in a drug rehab center?
Patients work very closely with their doctors and attend one-on-one, group, and family therapy sessions. They work through the reasons that led them to drug addiction and are treated for underlying mental and health conditions.
In a rehab center, patients are also encouraged to attend holistic sessions. These could be group sports activities or hiking expeditions with counselors and others who are recovering from addiction. Patients learn coping skills and how to adjust to a sober life outside of the facility. Patients also work with their team of therapists and doctors to put together a post-treatment support plan, which will help them prevent a relapse or treat it quickly if it does occur.
Drug addiction and abuse are horrible and scary diseases. But they are treatable. With help from trained doctors and therapists and support from family and friends, people can go on to make a full recovery from drug addiction. If you or a loved one are struggling with this illness, please do not hesitate to reach out to a qualified rehab specialist and get the treatment you need and deserve.
What kind of staff are available in a rehab and detox facility and where are these facilities located?
Rehab and detox facilities are staffed 24/7 with doctors, nurses, therapists, counselors, and social workers. All of these professionals are required to be highly trained in treating drug addiction and abuse. This constant availability of specialized knowledge and care is incredibly useful for treating abuse and keeping patients safe from painful, deadly withdrawal symptoms and relapse.
There are multiple facilities scattered across every state. The Salvation Army currently maintains a list of drug rehab centers online.
