Effective addiction treatment programmes offer a wide range of therapies, services and resources to help individuals overcome their chemical dependency and achieve long-term recovery. Some examples include detox, individual therapy, group counseling, family therapy and motivational incentives to encourage abstinence. In addition to psychosocial interventions, many programmes also provide access to FDA-approved medications for substance use disorder (e.g. buprenorphine/naloxone, methadone, naltrexone/depot naltrexone and acomprosate) as well as psychotropic drugs for co-occurring psychiatric conditions like depression or anxiety disorders.
A person with a substance or alcohol use disorder needs a comprehensive, customized approach to treat all aspects of the problem and increase the likelihood of successful recovery. A good program will start with a thorough assessment including a physical exam and mental health evaluation. This information will help determine the level of care that is needed.
The next phase of treatment may involve a medically supervised withdrawal or “detox” from the addictive chemicals, if necessary. This process typically lasts a few days to a week and includes the management of physical withdrawal symptoms as well as psychological adjustment to the absence of the addictive drug or alcohol. This is a necessary step in the treatment process and must occur prior to involvement in behavioral treatment.
During the therapy phase, individuals will participate in individual sessions with a qualified therapist or counselor to understand the complex issues that contribute to a person’s compulsive use of drugs or alcohol. The therapist will then work with the individual to develop and practice new healthy behaviors in an effort to help break the cycle of addiction and dependence. There are a variety of therapeutic approaches, and an ever-growing body of research is indicating that certain techniques (e.g. motivational enhancement therapy for adolescents, relapse prevention) are more effective for some types of persons than others.
While in treatment, people need a safe and stable living environment where they can focus on recovery. These are often called sober living or transitional housing programs and are usually located in a safe, secure setting where there is a supportive community of other recovering individuals. These facilities can be peer-led, professionally run or a combination of both. They typically have a set schedule of presentations, group meetings, activities and counseling sessions, which help to keep people busy while providing the structure they need in early recovery.
In addition to housing and support groups, some drug/alcohol addiction treatment programmes offer additional services, such as educational or vocational training, job placement and sober living assistance. These can be very valuable to individuals in recovery and can help them reintegrate into their communities.
During the treatment process, it is important for persons to continue to maintain relationships with family and friends. Good effective addiction treatment programmes recognize the importance of family involvement and help families learn how to support their loved ones during recovery and after. In some cases, these treatment programmes also include family therapy and skills training to improve communication and overall family functioning.