One of the common concerns raised among those considering drug rehab is the program’s efficacy. After all, when you’re in the throes of addiction, you may be hesitant to begin recovery, given the mental and physical rigors of the process. You certainly don’t want to undergo any program that might not be as effective as you’d like.
Determining the efficacy of drug rehab starts by understanding what it is and what it isn’t. Moreover, looking at how effective drug rehab is also considers how committed you are to the process once you opt to undergo it and what changes you can and will make toward sobriety.
What Is Drug Rehabilitation?
Drug rehabilitation is the process of medical and/or behavioral treatment for substance dependency. Common substances requiring drug rehab include alcohol, prescription medications and illicit street drugs such as cocaine or heroin.
The rehabilitation process helps those struggling with the use and abuse of substances to wean themselves physically and determine what behavioral triggers might be contributing to their addictions.
Types of Drug Rehab Facilities
Drug rehab facilities may be segmented by substance; for instance, some facilities are solely for people struggling with alcohol use disorder, while others are more of a catchall for all forms of substance abuse. Drug addiction treatment centers are also typically split into two categories depending on the intensity and structure of treatment: inpatient and outpatient rehab.
The effects of any drug addiction treatment depend on the extent of the addiction and the substance in question. For instance, someone with a severe addiction to heroin (one of the most addictive of all street drugs) may do better with inpatient treatment. Meanwhile, someone who has a mild alcohol addiction may fare well with outpatient treatment.
When it comes to addiction treatment, the choice is preferential and depends on various factors, including addiction severity, financial considerations and access. Sometimes, patients who want to undergo inpatient addiction treatment may find they don’t have the financial means. While there are programs available to help people pay for treatment programs, the truth is that there are more people struggling with substance abuse than programs to help.
Determining Drug Rehab Effectiveness
Determining the effectiveness of drug rehab depends on several factors. One of the common misconceptions about treating addiction through drug rehab is that if you relapse, the treatment isn’t effective. Issues regarding treatment effectiveness are partially rooted in the stigma surrounding drug abuse and the treatment programs that aim to help those dealing with this issue. This stigma attaches a moral barometer to the ability to overcome drug and alcohol addiction. However, it’s more accurate to look at recovery through a longer-term lens with expected setbacks along the way.
Research shows that the longer people remain in drug and alcohol rehab centers to get the help they need, the more they can increase their psychological functioning, repair damaged relationships with loved ones and improve their professional outlook. They can often understand at least the mental health issues that may be driving their drug and alcohol abuse and take steps to treat those issues. Even if they relapse, the ability to make strides in recovery is an important marker for successful addiction treatment.
The efficacy of drug rehab looks at the ability to manage the addiction, not cure it. Drug rehab treatment allows you to receive assistance to disrupt the impacts of a substance on the brain and get back control of your life. However, addiction is a chronic disease, which means relapsing is not only possible but also likely. This doesn’t mean rehab centers offering treatment aren’t effective. Instead, adjustments in approach may be necessary, or alternative therapy may be essential to address some of the shifting nuances of the addiction in question.
Choosing the Most Effective Drug Rehab Programs
Choosing the most effective drug rehab programs for your needs comes down to specific considerations. The type of substance use disorder you’re contending with is a factor, as is the amount of time you’ve been using and the support you have in substance abuse treatment. When you’re considering specific treatment centers, choose one that aligns with your personal goals and supports the approach that works best for you.
For instance, if you know you require more intensive and personalized inpatient treatment, don’t go with outpatient treatment providers in lieu of inpatient treatment centers if you have a choice in the matter. It’s also important to choose an addiction treatment center that incorporates mental health as part of the process of recovery. Cognitive behavioral therapy is part of the reason some rehab success rates are higher than others. The two issues go hand in hand in most instances, and a good treatment or recovery program will implement components to address that issue.
Committing to a drug treatment program also means giving yourself over to the journey in its entirety. In some instances, this means undergoing counseling and behavioral therapy to understand why you continue to struggle with addiction and what triggers you need to watch out for as you recover. You may need to consider changing your life in many ways to truly recover.
Determining how adequate drug rehab treatment facilities requires a great deal of consideration for all the factors that feed the addiction. Click here to learn more about substance abuse rehab and how you can get started on the road to recovery today.
