Rehabilitation centres can be critical for those overcoming an addiction, though seeking out treatment can be an overwhelming and scary task. Sometimes it feels like you may have a million questions and apprehensions about the whole process such as:
- How does addiction rehabilitation help overcome a substance use disorder?
- What does a typical day in a alcohol and drug rehab facility entail?
- How much does a stay at a drug and alcohol treatment facility cost?
Continue reading for all these questions and more to be answered, plus how NP Addiction can help on your’s or your loved one’s road to recovery.
What is Drug Addiction?
Drug addiction – or substance use disorder – is a disease where an individual loses control of their drug taking, despite the negative consequences to their health, personal, and professional lives. Here, the person’s life can be consumed by the drug, and commonly feel as though they need to take it to maintain any feeling of normality.
What is the Cause of Addiction?
It’s a common misconception that people with substance use disorders are weak willed, though this powerful condition is quite the opposite. When an individual takes drugs, the brain releases a surge of endorphins and its reward circuit is altered. After a while the brain’s physical and chemical structure changes, making it extremely difficult to function and fight the automatic urge to use drugs further.
People can be exposed to drugs via social, recreational use or prescribed medications. Even after one time, individual’s can become hooked and start abusing the drug regularly. There are a multitude of factors that may trigger this habit, including:
- Genetics
- Mental illness
- Access to healthcare
- Absence of social support
- Environment during upbringing
- Adverse childhood experiences
- Peer group habits regarding drug abuse
Signs of Drug Abuse
Addiction from substance-to-substance has a number of nuances, however, there are some general symptoms that can be generally spotted in people dealing with the condition. These include:
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when a regular dose of the drug isn’t taken
- Wanting to sop using the drug but not being able to
- Not being able to uphold personal or professional responsibilities
- Changes in friendship circles
- Changes in personality: lacking motivation, irritability
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Bloodshot eyes
- Slurred speech
- Shakes and tremors
- Lying about or hiding their drug use
- Getting into financial or legal trouble
- Partaking in risky behavior
The Short- and Long-Term Impact of Addiction
People take drugs to experience the euphoric rush caused by a surges of chemicals around the body and brain. Depending on the type of drug, the length of time this ‘high’ is felt differs and so do its after effects. When someone regularly takes a drug, their body adapts to the substance and a dependency forms. In this case, when a regular dose of the drug isn’t fed into the body withdrawal symptoms can start to kick in, these can include:
- Intense cravings for the drug
- Confusion
- Irritability and agitation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Restlessness
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating
- Short-term memory loss
- Flu-like symptoms
- High temperature
- Headaches
- Excessive sweating
- Fatigue and exhaustion
- Heart palpitations
- Shaking or shivering
- Muscle and bone pain
- Vivid, unpleasant dreams
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Depression
- Paranoia
- Insomnia
Withdrawal from some substances can be extremely dangerous, with coming off some drugs involving the risk of a coma, seizures, or death. For this reason, it is vital to have professional treatment advice during the transition process.
How Drug Addiction Treatment Works
There are a number of ways in which a person recovering from addiction to drugs or alcohol can become clean. Each individual’s journey to recovery can look a variety of ways and will require a holistic, personalized drug addiction treatment plan. If you are wondering how does rehabilitation help drug addicts, the following information will provide the answer.
Medical Detoxification
Usually, the journey to sobriety starts with a detoxification plan. This process allows the addicted individual to safely come off the substance and eventually get to a place where they are no longer dependent on it. It is vital that people going through this stage seek professional addiction treatment advice as without the right guidance and medical supervision, it can sometimes be extremely uncomfortable and potentially lethal.
Due to the negative feelings experienced during this period relapses are quite common, as people try and reverse these effects. Recovering individual’s during this time period have a higher risk of overdosing, with some trying to consume same amount of drug as at the peak of their addiction. This is yet another reason addiction recovery professionals should be present. Here, the physical and mental health of the person recovering can be monitored around the clock and medicine may be able to be prescribed to ease some of the withdrawal system discomfort.
Rehabilitation Centres
Rehabilitation centres allow people to identify and overcome issues surrounding their addiction. Substance abuse treatment consist of different types of therapy, as long-term recovery has been shown to be more likely when psychotherapy is carried out alongside diminishing physical drug dependence.
Individual therapy (behavioral therapy), group counselling, and family therapy sessions are likely to be provided as treatment options as part of an extensive therapy program. Here, the aim is for the individual to uncover:
- The reasons behind their addiction
- Any underlying mental illnesses
- Substance abuse triggers
- How to build coping mechanisms
- How to deal with previous trauma
- What needs to be done to repair relationships with family members that have been damaged by the drug taking
Group therapy is extremely helpful during the recovery process. This environments creates for a non-judgemental space for individual’s to share their experiences to others that have been through similar things. These sessions also allow people to feel heard, supported, and take away valuable advice that has worked for others.
Depending on the needs of the individual there are both inpatient and outpatient options to choose from. Inpatient treatment programs are the advised treatment plans for severe addictions and give the benefit of being removed from the problematic environment that the addiction developed in. This creates a fresh new space to deal with the substance abuse disorder. This type of residential treatment also has the benefit of twenty-four hour care from medical professionals. Outpatient treatment may be better suited for those who have need to maintain significant work or familial obligations. It may also be appropriate for those with short-lived or mild addictions.
What is a Typical Day Like in Drug Rehab Program?
Each day follows a particular structure of waking up, activities, therapy sessions, meal times, and sleeping, providing routine and stability for people who are overcoming addiction. Plenty of breaks are given in between the treatment practices, allowing head space to reflect on and process what they have just learnt. Free time around is also an important feature of the daily schedule in treatment centres, where individual’s are able to talk, practice socializing, and learn new coping mechanisms.
What are the Benefits of Drug Rehab Programs?
Anyone dealing with a drug or alcohol addiction will benefit from partaking in a rehabilitation program. Some of these benefits include:
- Around the clock professional support: medical are available for the individual’s in the drug rehab treatment centers at all times. This is critical for safely treating any ongoing physical symptoms, providing needed mental health services, and preventing relapses.
- The structure and routine it provides: these break the cycle of unhealthy habits that were picked up while the person was going through their drug or alcohol addiction and helps build a healthy, balanced schedule that can be stuck to after leaving the treatment facility.
- The supportive and safe environment it offers: being surrounded by people who understand what you are going through and what you need to recover as effectively as possible.
- The holistic treatment people receive: in the drug and alcohol rehab process, the recovering person will focus on improving their mental, physical, and emotional health.
- It’s focus on health: individual’s will part-take in a healthy diet and regular exercise as part of their treatment program. This gives a better chance at a successful recovery, prevent relapse, build healthy future habits, and reduce the risk of a number of diseases.
How Much Does Addiction Rehab Cost?
The upfront monetary cost of drug rehab is a reason many hesitate to seek treatment, however, the long-term cost of addiction (lost job, social costs, future health expenses) is likely to be much greater. No matter what your personal preference or monetary situation, there are a number of facilities that can fit your requirements.
There are multiple of factors that influence the price of addiction treatment centers. These include:
- Type of facility: generally inpatient costs more than outpatient programs
- Treatment options
- Location
- Size and length of program
- Treatment facilities available: a swimming pool, gym, nutritional counselling, massage therapy
To give a picture of the overall costs of the process, the average cost of a detoxification program is around $600 to $1000 per day and a thirty day program costs between $14,000 to $27,000. Although this may seem like a lot, all or part my be covered by government subsidies or your treatment provider.
Depending on the treatment provider you are insured with and the type of insurance policy you chose, the majority of the costs to enter rehab may be covered . Some treatment providers include residential alcohol and drug treatment, though usually only for around one month. The best way to find out how much you may have to pay out of your own pocket is to contact your current treatment provider.
How Long Do Rehabilitation Programs Last?
Again, the treatment process is extremely individualistic, though people normally enter inpatient treatments for one, two, or three month periods. It is also vital for people overcoming addition to partake in a long-term recovery program. This may include regular visits to support groups or checking in with a counsellor.
Should I Find Addiction Treatment Close to Me or Away?
Although addiction is nothing to feel ashamed of, it’s understandable that many may apprehensive about seeing someone you know at a treatment center close to home. For some people, being completely isolated to their everyday life is a positive during their treatment process. This way they can put all their energy and headspace into the program without distractions or worries about confidentiality. However, treatment centers located closer to where you live allows for easy access to services if you are an outpatient, plus allows for easy familial visitation.
What If I Relapse?
Relapse is unfortunately in the nature of addiction, though inpatient rehab facilities and long-term support hugely reduces this risk. Sometimes it can take more than one stay at a drug treatment center to kick a drug addiction long-term but remember this is completely normal part of the ongoing recovery process and you are not alone in this fight!
Contact Us
If you or your loved one is struggling with addiction, please contact NP Addiction today for advice and assistance in seeking addiction treatment that is right for you. We understand the difficulty in overcoming this disorder, but will be with you every step of the way during the addiction rehabilitation process.
