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Recovering From Drug Addiction – The Five Main Addiction Treatment Programs

graphic of depressed man taking pills

Do you want to quit your drug addiction but don’t know how? Stopping drug addiction in its tracks and recovering from it are both no laughing matters, but require lots of help and support, not just from your family and friends, but also from professionals. There are five main addiction treatment programs. Staying sober is often a lifetime endeavor. Thus your choice of program may actually be the starting point in your journey and not be your sole treatment program. Which type of program you select depends on the needs of the individual. Those individuals who suffer from more than one addiction or a mental health disorder are most likely to need an inpatient treatment program.

1. Inpatient Addiction Treatment Programs

This type of treatment program involves staying at a drug rehabilitation facility for a period of 30, 60 or 90 days, or even more. According to studies, this is the most successful drug treatment program, with the least chances of relapse, since patients are given round-the-clock care by medical professionals and are able to interact with other recovering drug addicts. They are also in isolation so they can just focus on recovering from drug addiction in an environment that is conducive for it. Inpatient programs offer a wider breadth of treatment that can be tailored to meet that person’s requirements. Extra care is given to heal the body through nutritional and fitness programs which help the addict return to good health. Thus an inpatient program tends to the whole person – mind, body and spirit.

2. Outpatient Treatment Programs

As implied, outpatient treatment programs are programs wherein the patient does not stay at the center. Rather, he or she is free to continue to work and stay at home but only has to attend certain therapy sessions everyday. Because the patient is not under constant monitoring for relapse, random drug testing is performed. An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) meets daily and provides more structure and support than other outpatient programs. An IOP is a good choice when inpatient treatment is not an option for the person seeking substance abuse treatment.

3. 12-Step Programs

12-Step programs are also known as traditional programs since these follow the 12 steps or principles of recovering from drug addiction, which were first published in 1939. This program is the one used by the group Alcoholics Anonymous in order to help alcoholics recover from their addiction, but it has also been proven effective in treating drug addiction. Basically, the program involves an acknowledgment of the addiction, seeking help, making amends for past wrongdoings and relying on a higher spiritual power to reform one’s life. 12-step programs are typically led by recovered addicts and not credentials staff. They provide support but not treatment. Many people in recovery participate in 12-step programs for the remainder of their lifetime. 12-step programs are usually free of cost.

4. Religious Rehab Programs

These programs are a modified version of the 12-step program, with an emphasis on spiritual healing or relying on one’s spiritual beliefs for motivation. This program is not for everyone, though, but rather, is more suited for those who have a strong religious background.

5. Holistic Programs

These programs are evidence-based, combining the basics of the 12-step program with medical care and holistic programs, like yoga, herbal therapy and hypnosis. Eastern medical practices like Qigong and acupuncture are often part of the program and sometimes, animal-assisted therapy is also used. Holistic drug treatment programs are generally inpatient programs that offer a wide variety of treatment modalities that heal the mind, body and spirit. Examples of animal-assisted therapy include horse-assisted or equine therapy, wherein the patient works closely with horses in an outdoor environment, and swimming with dolphins, which is proven to have relaxing benefits. Arts programs can also be used as part of the overall holistic treatment approach, such as creative arts, journaling or writing programs and music. These are the addiction treatment programs that can help you recover from drug addiction so you can take a step forward and move on with your life in the right direction. In order to choose the right program, you will need to undergo an evaluation. No matter which one you end up in, though, whether or not the program succeeds is still up to how determined you are in becoming a better person.