When looking for addiction treatment programs for yourself or a loved one, success must find the right drug rehab center for their needs. Choosing to enter drug rehab is a life-changing decision, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. You must find a drug rehab center that caters to your treatment needs, beliefs, and more. Let’s explore everything you need to consider when choosing the best drug rehab center for your recovery journey.
What is Drug Addiction?
Before we move any further, let’s cover the basics. Addiction is a chronic, relapse disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain.
While people believe that addiction is a choice, it’s considered both a brain disorder and a mental illness. Addiction is by far the most severe form of a substance use disorder, and it’s a medical illness caused by repeated misuse and abuse of substances.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017. These numbers are probably higher since many cases go unreported.
Risk Factors of Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is a mental disorder that affects millions of people, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, or status. Specific characteristics increase the risk of addiction, including:
- Mental illness
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Trauma
- Susceptibility to peer pressure
- Low self-esteem
- Prescription to addictive medications
- Family history of addiction
- Underage drug abuse
- Early exposure to drugs
Signs of Addiction
When someone develops a substance use disorder, they’ll start showing some signs of struggle sooner than later. The symptoms of addiction vary tremendously as they depend on the type of substance being abused. For example, intravenous drug users will try to hide their track marks, while those who snort drugs will show flu or cold-like symptoms instead.
When someone starts to show symptoms of drug addiction, they might begin to notice they:
- Continue their drug use after it’s no longer needed for a health problem
- Increase the drug doses to get the same effects as when they started using the drug
- Experience withdrawal symptoms when the drug wears off
- Continue their drug use despite negative consequences
- Spend a lot of time thinking about how to get the drug and when to take it
- Sudden noticed a loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed
- Experience struggles fulfilling everyday tasks like working, studying, or cooking without being under the influence
- Notice changes in personal hygiene including bad breath, weight loss, and tremors
- Engage in doctor shopping to get multiple prescriptions for the same problem
- Start mixing prescription medications with alcohol or other substances to maximize its effects
Health Risks of Addiction
The effects of drug abuse are both short- and long-term. The severity of the health effects will depend on various reasons. Age, the severity of the addiction, and the addiction’s longevity will all play a role in how severe someone experiences side effects from their addiction. The most common health complications of drug addiction include:
- Increased risk of illness and infection
- Heart conditions
- Nausea and abdominal pain
- Increased risk of liver damage or liver failure
- Seizures or strokes
- Brain damage
- Lung disease
- Cognitive decline
- Overdose
- Death
Drug Addiction Facts Everyone Should Know
Drug addiction affects people from all walks of life. Depending on the type of drug someone’s abusing, they might experience some health effects. Almost 74% of adults suffering from a substance use disorder in 2017 struggled with an alcohol use disorder.
Things like growing up in a toxic environment, lifestyle habits, and family history can contribute to addiction. However, genetics, including the impact of one’s environment on gene expression, account for about 40% to 60% of a person’s risk of addiction.
Addiction Treatment Options
Drug rehab offers multiple levels of care. After a stabilization from the detox center, you will then be able to begin your journey with therapy. These include inpatient treatments, partial hospitalization treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, and outpatient treatment.
Upon admission to the rehab center, a primary therapist who will best meet your specific needs begins working with you. Then, addiction therapists recommend the right combination of therapies and comprehensive treatment options to help with your drug addiction. Finally, an aftercare rehab plan will help you maintain long-term sobriety and offer ongoing recovery support.
Finding the Right Drug Rehab Center
If you are seeking treatment for drug addiction, it must be the best fit. It often takes individuals suffering from substance use dependence many years before they are willing to admit they have a problem. You want to make sure that you have done your due diligence on selecting the best rehab. Addiction treatment is not a cure; however, in most cases, it is necessary if recovery is going to be possible.
Consider the Cost
The first thing you need to consider is the cost. Rehab can be costly for some families, which is why finding a treatment center that fits within your financial means is essential. However, the price shouldn’t hold you back.
Many addiction treatment facilities offer financial plans to help people address their disorders. Also, most health insurance has programs that can cover mental health and substance abuse treatments. It’s a matter of contacting the treatment center and verifying your insurance coverage to get started.
Make Sure They Have Detox Programs
When someone abruptly stops using drugs, they’re likely to experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can be uncomfortable and, in some cases, life-threatening. Ensuring you go through this process with medical supervision is paramount for recovery.
When you’re looking for the right inpatient rehab program, ensure they offer a detox program that uses medication-assisted treatment. The idea is to help you detox the most comfortable way possible to start a positive start.
Addiction medications can help ease withdrawal symptoms and control some of the withdrawal symptoms. While drugs can offer balance, they come at a high price for recovering addicts. Again, inpatient programs are the best course of action for managing this type of dual diagnosis. A licensed doctor will determine the right kind of drugs to help ease withdrawal.
Opt for Comprehensive Approaches
There’s no single treatment option for addiction. It’s vital to find rehab centers that offer various levels of care, and that can pivot to meet your unique needs. Beyond the detox process, it’s paramount to tackle the addiction. Through individual therapy, people can understand what drives addictive behavior and see if there’s an underlying cause of addiction.
Additionally, building a sober and robust support team is a critical element of addiction recovery. By attending group meetings or 12-step programs, individuals can continue their sober life and continue to learn relapse prevention techniques, even months after detox.
Finally, addiction isn’t one thing people can shove under the rug. The remnants of addiction often stay with them for the rest of their life. To help users find happiness and purpose in their lives, aftercare programs offer relapse prevention classes, life skills, and other essential tools for a successful life after treatment.
Ask about Dual Diagnosis Programs
Although substance abuse isn’t the sole cause of mental illness, it plays a role. Frequent drug use creates physical changes in the brain’s structure and chemistry. Drugs can rewire various brain parts that affect mood and behavior, which can lead to co-occurring disorders.
Dual diagnosis programs ensure patients receive an integrated treatment plan that looks at both disorders as interconnected. Not treating both mental illness and addiction simultaneously increases the risk of relapse and other side effects.
Look for Evidence-based Therapy Offerings
Part of an active substance abuse treatment will likely include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Through this form of treatment, patients face their thoughts and feelings, both for their mental illness and struggles as an addict. By understanding what triggers a manic and depressive episode, addicted people with a mental disorder can better grasp their actions. Finding a way to control these emotions will help them prepare for craving episodes or withdrawal symptoms from the addiction.
What a Day in Drug Rehab Looks Like
While everyone’s daily schedule might look different, overall, they all follow a similar structure. Mornings often start with a nutritious breakfast, followed by morning activities like daily meditation. Then, most patients attend individual therapy sessions before engaging in other activities.
In the afternoon, patients can enjoy a healthy lunch by themselves or with a group. Afternoon counseling sessions can be private or in a group setting, depending on your unique needs and preferences. Afterward, patients are encouraged to participate in holistic activities that complement their addiction treatment, such as yoga, acupuncture, swimming, hiking, and other activities.
In the evening, everyone enjoys a healthy and freshly-cooked meal. Some people choose to stay in their bedrooms, reading inspirational books, journaling, or sleeping early. Others decide to trend 12-step meetings to build a fellowship with other recovering addicts.
Finding Substance Abuse Treatment
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use disorder, don’t wait any longer. Countless treatment options can help them conquer their addiction and manage any withdrawal symptoms. Remember, quitting potent drugs alone can be life-threatening. It’s essential to have the support and supervision of drug addiction specialists by your side.
At Lighthouse Recovery Institute, we believe in offering customized drug addiction treatment plans for those struggling with drug or alcohol abuse. We look at each treatment program on a case-by-case basis to cater to whatever your needs are to get better and walk towards recovery. From detoxification programs to group meetings and more, everyone in our team is committed to helping you win the struggle with addiction. Schedule a visit to our drug rehab center if you’re ready to start your journey to recovery.
