Drug rehabilitation is a term that is used to refer to all types of treatment – whether psychotherapeutic or medical – aimed at addressing the issue of substance abuse. Because drug abuse and addiction have so many dimensions and disrupt so many aspects of an individual's life, treatment is not simple. Effective rehab programs typically incorporate many components, each directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences. Rehab for addiction must help the individual stop using drugs, maintain a drug-free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society. Most experts agree drug abuse is just as much a problem of the body as it is of the mind.
Getting Help
The first part of drug rehabilitation is getting the patient to accept that he has a problem that he could not deal with on his own. Many drug dependents have the mistaken belief that they do not have a problem and that they are still in control of their situation. Intervention coming from the drug rehab facility can help the patient understand that he needs to take the assistance that is offered to him.
Featured Video: Is Drug Addiction Genetic?
A significant advance in understanding the role of genetics in addiction occurred in 1990 when researchers linked the D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2 gene) to severe alcoholism. Studies of the brain showed that those with the A1 variation of the DRD2 gene have significantly fewer dopamine receptors in pleasure centers of the brain. Persons who become addicted to drugs that increase dopamine levels do so to compensate for that deficiency. Subsequent studies have linked the A1 variation of the DRD2 gene to other addictions including, cocaine, amphetamine, heroin and nicotine.
These studies suggest that people with this genetic trait are much more susceptible to addiction and likely to fall into severe forms of addiction.
Effective Treatment Approaches
Medication and behavioral therapy, especially when combined, are important elements of an overall therapeutic process that often begins with detoxification, followed by rehab and relapse prevention. Easing withdrawal symptoms can be important in the initiation of treatment; preventing relapse is necessary for maintaining its effects. And sometimes, as with other chronic conditions, episodes of relapse may require a return to prior rehab treatment components. A continuum of care that includes a customized rehab treatment regimen—addressing all aspects of an individual's life, including medical and mental health services—and follow–up options (e.g., community – or family-based recovery support systems) can be crucial to a person's success in achieving and maintaining a drug–free lifestyle. To learn more about drug rehab programs and techniques, read the information we have here. This website is an online community resource to help your loved one gain control of his life again. We offer valuable information on various addiction treatment and rehab methods as well as advice on how to address the issue of substance abuse in your home. For more inquiries, call 1-858-775-9993 today.
Drug Rehab Centers Locator - Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Dual Diagnosis Programs and Treatment Resources
The Drug Rehab Centers Locator is a public addiction treatment resource guide dedicated to helping addicts and alcoholics recover from drug addiction, alcoholism, dual diagnosis, eating disorders and co-occurring disorders. We offer a comprehensive directory of drug treatment centers, alcohol rehab programs, drug rehab and drug rehabilitation centers, dual diagnosis treatment programs, and recovery centers for eating disorders and other substance abuse related disorders.
