5 Benefits of Drug Addiction Treatment
Millions of people in the US need treatment for some type of substance use disorder (SUD) but do not seek help from an alcohol or drug addiction treatment facility. According to The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), only 10 percent of the 23 million people aged 12 or older with a SUD receive the treatment they need.
So it’s a big deal that you’re curious about the benefits of drug addiction treatment in preparation for recovery. A list of benefits awaits, whether you’re going to rehab for prescription drug addiction or addiction to illicit drugs such as heroin or cocaine.
What Is Drug Addiction?
The term “addiction” is used to describe a substance use disorder. The substance can be drugs or alcohol. SUD is a mental health disorder marked by a psychological dependence on a certain substance.
Concerning drugs, people develop an addiction from abusing prescription drugs such as benzodiazepines, Adderall, methamphetamines, and opioids. Commonly abused opioids include codeine, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl. Prescription drug abuse mainly involves taking more pills than prescribed or taking medication prescribed to someone else.
Illicit drugs such as heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and hallucinogens are addictive and cause dependency.
One of the telltale signs of addiction is compulsively seeking and using drugs while disregarding the health, financial, social, and legal consequences.
Why Drug Abuse Can Be a Difficult Habit to Kick
Drug use is habit-forming and often results in addiction because of how it affects the brain. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), drug addiction is a complex disease. This makes it difficult to overcome on your own.
Addictive drugs such as heroin and prescription opioids, for example, cause euphoria (feeling “high”) coupled with a false sense of well-being. They adversely affect the dopamine system in your brain. The chemicals in the drugs cause the brain’s reward system to stay “on” which makes you feel as if you need the drug to feel normal.
The longer someone uses an addictive substance, the more of it they’ll need to feel good. But the dopamine system is never satisfied. Meanwhile, it becomes increasingly difficult for you to quit. Even when you’re ready to start recovery, it will take more than strong will or good intentions to regain your sobriety. What’s usually needed is comprehensive treatment at a drug addiction treatment facility and the tools to prevent relapse.
5 Benefits of Drug Addiction Treatment
Addiction is a treatable disorder and there are various benefits to reap by going to a drug addiction treatment facility. Here are five important ones.
1. It is a safe way to quit
Quitting “cold turkey” or on your own can be potentially dangerous or life-threatening. Instead, you can receive medical detox at an inpatient or outpatient detox facility under the supervision of a physician and a therapist. Detox helps you to physically withdraw from drugs. You’ll get help managing discomforting withdrawal symptoms such as pain, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, or insomnia. Detox also prepares you for receiving drug addiction treatment or therapy. Types of therapies include cognitive-behavioral therapy, trauma therapy, and family therapy.
2. You can receive treatment for a co-occurring disorder
You will need to undergo a detailed physical, mental, and psychological evaluation at the drug addiction treatment facility of choice. The evaluation helps to determine the extent of treatment required including the need for addressing mental health conditions. Common conditions that occur alongside addiction include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A co-occurring disorder is often the reason for drug abuse in the first place or the reason it’s hard to quit.
3. You’ll learn the root causes of substance abuse
Substance abuse does not happen in isolation. There is usually some underlying factor or reason why people turn to drugs. Factors (also called triggers) include stress, grief, trauma, negative thoughts or emotions, belief system, family history, or a mental health disorder. These individuals tend to see drug use as a way to cope and don’t usually set out to get addicted. While receiving drug addiction treatment, your therapist will help you peel back the layers to learn what pushes you to drug use and healthy ways to cope.
4. You will receive tools for protecting your sobriety
The main goals of drug rehabilitation are to stop drug use and prevent relapse. You will learn the tools to handle drug use triggers, whether it’s a person, place, thing, thought, feeling, or mental health condition. You’ll be able to focus on building a productive life as you commit daily to abstaining from drugs. Your coping strategies can also include a network of people who can keep you in check, especially at times when you feel vulnerable to relapse.
5. You can finally get your life back
Many people addicted to drugs may suffer setbacks in life such as losing their job, friendships, money, home, or family. The loss can be devastating and make it seem impossible to rebuild your life. Whether it’s you or a family member, going through rehabilitation is a major stepping stone to putting your life back together. Part of the rehab program may involve providing you with the skills and tools to help you reconnect with loved ones, find work, or secure transitional housing.
Addiction Treatment at Enlightened Solutions
Now that you know more about the benefits of drug addiction treatment, hopefully, you feel more ready and empowered to take the next step. That step could be contacting a rehab facility to ask about their recovery programs. Enlightened Solutions have programs and therapies designed to meet the individual needs of the men and women in our care. They include:
Programs
- Outpatient
- Intensive outpatient
- Partial care program
- Medical detox
Therapies
- Dual-diagnosis treatment
- Dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Family therapy
- Holistic therapy
- Individual therapy
- 12-step program
Our addiction specialists take a comprehensive approach to treatment by seeking to address addiction from various angles. Addressing the addiction may include recommending dual diagnosis treatment to help you overcome substance abuse and a co-occurring mental health disorder such as anxiety or depression. Studies suggest that those who receive dual diagnosis treatment have a greater chance of staying sober after leaving a drug addiction treatment facility.
Call 833-801-LIVE to speak with our admission counselor or find out more about our programs and therapies.
