If you are facing substance addiction, it is imperative to realize that help is available.Some folks might opt to plug into A.A programs and obtain sobriety by attending meetings, and this is admirable and commendable. However, for individuals who are knee deep into their addiction, options such as residential care might be the more appropriate route towards recovery.
Substance addiction is a chronic condition which in most instances, is typically characterized by ultra-high relapse rates. In fact, NIDA, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, has it that up to 60% of drug addiction patients will relapse after attempting program-based treatments. On the other hand, individuals that went through with residential treatment showed a relapse rate of only 17%.
This goes to show the power of rehab. However, there are different kinds of drug rehab facilities available, and it is worth noting that they are not all created equal. Choosing the correct rehab treatment is vital for ensuring your successful recovery or that of your loved one.
Why You Need To Consider Rehab as a Means to Curb Your Addiction
Drug addiction is a chemical process that occurs in your brain. Thus, the initial step towards recovery involves detoxification. The high that one obtains from a drug causes a shift in their neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the brain’s chemical messengers which relay hormones that are responsible for feelings of euphoria, contentedness, focus, and energy. When an individual uses a drug for an extended period, the brain ceases to produce these hormones because the neurotransmitters are already being triggered artificially and at an extreme rate. The effect is the user having to rely on the said drug(s) to achieve these feelings. Consequently, whenever the drug is metabolized and leaves the system, a neurochemical imbalance occurs whose symptoms are sharply felt.
Subsequently, there is a craving to re-use the drug, failure to which withdrawal symptoms materialize. These symptoms range from the physical such as nausea, shaking, headaches, and abdominal pains to the psychological such as anxiety, paranoia, depression, cognitive dysfunction, and memory problems. It is these mental and physical responses that serve to reinforce and encourage further drug use in order to avoid the unpleasantness that comes with abstinence.
Luckily, when a recovering addict enlists professional drug detoxification services, they are able to go through the withdrawal more comfortably and safely. This is because drug detoxification makes sure that an addict moves through the withdrawal stage with a lessened risk of relapse. There are various medications to alleviate withdrawal symptoms that work by blocking the chemical highs which encourage addiction. Coupled with proper nutrition and hydration, medical care, an addict is able to heal from the mental and physical damage that their body may have incurred during the addiction.
Types of Drug Rehabilitation Facilities
When choosing a drug or alcohol rehab facility, one usually finds themselves looking at either state-funded rehab or private drug rehab. State-funded rehab, as well-meaning as it is, has often received a bad rap. In spite of this, they serve and assist many people. However, not everyone can benefit from state-funded rehab.
State-funded Rehab
This is a government-sponsored drug rehab. It is often cheap, or at times even free. Therefore, as you can imagine, there is always a high demand for their services. Thus, you are bound to run into the following problems:
• Waiting Lists
These centers are overrun by people requesting addiction recovery treatment. As such, they are perpetually fully booked. An addict, therefore, might find themselves waiting a long time before care is provided to them.
• Small Treatment Window
Most state-funded rehab centers offer treatment programs that last a maximum four weeks. This is a short treatment window for recovering addicts.
• Court-Ordered Patients
In some states, the government usually offers drug offenders the choice between jail time and rehab programs. Almost everyone chooses the latter albeit not to become clean but to avoid prison. This might create a non-conducive environment for those who genuinely want to get over their addiction.
This type of rehab center is best suited for individuals who do not have the funds necessary to pay for a comprehensive treatment, or those who do not have insurance coverage.
Private Drug Rehab
This rehab treatment option is done privately and is paid for from your pocket. However, the experience you get during the recovery is well worth the price tag. Here are the benefits of private rehab:
1. Personalized Treatment Plans
The patient will undergo a thorough diagnostic testing, physical exam, and psychological assessment in order to have a treatment tailor-made for them.
2. Individualized Therapy
Unlike in state-funded therapy where patients are bundled together for therapy sessions, private treatment addresses the psychological aspect of drug addictions through one-on-one meetings. Every trauma that the individual might have experienced, the negative belief systems, low self-esteem, and secondary mental health conditions are all analyzed to uncover the emotional reasons that usually lead to drug abuse. These sessions allow the addicts to understand and heal from the psychological traumas that lead to addiction.
3. Aftercare Services
Private rehab offers aftercare services whereby they follow up on your progress even after graduating from a recovery program. Frequent check-in calls, meet and greets, alumni events, and online support networks are all part of the arsenal to ensure that the alumni stay supported during their post-recovery period.
4. Better Accommodation
The accommodation and meals offered in private therapy are vastly superior to those provided by state-funded treatment. The facilities are often located in gorgeous locations away from the city that allow for contemplative thinking and meditation plus exercise. All these factors contribute significantly towards a better recovery.
Reaching out for help for you or your loved one is the first of many steps towards recovery. Even though state-funded rehab might be cheap, and is recommended for some instances, choosing private drug and alcohol rehab might be the best thing you do for yourself or that who you love. Private facilities have a more personal and holistic approach towards the treatment which guarantees far fewer relapse rates among recovering addicts. It’s never too late to begin your program.
