Substance Abuse Treatment

The treatment of substance abuse is an ever evolving art as well as a science. Over the years, the treatment for substance abuse industry has evolved into a much more sophisticated, therapeutic process.

The treatment for drug abuse industry has grown dramatically in the past 50 years. In the United States, there are more than 10,000 drug treatment centers. As far back as the early 1800's, cases of addiction are well documented. But it wasn't until the late 1920's when addiction was actually diagnosed and better understood as a medical rather than moral issue. Many people have made great contributions to the alcohol treatment industry. For example, a gentleman by the name of "Curly" Ferron made an instrumental contribution when he become the test case for whether alcoholism was a treatable disease that could be cured by putting it into remission. Curly was a low bottom drunk in Minnesota. By practicing the principles of alcohol treatment and AA, Curly was able to be successful in turning his life completely around and establishing the precedent for the medical industry to support the rehab process.

Goals of treatment for substance abuse

One of the key goals is to educate the substance abuser about addiction. Another is to teach the person about the changes needed to live an drug-free lifestyle. A variety of therapy is included in a given drug treatment setting. Much of what happens in alcohol treatment is to make the client aware of their drug using behavior and the effect it has on their lives. Finally, it is very important to make the substance abuse keenly aware of the affects their behavior is having on them and those around them.

Most addicts are in some stage of denial. Denying the amount of drugs they are consuming and the effect it is having on themselves and others. The next goal of treatment for drug abuse is getting the client to see they have suffered consequences as a direct result of their alcohol use.

Today, most treatment for drug abuse does extensive evaluation and assessments to help determine as much about the personality of the client as well as any mental problems that might exist. The ultimate objective of drug rehab is to help the client see the changes they will need to make in their lives in order to be successful in abstaining from drugs.

Levels of treatment for substance abuse

Partial programs are also known as partial hospitalization or PHP. Partial programs consist of half days of rehab; either AM or PM. Short term can be anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks, full time, while living in a free standing facility. Long-term programs can last from 1 to 3 months, or more. Outpatient includes a wide variety of programs for patients attending rehab for a few hours several times per week. Most residential programs are based on the "Minnesota Model" of treatment. These programs involve a 2 to 6 weeks of full-time inpatient rehab followed by extended outpatient therapy and participation in a 12-step program, Narcotics Anonymous (NA).