Residential Chemical Dependency Treatment
Chemical dependency can strike anyone at anytime. While there are factors which put individuals at a higher risk for chemical dependency (such as mental illness, physical abuse, sexual abuse, genetic links to addicts, etc) the problem remains significant for men and women of all age groups and socio-economic backgrounds.
The root causes of chemical dependency often lie in the environment in which an individual lives. Struggles at work, conflict at home or even peer pressure can all lead to the abuse of drugs and alcohol – which can bring about a chemical dependency.
Residential chemical dependency treatment helps eliminate these potential distractions by providing a “safe harbor” away from the home environment where the individual need only focus on the matter at hand: their complete recovery from alcohol or drug addiction.
What is Chemical Dependency?
When an individual is taking drugs or alcohol and is unable to stop without experiencing significant withdrawal symptoms, they have likely developed a chemical dependency. Chemical dependency can involve any number of substances, including:
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- Crystal Meth
- Heroin
- Marijuana
- Prescription Painkillers (such as Vicodin or OxyContin)
Individuals with a chemical dependency will exhibit several classic signs and symptoms of the condition, including:
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Poor performance at school or work
- Isolation
- Lying to friends and family about alcohol or drug use
- Tolerance to drugs or alcohol
In the eyes of medical professionals, one or more of these symptoms exhibited for an extended period of time (generally one year or more) constitutes a chemical dependency. Those people who have a family member with these symptoms are urged to hold an intervention for that individual and contact a chemical dependency treatment center immediately.
How Residential Chemical Dependency Treatment Works
The core elements of chemical dependency treatment include detox, counseling and aftercare. Each of these steps plays an important role in treating the problem.
Detox involves overcoming the physical dependence on drugs or alcohol. In a residential chemical dependency treatment program, detox will usually take place onsite, or at a nearby hospital. The detox process is always overseen by a healthcare professional who helps the individual cope with the common withdrawal symptoms that may occur.
Counseling treats the psychological aspect of chemical dependence. Individual and group counseling both give the individual an opportunity to engage in finding solutions to their addiction issues -and provide a forum for speaking openly and honestly about the problem.
Aftercare helps the individual transition back into the real world post-treatment. 12 step programs and follow up counseling are aftercare devices used to maintain accountability and provide continued support to the individual.
Michael’s House is a residential addiction treatment facility located in the famed desert city of Palm Springs, California. The team of medical professionals and counselors at Michael’s House is one of the most well-respected in the industry and take great time and care to treat every patient with respect and kindness. Contact Michael’s House today at 1-877-345-8494 for more information.
