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Drug rehabilitation programs are designed to help people fully recover from their addictions. They begin when detoxification programs end and the user no longer has any active drugs within his/her system. With the body beginning to heal and the mind beginning to clear, the addict can learn more about the necessary steps that can lead to a life that doesn’t include drug abuse. The steps an addict needs to take to reach this goal can vary dramatically, depending on a variety of issues including the person’s:

Any one of these issues could drive a person back into the arms of drug use, so a comprehensive drug rehabilitation program is designed to be infinitely customizable and far-reaching. The more areas in which the addict receives help, the more likely it is that the recovery process will be successful.
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The Assessment Phase

Since drug rehabilitation cannot be provided in a one-size-fits-all model, treatment programs must begin with a thorough and complete assessment. Here, the addict has the opportunity to outline the issues that seemed to spur on the drug use, and the addict is allowed the chance to discuss what issues he/she might like to focus upon in recovery. The addict might be asked to go through a physical or mental health screening, so professionals can determine if treatment is required. The addict might also be asked about personal issues such as employment status, education level and housing issues.

Once this assessment is complete, the counselor develops a treatment plan for the addict. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a treatment plan will include the goals the addict would like to achieve, the methods that can be used to meet those goals and a timeframe for completion. This treatment plan is a form of a living document, meaning it is adaptable. As the therapy moves forward, the addict’s needs are likely to change. Some people might need intensive therapy at the beginning of treatment, for example, and then they might need less intense help as they improve. As their needs change, the treatment plan will also change.
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Medications and Rehabilitation

When some people enroll in drug rehabilitation programs, they are no longer taking any medications at all to control their urge to use drugs or alcohol. Other people may still be taking these medications as they work through rehabilitation. People who have been taking drugs such as heroin or prescription painkillers are likely to require medications for months or even for years as their bodies adjust to the damage that has been done. There are two main medications that are used to control cravings for people recovering from an addiction like this: methadone and buprenorphine. Both trick the brain into believing it has access to the drugs it needs, and both can help addicts control the urge to return to drug use. The medication provided is often deeply dependent on the drug the person took, and how strong the addiction was allowed to grow. For example, according to a study published in the journal Addiction, people addicted to heroin tended to respond to methadone better than they responded to buprenorphine. In fact, in this study, 10 percent fewer people stayed in the study when they were given buprenorphine as opposed to methadone. It could be that this drug is not quite strong enough to help addicts deal with a deep-seated addiction to heroin.

At the beginning of the rehabilitation program, addicts will be asked to rate the severity of their symptoms of drug withdrawal, and medications will be provided appropriately. But, these conversations will likely be ongoing, and the dosages may change dramatically as therapy progresses. The goal is to find a dosage that suppresses cravings but doesn’t allow the user to feel tired or somehow drugged. This can be a fine line to find, and it takes open and honest communication between the addict and the therapist to get the balance just right.

In general, however, medication management has been proven to be an effective player in the fight against addiction and relapse. By keeping cravings for drugs under control, the addict has the ability to really do the hard work of recovery, and the addict is motivated to stay enrolled in the treatment program. This can be the most important aspect of all, as longer enrollment in therapy is often associated with higher success rates. According to a study published in the journal European Addiction Research, of people given buprenorphine, 65 percent stayed enrolled in the program after 180 days. As this study demonstrates, the drug has the ability to keep people motivated to participate.

Some programs tie the dispensing of medication with urine testing for drugs. This might sound intrusive, but it’s an important part of the rehabilitation process. Medical professionals need to ensure that the addicts they’re treating have not relapsed into drug use. Some medications interact with drugs that addicts take, which could cause some serious side effects to take hold. In addition, a relapse indicates that the treatment plan isn’t helping the addict to deal with cravings to take drugs. If a relapse takes place, the therapy team will want to know right away so the treatment plan can be adjusted and the addict can get back on track with recovery. Therefore, urine testing is both mandatory and necessary in rehabilitation programs.
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Learning and Talking

In order to prevent the drug abuse problem from returning, the addict needs to learn more about why the abuse began, and what can be done to prevent the abuse from occurring in the future. Medications can’t help with this process. Instead, the addict will be asked to devote a significant amount of study and thought to the process of addiction. The addict might be asked to read books, watch videos or write personal stories. The addict might be asked to listen to others as they discuss their healing process, and the addict might be given written assignments to help ensure that those lessons were truly retained. It’s hard work, but it provides the addict with an opportunity to learn a significant amount about the disease process.

Addicts are also expected to participate in many hours of therapy with a counselor. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, these counseling sessions are designed to help the addict modify the behaviors that surround drug use. For example, many addicts return to drug use when they spend time with others who are also using drugs, or when they return to the locations in which they used to use drugs. Counselors might ask addicts to think about the situations in which cravings to use might grow, and then come up with techniques that the addict can use to block those situations from occurring. The addict might even be asked to practice these techniques in a series of homework assignments, and then report back on the results in later therapy sessions.

The family and friends that surround the addict might also have a key role to play in the healing process, as they will help to create the environment that surrounds the person in recovery. Some families, after years of drug abuse, have developed deep pockets of resentment that can be hard for the addict to understand or process. Other families have a lack of trust, and they may smother the addict with questions. These behaviors may be understandable, but they may also be incredibly damaging. In family therapy sessions, a counselor can help the family understand the steps they’ll need to take to improve the home environment and make communication clear and free of negativity. This could help the addict, of course, but it might also help the whole family to heal from the damage caused by addiction.

These lessons better enable the addict to find a profitable job, make healthy social connections and improve quality of life once the rehabilitation program ends.
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Sharing With Others

Most drug rehabilitation programs include mandatory participation in self-help groups. Alcoholics Anonymous is the most widely recognizable form of self-help group, according to SAMHSA, but there are many other formats available to cater to specific needs of people who aren’t comfortable with the AA model. Almost all self-help groups, no matter their format, have a few basics in common. For example, these groups are often run by other addicts. No medical professional is present to steer the conversation. Instead, the addicts alone set the agenda and the discussions tend to flow freely. Also, these meetings often revolve around sharing stories of recovery. The idea here is that addicts can learn how others have faced the same problem, and they may find ideas they can then apply in their own lives as they combat addiction.

The self-help model has been proven effective for a large number of people. In fact, according to a study published in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology, people who participated in Narcotics Anonymous meetings for long periods of time tended to have lower rates of anxiety and higher self-esteem than people who did not participate for long periods of time. The meetings can truly be helpful for some people, as they have the opportunity to network, meet others struggling with addiction and gain support for their own struggles to heal.

Some rehabilitation programs provide 12-step meetings in the addiction treatment facility, but other programs allow the addict to choose his/her own meetings in the community. The addict might be asked to provide proof of attendance, however, just so the therapist can ensure that the addict is complying with the treatment plan as outlined.

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Next Steps

Reading about a drug rehabilitation program is much different than actually participating in a program. In fact, it can be difficult for addicts and their families to understand how these programs really work while they’re on the outside looking in. The treatment plans can vary so dramatically that it can be hard to determine exactly what will happen, how long it will take and where that care will be provided. At Michael’s House, we know that choosing the right facility can be difficult. It can even be a little scary. We’d like to help alleviate those concerns. Please call us today to find out more about our programs and to receive detailed information about plans for recovery. We’d love to talk with you.
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