Drug Treatment
Even the most motivated individuals seeking to overcome a drug addiction or substance abuse problem are going to have difficulty "going it alone" when it comes to their recovery. There are simply too many factors working against them if they try to stop "cold turkey", ease themselves off the drugs or use other unsupervised means of breaking the addiction cycle. A drug treatment program takes these same individuals and gives them a medically-supervised, structured plan for success.
Three Things Every Drug Treatment Center Features
With different programs across the country, there are as many treatment styles as there are addictions in the United States. However, there are three things which play a role in almost every drug treatment program that has enjoyed success helping their patients overcome addiction.
- Detox. The first step in the drug treatment process. An individual must complete drug detox before the rest of the rehab process can begin. The cleansing of the system that takes place during detox helps reduce the risk of relapse during treatment and represents the defeat of the physical addiction to drugs.
- Counseling. At the heart of most drug treatment programs is counseling. Individual and group counseling are where the problem of drug addiction is addressed at the source, by uncovering past events and triggers for drug use. The individual meets one-on-one with their counselor or in a group with other recovering addicts in the program to form a support structure that promotes recovery.
- Aftercare. To help the individual transition back into their daily lives following rehab, there are aftercare programs such as Narcotics Anonymous (or other 12-step groups) and counseling that focuses specifically on rebuilding trust with family members or staying sober in the face of temptation.
What are the Different Types of Drug Treatment Program?
In terms of comprehensive programs, there are two basic forms of drug treatment: outpatient and residential. Within these two program types, there are an almost endless number of treatment styles and modalities, but most come within the scope of these two styles.
- Outpatient drug treatment. Many individuals can neither afford, nor find the time to drop everything and enter into a residential treatment program. For them, outpatient care offers the best alternative. Outpatient drug treatment features all the key elements of rehab (including detox, counseling and aftercare) and takes place during the day so that the individual is free to return home in the evening.
- Residential drug treatment. The most powerful form of drug treatment available, residential rehab represents 24 hour a day care at a facility away from the individual's home environment. By temporarily relocating to the facility, the individual is given a way to shut out all the distractions in their life and focus solely on recovery from addiction.
More Basic Facts about Drug Treatment
To help lessen the intimidation factor surrounding drug treatment, consider the following answers to common questions about the rehab process.
- How long does drug treatment take? It depends upon the severity of the addiction, but most programs will not last less than thirty days, and can run as long as an entire year.
- Do all drug treatment facilities offer detox? Not every treatment facility offers detox as part of the program. In these cases, the admissions staff will recommend a detox facility in the area. Once detox is completed off-site, the individual is free to enter the core treatment program.
- Are drug treatment facilities safe? The staff at drug rehab facilities takes great pains to ensure the safety of everyone in the program. That means strict rules about drug use, threats of physical violence and even sexual content between patients.
Specialized Drug Treatment Programs
There are a number of drug treatment programs that cater to the needs of specific groups of people with unique needs when it comes to their addiction recovery. Most prominent among these groups are:
- Dual diagnosis patients. Individuals who suffer from co-occurring drug addiction and mental illness are considered "dual diagnosis" patients, and they have a very select set of treatment needs. The dual diagnosis drug treatment center provides integrated care from counselors, therapist and medical professionals, all working together to address each aspect of the diagnosis concurrently.
- Women. For many women, a co-ed drug treatment program is simply not going to elicit the desired response. To create a safe, productive environment, several drug treatment programs around the country now offer drug rehab exclusively for women. These facilities focus on the methods of treatment that have proven to be more successful for women (such as group counseling, etc.).
- Teenagers and adolescents. Young people have unique needs when it comes to their drug addiction treatment, and these differences have fueled the creation of many top teen drug rehab programs around the country. Focusing on issues most relevant to teens, such as peer pressure, self-image and family life, drug rehab for teens provides a safe, productive place for young people to get a fresh start and learn how to change the drug-related behavior.
Michael's House is a residential drug treatment program located in Palm Springs, California that is known throughout the state for its progressive methods and high success rates. To request a confidential consultation, contact Michael's House today.
Get Help Now!
All information submitted on the website is considered private and handled in full confidentiality.


