Drug Rehabilitation Does Work

¶ … Drug Rehabilitation Drug abuse is a very serious problem in the United States and the rest of the world. Today, nearly every family in the United States is affected by drug addiction in some way. In modern society, heroin, crack, methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD, ketamine, MDMA or ecstasy and other drugs are being more heavily abused than at any time in history (Narcanon, 2003). As a result, society and drug abusers alike suffer significant losses as the result of criminal and self-destructive behavior caused by drug abuse.

Many drug abusers become involved in drug rehabilitation centers, although it is not clear whether or not these centers work. The federal government, states, and private entities invest billions of dollars annually in drug rehabilitation programs that attempt to prevent the use of illegal drugs. However, illegal drug use in the United States remains a serious problem. In 1996, approximately 13 million Americans were using drugs (GAO, 1998).

Due to the fact that so much money has been invested in drug rehabilitation yet there are still so many drug users, many people question whether or not drug rehabilitation really works. This paper will determine whether or not drug rehabilitation works, based on recent research. Does Rehab Work? In 1998, 20% of the federal drug control budget, the equivalent of $3.2 billion, was spent on drug abuse treatment (GAO, 1998). Over half of federal drug treatment funds were allocated to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for rehabilitation programs and research.

An additional one-third of treatment dollars supported the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) drug treatment services to veterans. The goal of these rehabilitation services and research is to reduce the number of current drug abusers. However, it is important to note that not all drug users require treatment, as many are not dependent or abusive in their drug use. Still, those that qualify as drug abusers or addicts can participate in a number of drug rehabilitation programs.

These programs take place in various settings and use two major approaches: pharmacotherapy and behavioral therapy, or a combination of both. Other treatment approaches, including faith-based strategies, are popular but have not been adequately evaluated to determine their effectiveness. It is difficult to determine whether or not drug rehabilitation works. According to author L. Ron Hubbard (Narcanon, 2003): "The addict has been found not to want to be an addict, but is driven by pain and environmental hopelessness..

As soon as an addict can feel healthier and more competent mentally and physically without drugs than he does with drugs, he ceases to require drugs." However, many others believe that rehabilitation is a waste of money and resources, and that drug abusers will return to their habits after completing a program. Most studies use an observational design, assessing effectiveness by measuring drug use before and after treatment (GAO, 1998). Generally, researchers are limited by various factors, including reliance on self-reported data and the time frame planned for client follow-up.

In addition, study results are complicated by differences in how outcomes are defined and measured and differences in program operations and client factors. Thus, many studies show that drug rehabilitation can be beneficial yet reliance on self-reported data can be misleading and may lead to overstated benefits. According to recent research, many drug abusers report reductions in drug use and criminal activity after rehabilitation.

"For example, a study of 11,750 people entering drug treatment from 1979 to 1981 found that 40 to 50% of regular (weekly or more frequent) heroin and cocaine users who spent at least 3 months in treatment reported near abstinence during the year after treatment, and an additional 30% reported reduced frequency of use. This study and others also found that clients who stay in treatment for longer periods report better outcomes (GAO, 1998)." However, the majority of available research relies heavily on client reports of drug use.

Interestingly, objective tests, including urinalysis, consistently identify more drug users than self-reported studies do. This shows how difficult it is to determine whether or not drug rehabilitation really works. Conclusion In conclusion, it appears that some types of drug rehabilitation may be more effective than others. There is strong evidence to support methadone maintenance as the most effective treatment for heroin addiction. However, research on the most effective treatment interventions for other groups of drug abusers is less definitive (GAO, 1998).

Promising treatment approaches for other groups include cognitive-behavioral therapy for treatment of cocaine abuse and family-based therapy.