Addiction TX Detoxification Is Often

Addiction TX

Detoxification is often the shortest component in the treatment of addiction (McNeece & DiNitto, 2008). Detoxification consists of the physiological cleansing or removal of toxic substances from a person who is addicted by means of abstinence or with the assistance of medications. This typically involves the physical and psychological withdrawal from the substance that involves a return to homeostasis after becoming physically dependent on the substance. Detoxification is only a step in the process and is not curative. The recidivism rate of those individuals addicted to some type of substance only attending detoxification programs with no follow-up is nearly 100% (McNeece & DiNitto, 2008). However, detoxification is often a necessary first step for those individuals with serious physical addictions.

Intensive treatment for an addiction can be either performed on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Intensive treatment involves the person to attend a series of regularly scheduled sessions (typically a minimum of nine hours each week). The sessions can include individual and group therapy sessions, medical management and monitoring of the individual, close observation (constant observation in the case of inpatient recovery programs), and ongoing support from family and peers (McNeece & DiNitto, 2008). Those going through a detoxification treatment program typically are involved in intensive treatment programs.

Residential care involves keeping the addicted person on the facility all the time as opposed to outpatient intensive care where the individual can either go home or to a halfway house at the end of the day (McNeece & DiNitto, 2008). The research indicates that outpatient and inpatient or residential treatment programs are equally efficacious in treating addictions (McNeece & DiNitto, 2008). In addition, other than residential treatment programs keeping the patient for the entire duration of the treatment most residential treatment programs and outpatient treatment programs are very similar in their treatment approach and the techniques used to treat addiction.

Pharmacotherapy for addiction involves the use of medications to assist the person through various stages of recovery including detoxification, dealing with urges and cravings, helping to prevent relapse, and with psychiatric symptoms such as depression and anxiety (McNeece & DiNitto, 2008). A number of different medications can be used depending on the stage of recovery and substance involved (e.g., use of anxiolytic medications during alcohol withdrawal or the use of Antabuse to help prevent relapse). Medications used to deal with urges and relapse issues often have lesser efficacy than medications used to control or moderate physical symptoms of withdrawal. The major reason for this is that in the later stages of recovery the individual is often not under the strict supervision of physicians and therapists and can choose not to take the medication, whereas during detoxification withdrawal the patient is typically intensively supervised and is in quite a bit of physical discomfort.

The prevailing view on addiction these days is that addiction is a chronic brain disease and then aftercare often consists of some type of long-term or lifetime continuing supports (McNeece & DiNitto, 2008). Long-term programs such as 12-step programs offer addicted individuals a way to receive continuing support from others with the same problem as they do, develop a more healthy approach to life, and help them manage their stress. Stress is often considered to be the number one contributor to relapse in addictive behaviors (McNeece & DiNitto, 2008). Therefore, aftercare often concentrates on different ways to manage stress, deal with urges, develop healthy relationships, etc.

One of the biggest issues with treating addictions is that the initial stages such as detoxification are typically successful; however, relapse rates tend to be high (McNeece & DiNitto, 2008). As mentioned above the number one reason for relapse and stress, but there are other factors that play into relapse. There has been research to suggest that many addicts are much better able to remain abstinent when they attach personal relevance to abstinence such as coming to believe that there are addictive behavior is structured to their relationships, occupation, personal goals, or freedom. However, it is still surprising many researchers in individuals at how illogical addictive behavior is in many people. For example, many addicts continue to engage in their addictive behavior despite severe consequences such as loss of family, loss of job, imprisonment, etc. Some research has indicated that addicts may have inherently poor decision-making abilities and differences in certain areas of their brain structure such as the frontal lobe that can account for these puzzling behaviors (McNeece & DiNitto, 2008). Nonetheless, any addict seeking to quit needs to make a connection between the destructive aspects of their behavior and the need to attempt to regain control over their life. Often this occurs through what many recovering addicts believed to be a spiritual revelation where one begins to see the "big picture" and makes the connection between potentially destructive selfish behaviors and their addiction.