Substance addiction is a chronic illness characterized by intense craving and compulsive drug or alcohol seeking behavior. The disease affects the parts of the brain involved in reward and motivation. As addiction can affect all aspects of an individual’s life, finding the best treatment is really difficult. Drug and alcohol rehab treatment Los Angeles programs focus on recovery from both physical and psychological components of the condition. Although relapse is common, repeated treatment can help addicts to achieve their recovery goals.
Principles of Drug and Alcohol Rehab Treatment Los Angeles Programs
- An addict can recover from this complex disease that affects the person’s brain function as well as behavior.
- The treatment should be tailored to meet the needs of the addict.
- Effective treatment focuses on the needs of the addict rather than the physical aspect of the abuse.
- In order to achieve success, the addict must undergo treatment for an adequate period of time.
- Individual and group counseling, and behavior therapy should be used to treat addiction.
- Medications are also an important part of treatment.
- A thorough assessment is necessary throughout the treatment process to modify the rehab program to meet the individual’s needs.
- Comorbid conditions like mental disorders are common in addicts.
- Detoxification under medical supervision is only a part of the treatment program and cannot aid with successful recovery.
- Patients should also be assessed for the presence of other conditions such as hepatitis B and C, HIV/AIDS, and other infectious diseases.
Different Drug and Alcohol Rehab Treatment Approaches
The two important elements of addiction treatment include medications and behavioral therapy. However, the treatment program starts with detoxification followed by psychological therapy and after care programs.
Medications - In addiction treatment, medications are used for two purposes – to suppress the withdrawal symptoms and to diminish cravings. Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are the three effective medications used in the treatment of addiction. Methadone and buprenorphine acts on the same areas of the brain as morphine and heroin. When the drugs are stopped, the medications diminish the cravings. Naltrexone blocks the side effects of drugs and is used in patients who have undergone detoxification.
Other FDA approved medications used in drug and alcohol rehab treatment Los Angeles includes naltrexone, disulfiram, and acamprosate. The drugs help the addicts to prevent relapse and is very effective. Acamprosate reduces the withdrawal symptoms of alcoholism such as dysphoria, anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia. It is very useful in patients with severe addiction.
Behavioral Therapy - This type of treatment aims at modifying the attitudes and behaviors related to drug and alcohol abuse. Healthy life skills are also encouraged to maintain recovery. Psychological therapy increases the effectiveness of other treatments, and guarantees successful recovery.
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps addicts to recognize the people or events that may lead to drug or alcohol use and learn to cope with such situations. Multidimensional family therapy is a treatment program designed for adolescents and their families. The program helps the addict deal with addiction issues by learning about the triggering factors of addiction and improves the relationship between teens and their parents. The entire family gets involved in the program. Motivational interviewing prepares and motivates the individual to enter into an addiction program. Motivational incentives encourage abstinence by using positive reinforcement.
Residential drug and alcohol rehab treatment programs like therapeutic communities offer structured programs for up to 12 months. Addiction treatments, in general, assist the addicts with maintaining a drug-free lifestyle.
