If someone asks if drug treatment is worth the cost, they simply need to measure the health and incarceration costs of those that are not willing to seek treatment. People able to recover become contributing members of society and can live a healthy life. The steps in treatment include physical detoxification, inpatient and outpatient therapy. All of these steps are designed to remove the addiction and prevent a relapse. The freedom attained by surviving the addiction can be inspirational.
Detox
During the detoxification phase, the patient goes through stressful physical and emotional times. The body will have a severe reaction to the loss of the needed drug. A medical center will often administer other non-addictive drugs to assist the body in overcoming the physical problems of detoxification. This phase includes depression and often violence, which is why medically trained staff are often necessary.
Therapy
In-house therapy is usually the second step. During this time, the individual is taught how to cope with stressful situations. They spend time in group therapy building the skills needed to address their own situations. The skills learned will be applied later to real world scenarios. Often, this period includes life-skill training so the person can find alternatives to drugs and alcohol.
Outpatient Therapy
Outpatient therapy is usually the third step. By this point, the patient has achieved a level of control that satisfies the counselors that the person can reenter society with success in dealing with stresses the right way. During this time, the patient is in frequent contact with their counselor and will attend Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings for group support. Part of this time is to help promote a concept called sober living. When a person has been addicted to something, it is often difficult for them to avoid that addiction when the stress of life attacks again. Having this support available, helps them turn to people that will encourage them instead of relapsing into their previous addiction.
Time Frame
Most people will say that treatment lasts a lifetime. While this is true of recovery, the actual treatment may last only months for inpatient therapy. Once the person is back in the world, they use the coping skills and support system to continue their own treatment and build a successful life.
Relapse
People relapse for various reasons. It is extremely important for a person to learn how to appropriately cope with different stresses in order to survive in life. The family drug addiction counseling programs work hard to teach these coping skills and provide the support needed in aftercare. However, if a person reenters life in a situation where others around them continue to use drugs and alcohol it can be very difficult for him or her to abstain.