Home AddictionAddiction Treatment

Addiction Treatment

7 Minutes

Edited & medically reviewed by THE BALANCE Team

Fact checked

For most people, the first step towards recovery involves acknowledging the personal struggles with the underlying addiction. Once a person has pinpointed and accepted their addiction struggles, their minds automatically fixate on the second step, which includes finding the right type of addiction treatment that can restore overall well-being, happiness, and health.

There are multiple different types of addiction recovery programs that an individual can freely choose from. For instance, some may enter a detoxification program before transitioning into formal treatment. Some may opt for residential rehabilitation and move onsite for the entire duration of treatment, whereas others may continue seeking therapy during the day while returning home every night. The exact type of treatment that suits a person typically depends on their needs and personal preferences. To make an informed choice about the type of recovery you require, you must educate yourself about different types of addiction treatment programs and therapies available across the country.

data-object-fit=”cover”/>

Addiction is an escape

Treatment programs for individuals fighting addiction may look very different from each other as they are mainly customized based on unique situations and needs. Some of the most commons one that is readily available to needy individuals include:

Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient rehab involves structured treatment programs that target all facets of one’s addiction. During this rehab, patients live in a substance-free environment and receive round-the-clock supervision, therapeutic support, and medical care. Inpatient rehabs are the most popular treatment choice for those battling long-term addictions with one or more co-occurring disorders.

Outpatient Rehab

Outpatient rehabs offer different evidence-based therapies similar to the ones available in inpatient care. However, the only difference is that outpatient programs allow clients to reside in their own homes and keep visiting the rehab on fixed days to get therapy. This treatment program also allows clients to continue working, studying, or taking care of their families while attending recovery sessions. It is important to remember that outpatient rehabs do not remove patients from the real world and its triggers. Hence, individuals enrolled in these programs might be at a higher risk of getting their sobriety challenged. Due to this purpose, experts usually suggest outpatient treatment for those with milder forms of addiction or the ones who have previously finished inpatient treatment.

Detoxification

Detoxification is a process that allows people to stop using alcohol or drugs safely until they are no longer present in their bodies. It usually serves as the first step in allowing clients to recover from moderate to severe types of addiction. Some rehabs provide medication-assisted treatment as a part of the detoxification process to ease the severity of the withdrawal symptoms.

Addiction Medications

During detox and throughout addiction recovery, experts may prescribe medications to speed up treatment. These medications belong to different categories and work differently to serve multiple purposes. For example, some reduce drug cravings, while others fight withdrawal-related nausea and vomiting.

Interventions

Though offered less commonly, interventions form an important part of addiction therapy. It is the process that involves an interaction between an addict and their loved ones in a healthy and supportive environment with the purpose of sharing their concerns and worries about their former’s addictive behaviors. While many people conduct interventions independently, seeking the help of a professional interventionist working at an addiction rehab significantly improves the chances of success.

Faith-Based Treatment

Many people prefer adopting a spiritual approach to addiction recovery, and faith-based treatments allow them to practice it. This addiction treatment approach involves seeking guidance from a higher power and focusing on healing from within in a community filled with like-minded people.

Irrespective of the treatment setting and level of care, all programs for addiction recovery utilize specific therapies to make healing possible. The options of therapy include a broad array of group and individual therapy sessions, which may include:

Biofeedback Therapy

This type of therapy helps addicts in recovery develop an understanding of the involuntary processes going on inside their bodies. During a biofeedback therapy session, a therapy puts electronic sensors on the patient’s skin to monitor their brain activity. Once a trace of their brain wave pattern is here, the therapist can use it to recommend different psychological techniques that can best serve the patient.

Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapy combines several non-conventional treatment methods to support addicts overcome their repressed emotions and feelings that might have contributed to their addictions. Some common activities included in experiential therapy include adventure therapy, hike trips, and rock climbing.

Holistic Therapy

Holistic therapy focuses on an addict’s overall mental health and well-being. By incorporating different holistic therapies, like meditation, art therapy, acupuncture, and yoga, addicts can better control their drug cravings, relax their minds and bodies, and learn how to control the triggers contributing to their addictions.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

Motivational enhancement therapy, or MET, helps people in addiction recovery learn how to identify and replace negative thoughts and behaviors associated with their addictions. This type of therapy particularly benefits those fighting an addiction and other co-occurring mental health disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy supports people by exploring their emotions and helping them learn how their subconscious thoughts might fuel their addictions. Through this technique, many addicts have successfully identified the core causes of their substance use, leading to early resolution and treatment but long-term maintenance of sobriety. Psychodynamic therapy also helps patients avoid temptations and cravings during their recovery.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, has been designed to encourage clients to examine and question their recurring thoughts to phase out unhealthy or negative ones. This technique can successfully address different types of behavioral and substance use addictions as it equips the patients with skills to recognize and replace their maladaptive behaviors. Moreover, the therapy also enables them to foresee a risky situation and devise a plan to get through it without leading to a relapse. CBT has been proven as one of the most successful addiction treatment techniques that can be easily paired with other treatment types and can be continued even after formal treatment ends.

Contingency Management

Contingency management is particularly effective in treating a variety of addictions, such as addiction to stimulants, marijuana, opioids, and alcohol. Experts use it to encourage and reinforce sobriety in patients by instigating high motivation for desirable behaviors through rewards. Contingency management is particularly famous as it can successfully control two of the biggest issues associated with addiction recovery: dropping out of treatment halfway and relapsing after the program ends.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing is a type of addiction treatment method that helps resolve ambivalence in recovering addicts by allowing them to embrace their efforts. The basic aim of this technique is to strengthen the patient’s motivation and commitment to change in a way that is consistent with their values. Instead of imposing specific changes on clients, this therapy tends to meet them where they are and help them move towards their goals by slowly building their readiness to change.

Addiction recovery is an ongoing process that requires consistent efforts from the patient’s end, even after they have completed formal rehabilitation in a professional treatment center. To help such people maintain sobriety for years to come, many addiction rehabs offer aftercare services, which may include:

Transitional Living Arrangements

These transitional residences mainly focus on adults who are 18 years or older and in recovery. These people shift to dedicated homes and living spaces following inpatient addiction rehab, where they learn to practice the skills they have learned earlier in treatment in a supervised environment. Most transitional houses are led by peers, while some have a small team of professional staff to reinforce a clear set of rules about maintaining abstinence while practicing healthier and drug-free lifestyles.

Sober Dorms

Teenagers or young adults who have just finished receiving addiction treatment in rehab may shift to sober dorms in their schools or universities where they can live away from drug use. If a university does not offer them, you can always enquire about the procedure of establishing one.

Recovery High Schools

Many high schools across the United States combine a state-approved curriculum with different recovery services and support. These facilities help adolescents and teenagers in recovery manage their academics and personal life in balance without resorting to drugs, alcohol, or any other addictive behavior.

Recovery Support Groups

Different support groups are actively working to provide recovering addicts the support they need to maintain their sobriety. Some examples include Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) programs. As a part of these programs, different people in recovery come together to share their experiences and views about addiction and provide support and help each other maintain sobriety. Each of these support groups follows different formats, styles, and goals, so choosing the one that best aligns with your personal goals, targets, and preferences is important.

FAQs

How does an addiction therapy program work?

The first step of all addiction therapy programs is an in-depth evaluation of every client individually. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to addiction treatment, making it essential for medical experts to assess the needs of every addict and tailor their treatment program accordingly. The initial evaluation process aims to accomplish several things, such as what a patient is struggling with, how long that struggle has been going on, and if there are any co-existing mental health illnesses alongside this primary addiction. The experts consider all this information and combine it with the patient’s current and past medical health to devise a program that works best for them.

When should I start seeking addiction treatment?

Consider seeking professional help if your addiction is:u003cbru003eHurting you physically and mentallyu003cbru003eInterrupting your job-related and personal obligationsu003cbru003eForcing you to withdraw and break all relationships sociallyu003cbru003eMaking it impossible for you to get anything done without using the addictive substanceu003cbru003eBecoming increasingly intense and impossible to quit

What is the cost of seeking help from an addiction treatment center?

All recovery programs for addiction are differently priced depending on several factors, like their duration, intensity, level of care, involvement of multidisciplinary care and aftercare services, etc. For example, an inpatient treatment program is more expensive than an outpatient addiction treatment program. Moreover, the cost of these services also varies depending on your choice of rehab and the area it operates from. The best tip is to call the rehab you are interested in joining directly and enquire about its prices and treatment cost.

HOW THE BALANCE CAN HELP WITH Addiction

The Balance RehabClinic is a leading provider of luxury addiction and mental health treatment for affluent individuals and their families, offering a blend of innovative science and holistic methods with unparalleled individualised care.