What Happens in Rehab?

While drug rehab is a term many people hear, what truly happens when an individual goes through treatment? There are different types of treatment, depending on the addiction and/or resources. Addiction is considered a chronic disease when an urge for drugs, alcohol, or other behavior becomes overwhelming and cannot be ignored.

What begins voluntarily can end with self-destructive behavior and a compulsive need for the individual’s substance of choice. Addiction can be treated, but it’s a hard process and involves a number of steps.

Principles of Treatment

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has outlined principles of treatment, which a high-quality rehabilitation facility will offer.

Some of these principles include:

• Treatment is highly individualized
• Effective rehabilitation focuses on all needs, not just removing drug use
• Medications can provide stability
• Effective treatment doesn’t always have to be voluntary
• Programs should test patients for infectious diseases in order to heal the patient as a whole

The Steps of Rehab

Successfully helping someone overcome their addictionfollows several steps.

• Detox, which is overseen by medical staff and can be helped by medication
• Counseling to help the individual reassess their behaviors
• Evaluation for co-occurring disorders like anxiety or depression
• A long-term treatment plan to reduce the risk of relapse

Individualized Therapy

Individual counseling focuses on the addiction, yes, but it also looks at anything that could be related, like family dynamics, social influence, illegal activities, and employment. The best treatment offers a holistic approach that takes each part of life into account.

This includes coping strategies, short- and long-term goals, and beginning the 12-step program. Addiction counselors will also make the connections for additional medical or psychiatric care, as well as employment services.

Group Counseling

Group counseling offers the individual a unique viewpoint: learning from others who are in the same situation. By discussing relevant topics in a group setting, individuals are able to learn new coping strategies, as well as see that they aren’t alone.

This method provides positive outcomes, and research is being done to standardize group counseling, as well as involving the individual’s community.

Activities in Rehab

Rehab facilities also focus on providing each individual with a means of getting back to what they enjoy, through classes like dance, yoga, art, and music. These classes also give individuals a healthier outlet for their emotions.

Rehab for drug abuse focuses on a number of elements: recover from the addiction while helping each individual reach their greatest potential through counseling and training. Rehab isn’t an easy feat to accomplish, but there are resources to help each person recover and stay in recovery while immersing themselves into society and helping others. Call today to speak to one of our intake coordinators to learn more about treatment programs at The Recovery Village Ridgefield.