The menace of drugs is a massive concern in the US as a considerable section of the population suffers from drug and substance abuse, and the trend is growing. Abusing prescription drugs, using cannabis and other recreational substances, and addiction to alcohol poses a huge socio-medical problem that is not easy to handle. As the number of drug and alcohol addicts keeps growing, there is considerable demand for rehab centers treating addiction and helping people get back on the path of recovery. The number of people seeking treatment for substance abuse is much higher than it was a decade ago. Still, the rate of growth of facilities, including the inpatient drug rehab centers in Maryland, is lower than the population of addicts.
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Since addiction treatment is highly individualistic, the individual programs and treatment approaches continue to evolve and diversify. Many treatment protocols presently available do not fit into the traditional definition of addiction treatment centers. For example, a luxury rehab Idaho resembles a high-end hotel or vacation resort that offers superior amenities of luxurious living while treating the residents for relieving them of the habit of substance abuse and providing opportunities of leading a sober life free from drugs and alcohol.
The success of drug addiction treatment depends not only on the treatment protocol but mainly on the willpower and support of patients to carry on with the treatment that takes time and effort. On enrolling with a drug and alcohol rehab program, the patient's journey goes through 4 distinct recovery stages and rehabilitation as patients learn to adapt to a new sober lifestyle free from drug and alcohol.
The four treatment stages consist of treatment initiation, early abstinence, maintaining abstinence, and advanced recovery.
Treatment initiation
A professional treatment program accepts patients who volunteer for the treatment by recognizing that they have a problem and the other group that is forced to take up the treatment. During the early stages of the treatment, you will develop a mixed feeling about giving up drugs and alcohol permanently. Sometimes you might think that the problem you are facing with substances is not as bad as others. Be careful about this vacillating attitude that can be dangerous during the early days of treatment as you prepare for recovery.
The goal is to encourage the individual to participate in the treatment actively and accept the reality of abstinence that is going to follow soon. During this period, counseling sessions help the individual realize the damaging effects of addiction and understand how it would feel like staying away from substances, and motivating them to recover from the problem. The efforts culminate in creating a treatment plan.
Early abstinence
Having committed yourself to pursue the treatment, you will step into the next stage of early abstinence. It is the most challenging time you would face. Keeping away from substances will make you deal with several challenging situations like withdrawal symptoms that keep continuing, psychological dependence, physical cravings, and triggers that can lure you into relapse. During this stage, the trained counselor will teach you the skills to cope with the situations that later help lead a sober lifestyle. The strategies would include engaging in healthy activities, finding alternate behaviors for continued engagement that keeps away from the substances, seeking support and information from self-help groups, and identifying environmental triggers that lead to cravings, including things, places, and people.
Maintaining abstinence
The treatment for early abstinence continues for 90 days, after which you enter into the third stage of treatment to sustain the gains made from the previous stages. It is the stage when you learn how to maintain abstinence. This stage comprises the follow-up stage in counseling when you are out of the residential program but continue the treatment as an outpatient. One of the main goals of this stage of the treatment is to ensure that you stick to abstinence to avoid a relapse. You will learn the warning signs that you must deal with to prevent a relapse.
Another important aspect of this stage of the treatment focused on rehabilitation is that you will be able to use the tools you acquired in the early abstinence and use them during this phase of the treatment.
Advanced recovery
To arrive at the final stage of the treatment, it will take five years of continued abstinence without any relapse. During this stage, you will learn to use the tools and techniques learned during your rehab days and put them to use to lead a life that is not only satisfying but fulfilling too.
It is the time when you create long-term goals, create a daily routine to follow consistently. You also associate with people who do not take drugs, develop a social circle, participate in recreational activities, and learn how to look after your wellness and well-being.
