Drug addiction treatment

Listed below are several different programmes to help people to recover from drug addiction, each programme is designed to tackle certain issues of addiction and the problems it can bring the person. The programmes are treatments which are designed to work alongside any existing treatment programmes the addict may be in and to enhance them.

The Matrix Programme

This programme was designed to help those addicted to stimulants quit their addiction, during the programme addicts will learn about the critical issues this addiction brings and aids in the prevention of relapse. While in the programme addicts will receive help and support from trained therapists and will be continually monitored for use of drugs while attending the programme.

Addiction treatment

Treatments for addiction vary depending on the type of addiction and severity of the addiction, many addicts however whatever their addiction will almost certainly benefit from psychological treatment as part of their rehabilitation programme.

Counselling

Counselling is a very effective form of psychological therapy which usually involves spending at least 12 sessions with a therapist. Counselling helps a person to look at their addiction as a whole and see how it is affecting different aspects of their lives and helps a person to develop strategies for dealing with their addiction, overcoming it and preventing relapse.

Addictions

What is addiction?

The term addiction is used when a person becomes dependent on something which severely begins to affect their behaviour and life in general. Common addictions are alcohol, nicotine, drugs, gambling and food, though a person can become addicted to just about anything. If any of the below apply to someone then they would be considered dependent:

• Regularly have a strong desire do something which varies in intensity from strong to severe.
• Has withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop.
• Has failed repeatedly to stop.
• Begins to spend more and more time on the subject in question.
• The use of the subject in question begins to severely affect the persons day to day living.
• The person continues to do the subject in question even though they see or feel adverse affects from it.

We have all heard the term sex addict and have laughed at jokes about nymphomaniacs but for some the addiction to sex is a very serious problem which can take over the life of the person with the addiction. It is an addiction which is thought to affect countless numbers of people throughout the world and one which can destroy lives, it is also an addiction which is progressive, which means that it does not go away on its own accord nor does it get better on its own.

It is important to note however that just because you enjoy sex it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are or will become addicted, addiction only occurs when the need for sex becomes something you can no longer control and it turns into a dependency which begins to affect your life.

Addictions

Young children can get very confused of the dangers of drugs and alcohol, they are seen and used widely on TV in movies, the use of alcohol and marijuana is made to look cool in music videos. Then we tell them that alcohol and drugs can be dangerous so how are we to get the message over to them of why they are dangerous and explain what they see on TV is fiction.

Studies have shown that it is never too early to begin teaching your child about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, studies have recently shown that more and more children are trying alcohol and some form of drug at ages as young as 11.

So what can we do as parents to make sure our children realise the dangers, the answer is simple sit and talk with your child. When children feel they can comfortably talk with their parents then the chances are that they will be more open and ask questions regarding drugs and alcohol. Here are some more ways you can interact with your child and help them realise the dangers:

Addictions

Most of us associate family with being there for each other and taking care of each other, however when there is an addict in the family the family unit can be stretched to breaking point and beyond. Very often the addict will totally refuse help and even go to lengths it seems to hurt other family members and upset them.

Most people when faced with this situation will try hard to fight their addiction which in turn makes things worse due to the stress and the worse things get the more they turn to their addiction. Therefore the whole family not just the addict gets caught up in the vicious circle and becomes trapped in despair.

Addictions

The harm that addiction to chemicals has on the body, the physical damage it does isn’t the only reason for quitting addiction but also the harm it does to a person’s mental health should also be taken into account too, as well as that of partners and relations living in the same house.

Addiction to smoking

One of the worlds most widely used legal drugs is nicotine; millions of people all over the world use it on a daily basis and spend billions every year by doing so. People use it for its calming, tranquillising and mildly mood enhancing properties; despite this it is highly addictive and has prolonged withdrawal effects such as causing anxiety, mood swings and cravings for those wishing to give up.

Drug addiction treatment

Is drug treatment effective?

In addition to achieving the goal of stopping drug use the aim of a drug rehabilitation programme is to bring the person back to the state where they can once again function in society. The effectiveness of the programme will depend greatly on factors such as the medical condition of the person addicted, the level of criminal behaviour the addict has and their employability. Treatment for addiction, whatever the addiction can be just as successful as when treating any other medical condition such as asthma or diabetes.

How long will treatment for addiction last?

How long treatment will be necessary depends greatly on the person with the addiction so there isn’t really any specified amount of time a person can be in a programme. However on saying this research have shown that for treatment to be successful and to aid in the prevention of relapse adequate time should be spent in treatment. As a general guide an adequate length of time for recovery from addiction is thought to be around 6 months.

Addictions

By the time a habit has turned into an addiction it will have taken over your life almost completely, the addiction will now be all you think about and how you can get more of it. It will now be affecting your thoughts, feelings and behaviour to the point where nothing else in your life matters.

How does addiction affect the mind?

An addiction will affect a person’s outlook on life and their attitude and can seriously begin to change their personality. This doesn’t only apply to addictions of alcohol, cigarettes or drugs but to any type of addiction. How addiction affects the mind can be divided into two parts, those that relate to our thinking and those that relate to our feelings.

Quitting Smoking

Nicotine is a very addictive drug which can cause a variety of serious health problems, help is available when you are trying to give up in the form of nicotine patches, chewing gum and nasal sprays along with these handy tips:

Before you stop smoking

• Make sure friends and family know you are trying to quit and ask them not to smoke around you.
• Wash all your clothes to get rid of the smell.
• Open all the windows and clean carpets and furniture to get rid of the smell.