Overcoming addiction is hard and relapse unfortunately is very common among addicts, addiction can be a lifelong problem and people who are addicted to a certain drug are at higher risk of becoming dependent on a different type of drug also.

The whole aim of treating an addict successfully is to protect their mental and physical health and hopefully minimize the effects the addiction is having on the family as a whole. There are several different methods used in the treatment of addiction and these include:

Controlling the amount used

It is thought that by slowly reducing the amount of substance the addict uses can lead to them eventually kicking the habit altogether, however unfortunately this isn’t always so. Very few addicts will have the will power needed to break the pattern of their habit this way and more often than not the addict will lose the ability to control the amount they take.

In the short term this theory works for obviously the less they use the better it is for them but in the long run most addicts will eventually return to using the same amount they were before.

Abstinence or cold turkey

Addicts will very rarely even consider this method and it can be a very frightening, painful and even a dangerous way of quitting an addiction. Most addicts who have kicked the habit this way have done so with a lot of support from friends and family and support groups or rehabilitation centres that specialise in drug recovery programmes.

Substitutions

People who are addicted to drugs such as heroin may be given substitute medication to help them withdraw from the drug, however these drugs are addictive too and many heroin users will take the substitute and still carry on using heroin at the same time. Substitute medication however has been proven to lower the death and infection rate of heroin users.

Withdrawal under supervision

People who have been addicted to drugs for many years are more likely to develop severe complications when they try quitting, they will usually need to attend a medically supervised withdrawal programme, or detoxification.

The severity of withdrawal problems will depend on the type of drug used and the person using it, common withdrawal problems include severe cravings for the drug, severe anxiety and depression, insomnia and vomiting. Medically supervised withdrawal will usually be provided in a community or residential setting depending on the availability of services.

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.

It is important however that the patient and therapist are able to form a bond for treatment to be successful. Counselling will usually be provided by community advice and treatment centres and will be a part of any residential treatment centres.

Residential treatments

When looking at long term rehabilitation for addict’s, therapeutic community programmes based on the 12 step programme which is widely used in the treatment of alcohol addiction is thought to be the most successful. Residential programmes differ in the way they operate for different addictions but all have some similar qualities.

• A ban on drugs or alcohol in the controlled therapeutic environment.
• Living communally with other recovering addicts.
• Place emphasis on shared responsibility.
• Give counselling and support aimed at preventing relapse.
• Give individual support.
• Promote further education and training.
• Improve on skills for daily living.
• Give aftercare and support.

Some programmes will also offer a supervised withdrawal programme during the first stage of the rehabilitation programme, treatment within the programme is available on a 24 hour basis and there is medical care always available. Residential rehabilitation programmes will normally last for between six and twelve weeks, this will depend on the addiction and the severity of it.

Assessment for treatment

When someone asks for help in quitting their addiction they will be given a through examination to determine the course of action which will be best suited to them and their problem. Things taken into account are the amount of personal and medical problems the addiction has caused the person, the extent to which the person is addicted and the person’s preferences for treatment.