Statistics vary, but a consensus from field experts and medical professionals is that approximately one in seven Americans will suffer from a substance addiction at some point in their lives. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) conducts the National Survey on Drug Use, and Health (NSDUH) and their 2017 report indicated that there are approximately 18.7 million people aged 18 or over living with drug addiction. About 18.9 million people were battling mental illness, while 8.5 million people had both addiction and mental health problems; the presence of both addiction and mental illness is called a dual diagnosis.

With such astonishingly high figures, it's no surprise that drug treatment programs are starting at an increased rate. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimated early in 2018 that there are over 14,500 facilities in the United States offering drug rehabilitation, counseling, case management, and other drug recovery services. Such a high number of services is indicative of the wide-scale problem of addiction but seeking help in a drug treatment program is the best step an addict can take. Yes, the drug epidemic is raging out of control, but at least the medical field have recognized that addiction is an illness.

With this vital recognition of drug dependency as a sickness, there will hopefully be a shift from law enforcement in how they handle non-violent drug offenses. Rather than incarcerate someone for personal possession, law enforcers should be directing these people to a suitable drug treatment program. Rehabilitation from drug addiction in prison is mostly futile; an offender is highly likely to exit their place of incarceration with deepened dependencies on drugs and alcohol.

With all of this in mind, this article examines why a drug treatment program is the best place for an addict.

What is a Drug Treatment Program?

A program that an addict engages in to get clean and sober is considered a drug treatment program. There are lots of different types of drug treatment programs including long-term and short-term residential programs. In a residential program, a drug addict will receive round the clock care in a live-in facility. Usually, the addict will enter a program and undergo medically assisted detoxification. Once this process is complete, they will then engage in a series of treatments aimed at keeping them clean once they are free to leave the center. Counselling, group therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are just some examples of treatments that an inpatient can expect to engage in during their rehab.

An inpatient drug treatment program can last anywhere from a couple of weeks to as much as one year in length. The experience can be highly emotional, confronting, and at times, painful for the addict. There is a big focus on self-examination and acceptance of responsibility, and this can be tough for a person who is not quite ready to say goodbye to drugs yet. That's the trouble with addiction; the patient needs to be invested in their healing for any drug treatment program to work.

For those who are ready to face the challenge of drug rehabilitation, there can be far more benefits aside from just gaining sobriety. The landscape of drug treatment programs has changed, and now there is a focus on life skill building, employability programs, and education. The most hopeless drug addicted person can enter a drug treatment program and emerge months later with a completely transformed outlook on their life.

Signs of a Good Drug Treatment Program

Lots of different factors are involved when determining what drug program will work best. A good indication for the untrained eye is a program that encourages family engagement. Those services that offer a family-integrated approach tend to fare better than those that don't. Furthermore, programs that offer behavioral therapies such as cognitive and motivational interviewing tend to have better patient outcomes.

When a person weighs up a couple of different programs, they should keep the following considerations in mind:

* Cost: Is the program affordable? Will their health insurance provider support this particular program? If they have no health insurance, what other avenues are available to them?

* Location: Will their loved ones be able to visit if the drug treatment program is located far from home?

* Aftercare support: Does the drug treatment program offer relapse prevention support?

What Can an Addict Expect in Rehabilitation?

The beauty of drug rehab programs is that they provide routine and structure to a drug addicts life. Addiction sufferers are often caught up in a chaotic existence so the calm, caring environment of drug rehabilitation can be the reprieve that they have been seeking.

A typical day may begin with a call for breakfast followed by some meditation or yoga. The afternoon will consist of different therapies including group sessions and individual counseling. An inpatient might then engage in some exercise, chores or leisure time. Dinner rounds off the day, then its early to bed. For some people, this schedule sounds boring, but the routine is precisely what a drug addicted person needs.

The Benefits of Drug Rehab Programs

Some people think that beating a drug habit is as easy as physically stopping the consumption of the drug. This thinking couldn't be further from the truth. Drug addiction is complex, and an addict will likely have lots of external factors and emotional or psychological trauma that increases the complexity.

Some people are more pre-disposed to drug addiction than others just because of where they live and their socio-economic status. Washington DC has one of the highest rates of drug abuse in America which is ironic. While decisions that affect the people of the country are made here, the contrast from such power and prestige is evident on the streets. Embroiled in severe drug addiction problems, lots of Washington DC residents have been in some way affected by drug problems, either directly or indirectly. A report conducted by the DC Policy cited the extreme gap between the rich and the poor. The middle class are non-existent here; you are either very rich or very poor in Washington DC. It's not surprising then that the marginalized poor are deeply affected by drug addiction issues.

Those affected by childhood abuse, be it mental, physical or sexual, are also more likely to become drug addicted than those who grow up in happier circumstances. Psychological trauma increases the risk of drug addiction, as does suffering from a mental health problem. On the other hand, drug abuse can cause mental illness in someone who has not previously had psychological issues.

Drug availability also increases peoples risk of addiction; the more accessible the drugs are, the more likely a recreational drug user will transition from social to habitual consumption.

A good drug treatment program will prepare a recovered addict for their new life on the outside. Relapse prevention strategies are an essential part of the education program in drug treatment as addiction sufferers will likely battle their urges for the rest of their lives. Because of the long-term prognosis of addiction, it is imperative that a newly released rehab patient is equipped with the tools to help them say no drugs in the future.

Some great therapies for relapse prevention include:

* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

* 12-Step Program (a program used by Alcoholics Anonymous)

* Meditation and holistic treatments (art and music)

* Writing in a journal

A relapse is not a spur of the moment event. Relapsing occurs in stages, including:

* Emotional

* Mental

* Physical

When a person is in the emotional stage of relapse, it can be hard for others to recognize the signs. Emotional relapse is quite similar to depression or anxiety for a person looking in from the outside.

An addiction sufferer who is emotionally relapsing will not even know themselves that they are heading for a downward spiral. They will subconsciously be telling themselves they are not happy without drugs and their mood exhibits that of someone is irritable, anxious and unhappy.

During the mental relapse stage, a person is actively telling themselves they want drugs. They may start to skip their therapy sessions or begin to socialize with toxic people again. The addict might say to themselves their drug problem was not even an issue and they may start to make plans to obtain chemical substances again.

In the physical stage, a person has fully relapsed by consuming drugs. They will likely be very distressed in this stage as they realize they have undone all of their hard work. It is crucial that a relapse patient obtains help in a drug treatment program as soon as they can; otherwise, they put themselves at risk of spiraling fully into the drug underworld again.

Get Help Today

While the drug problems in American society are frightening, there can be some comfort taken from the fantastic availability of drug treatment programs in the country. Drugs are certainly casting a dark cloud over the nation, but all of the wonderful rehabilitation services are the light that the nation needs. It's time to take control of your life and get help today.