Addiction is a devastating disease that is affecting over 20 million Americans nationwide. Addiction can affect anyone, whether young or old, male or female; addiction does not discriminate. Whether you are addicted to alcohol, prescription drugs, or illegal narcotics, you need professional help from a substance abuse program in order to overcome your addiction. If you do not seek the appropriate help from a treatment center, you run the risk of your addiction controlling your life. You need the professional help of addiction therapists and counselors in order to recovery from addiction.

One thing that you should always remember is that addiction is not your fault. There are numerous reasons why some people become addicted to drugs and alcohol while others can have a drink or two and not crave more. Addiction can be a result of a family history of addiction, genetics, mental illness, and other psychological reasons. The good news is that there is help for those who are faced with the battle of addiction.

It's important to realize that addiction is not your fault; it is a clinical and medical condition that affects individuals across the country. You are not alone in this battle with addiction as there is help available for you. Since addiction is a medical illness, it requires the help of treatment and medication in order to overcome, just like other medical illnesses. Addiction also has nothing to do with willpower as it is an actual disease that requires medical attention in order to overcome. Oftentimes, the cause of addiction is closely related to a mental health illness. Close to 50 percent of those who struggle with addiction are also suffering an undiagnosed, co-occurring mental health issue. Through a psychiatric evaluation, it will be determined whether or not the patient is suffering from a mental health issue. From here, the appropriate addiction treatment program will be constructed. The right diagnosis and the right program is essential to a successful recovery in rehabilitation.

How Can Substance Abuse Rehab Programs Help

If you are struggling with addiction, there are a number of substance abuse rehab programs that can help you make a full recovery. Over prolonged drug and alcohol use, the chemical makeup of the brain is altered, creating an inability to think clearly. In turn, you are unable to make a clear decision to enter treatment. This is why it is so important to listen to your close family and friends when they tell you that you need to seek help now for this life-threatening disease.

The main addiction treatment programs are:

Inpatient Treatment: This type of substance abuse rehab program is intense in nature and requires the patient to live at the location of treatment for the duration of rehab. The typical length of this program is anywhere between one month and three months long. During their time here, they will work one-on-one with counselors and therapists, learning various methods to cope with their addiction. Treatment at inpatient rehab usually lasts for up to eight hours per day and patients will also have a certain amount of free time to enjoy social activities with others who are in the rehab.

Outpatient Treatment: This type of substance abuse rehab program requires the patient to attend treatment during the day and once treatment is complete, they will be able to reside in their own homes. If patients do not want to go home because they feel as though they require a more constructive environment, sober houses are available. During outpatient treatment, patients will go through similar counseling and therapy as inpatient treatment. Typically, outpatient treatment is designed for those with a less severe addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Medically Assisted Detox

Many patients wonder if they will be going through a period of medical detox. If you are extremely dependent on drugs or alcohol and have been using for many months of years, chances are you will have to go through a medical detox period. This is a process where the body is given detox and anti-craving drugs as to lessen the withdrawal symptoms that may occur during this time. The entire detox phase may last up to 10 days but can be as short as three days as well. This will all depend on various factors such as the type of drug that the patient is addicted to. For those who are addicted to alcohol, they will almost always need a medical detox procedure.

It's imperative that you never attempt to go 'cold turkey' as this can put your body into a state of shock. The only safe way to overcome your drug or alcohol addiction is through professional and reputable substance abuse rehab programs. These rehabs will provide you all of the tools necessary that can help you in making a full and complete rebound from addiction. Attempting to recover on your own is not advisable, so get in touch with a rehab center today and begin living a more productive and happier life.

What a Day in Treatment Consists of

Since every patient and their struggles are different, a day in rehab will vary from individual to individual. Your first several days of rehab will be intense and difficult as you are readapting to your former life pre-addiction. There will be a huge adjustment period for the first several days. After this, you will come to terms with sobriety gradually and learn how to better carry on in your program.

After medical detox has been completed, it's time to begin your treatment program. A typical day may consist of group therapy, individual therapy, equine therapy, holistic therapy, free time, and close-up groups before heading to your room for the remainder of the evening. In between therapy and counseling sessions, patients will be provided with meals and snacks throughout the day.

Depending on the individual and their addiction, prescription medications may be prescribed in order to help with the detox and cravings. These medications will be highly regulated and administered by a medical professional at the required time. It's important that you take the medicine as directed in order to ensure a smooth recovery.

Patients will also meet with psychologists and psychiatrist's multiple times per week in order to help treat and manage any underlying medical conditions that may be present. They will also help guide patients through their recovery and patients can also open up freely to these personnel about any sort of struggles they are going through. Patients can feel confident and comfortable with these staff members as they want to see you succeed in your recovery program. They are available to help guide you and support you every single step of the way.

Some of the various therapies that patients will partake in on a daily or weekly basis depending on their condition are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, LGBT therapy, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), among several others.

Checking into a Substance Abuse Rehab Program

During the intake phase of recovery, the patient will go through various tests and assessments in order to lay a foundation for a recovery program that is suited to them. After this has been completed, the patient may be asked to take a blood test as well as a urine sample in order to determine what sort of substances are in the body. From here, a therapist can better decide on the right treatment plan for them. Patients belongings will be thoroughly searched in order to ensure that there are no forbidden items hidden in their bags or clothing.

Patients will be guided to their rooms and shown their accommodations for the duration of their stay in rehab. Some rehab centers offer private rooms while others offer shared rooms with separate beds in them. Each substance abuse rehab program will vary slightly in their rules, regulations, and offerings.

Attending Recovery Programs Post-Treatment

It's vital that patients attend recovery programs and relapse prevention programs and courses even after they have successfully completed their treatment program. These programs can be attended once or twice weekly and can help teach you trigger management and coping skills. These particular skills are essential when wanting to maintain your sobriety, as falling back into the grips of addiction is all too easy once you are out in the everyday world.

It's time to get the necessary help so that you can begin to lead a content and fulfilled life. Addiction does not have to control your life any longer. Substance abuse rehab programs are available to help you make a full recovery from addiction.

Of course, rehab is going to be challenging, as are all things in life. Once you battle and overcome addiction, you can conquer anything and the ability to succeed in life becomes endless. You no longer have the weight of addiction on your shoulders when you overcome your addiction and succeed in rehab. Make the bold move and get in touch with a treatment center today and experience what it is like to live a sober life once again.