| According to the guidelines of National institute of Drug | | | | lead to relapse. Every drug and alcohol rehab center |
| Abuse, there is a basic four stage journey that every | | | | at this stage will give training and introduce methods |
| addict needs to cross to lead a drug free life and | | | | enabling the addict to lead a drug and alcohol-free life |
| sober lifestyle. As per NIDA's principles, drug and | | | | style. A person dependent on drug or alcohol is given |
| alcohol recovery is a lifelong process that needs to be | | | | medical as well as psychological therapies to deal with |
| followed every single day with the same grim | | | | his dependence. Maximum care is taken to avoid any |
| determination and will as on the first day. This article | | | | chances of relapse by scheduling daily work routine |
| discusses four stages of addiction recovery. | | | | and learning to cope with cravings. |
| Treatment initiation: Whether voluntarily or by forced | | | | Maintaining abstinence: It takes approximately 90 days |
| circumstances, the day one reaches out for | | | | of continuous abstinence to reach third stage of drug |
| professional help, it is called treatment initiation, the first | | | | and alcohol rehab recovery. If you have taken the help |
| step towards recovery. This is the stage when you do | | | | of any residential rehab programs then this is the time |
| not realize the exact gravity of your problem and may | | | | to proceed towards follow- up counseling stage as an |
| think it can be easily coped with on your own. Such | | | | outpatient. You are set free to face the challenges of |
| feelings coupled with denial about being addict can | | | | outside world and put in use what you have learnt in |
| interfere with recovery process. Therefore, drug and | | | | the rehab center. You are encouraged to live a drug |
| alcohol rehab counselors try to break that wall of | | | | and alcohol-free life, maintain healthy relationships, deal |
| denial and make you see the truth. He will confront and | | | | with the past and engage in some productive work as |
| challenge, so that you can get motivation and will to | | | | a substitute for addictions. |
| fight. Most often you are hesitant to take a decision | | | | Advance recovery: After successful completion of |
| about leaving the substance for ever as it may be | | | | approximately five years of abstinence, you will reach |
| giving you some level of comfort. Counselors are | | | | the final stage of advanced recovery. This stage, |
| expert in this area and can see all your dilemmas; this | | | | many believe, stays life long as every day is an effort |
| is the time when they will persuade you to give it a try, | | | | to live a clean drug and alcohol free life. All that has |
| make a resolve, become determined to give it up once | | | | been learnt in the treatment programs is used to lead |
| and for all and they give you their support and | | | | a normal meaningful and healthy life. |
| encouragement to lead a normal life. | | | | Knowing the importance of success of each stage |
| Early abstinence: As you successfully cross the first | | | | these centers monitor and offer such supportive |
| stage and make a commitment to continue with | | | | therapy as is needed. Family and friends also chip in |
| treatment, you will encounter the second stage of | | | | with their emotional support and society too now has |
| early abstinence. This is believed to be the most | | | | become much more tolerant and forgiving and |
| important as well as most difficult stage to cope with | | | | believes in giving the person a second chance to |
| due to physical cravings, painful withdrawal symptoms, | | | | succeed. |
| mental dependence and many other factors that can | | | | |