| Drug rehab is a term that refers to | | | | past. |
| psychotherapeutic and medical treatment for | | | | |
| substance abuse, or a dependence on a harmful | | | | What forms of rehab are there? |
| substance. These harmful substances include | | | | |
| not only illegal street drugs like cocaine, | | | | Other than the general treatment centres and |
| heroine, or other amphetamines, but also | | | | twelve-step programmes that are available for |
| prescription drugs and alcohol. Since the | | | | substance abusers, a variety of alternative |
| abuse of drugs and alcohol can have | | | | drug and alcohol rehab programmes have |
| far-reaching consequences - social, physical, | | | | emerged over the past few decades. Programmes |
| mental, legal, and financial - the main aim | | | | include residential treatment, extended care |
| of drug and alcohol rehab is to break that | | | | centres, sober living houses and local |
| dependency and to enable the patient to cease | | | | support groups. |
| using the substances and to find a new | | | | |
| drug-free way of life. | | | | Sometimes antidepressants are prescribed for |
| | | | rehab clients in the early stages of |
| What does rehab do? | | | | treatment, as a temporary measure, as they |
| | | | can be used as part of the detoxification |
| Drug and alcohol rehab tends to focus on the | | | | process. However, This must be closely |
| dual nature of substance abuse and | | | | monitored to ensure the client does not |
| dependency, which is both physical and | | | | develop another addiction to the prescribed |
| psychological. Dealing with the physical | | | | substance. In most cases, however, when the |
| dependency can result in severe withdrawal | | | | client stops using drugs and alcohol, |
| symptoms, so rehab centres help clients go | | | | symptoms of depression will diminish and |
| through what is known as a 'detoxification' | | | | disappear over time. This is because symptoms |
| process to help cope with the physical | | | | of the addictive disorder very closely mirror |
| withdrawal from drugs and / or alcohol. | | | | those of clinical depression, with |
| | | | individuals suffering low moods, mood swings, |
| Dealing with the psychological aspect of drug | | | | irritability, restlessness, malaise, trouble |
| and alcohol abuse is also a major part of the | | | | sleeping and changes in appetite, as a direct |
| rehabilitation process, and it generally | | | | result of their drug use. Many addicts are |
| focuses on helping an individual learn how to | | | | surprised and heartened to find that this is |
| interact and react to situations and stresses | | | | the case as they continue with their |
| on a daily basis, in a drug-free environment. | | | | recovery. |
| Patients are encouraged to make changes to | | | | |
| their life, which may include changing their | | | | While in most cases clients will check |
| group of friends, particularly those who are | | | | themselves into drug or alcohol rehab, often |
| still using drugs or alcohol. In early | | | | attendance and treatment at a rehab centre is |
| recovery this can be an important factor in | | | | ordered by the criminal justice system. Those |
| relapse prevention. Certain rehab programs | | | | who are convicted of minor drug or alcohol |
| take the client through a 'twelve-step | | | | offences are often referred to a drug and |
| programme', which challenges addicts and | | | | alcohol rehabilitation centre instead of |
| alcoholics to accept that they need help from | | | | prison, and offenders who have a dependence |
| others in order to beat their addiction, that | | | | upon alcohol are sometimes ordered to attend |
| they must make changes to their life in order | | | | a number of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to |
| to recover, and that they must lead a life | | | | help overcome their addiction. |
| which is based upon total honesty with | | | | |
| themselves and others. | | | | While traditional rehab treatment is based on |
| | | | counselling, a number of studies have shown |
| Often, rehab centres will recommend complete | | | | that there are many occasions where |
| abstinence from legal substances, such as | | | | individuals who suffer from addiction have a |
| alcohol. Quitting the substance completely is | | | | chemical imbalance that needs to be addressed |
| the preferable option, even in cases where | | | | along side physchological issues. Chemical |
| alcohol had not been a perceivable problem | | | | imbalances can be helped through making |
| for the client before. This is because of the | | | | changes to diet, other nutritional |
| fact that most addicts, if their drug of | | | | supplements, and working toward a healthy |
| choice is removed, will turn to another drug | | | | lifestyle, which helps to correct the |
| instead. Alcohol is a mind-altering drug, | | | | imbalance and also releases the patient from |
| which will soon become a dependence in people | | | | the grip of drug or alcohol addiction. |
| who have been addicted to other drugs in the | | | | |