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