| According to Wikipedia.org, drug addiction is defined as | | | | After accessing the individual, you need to ask |
| "the compulsive use of psychoactive drugs, to the | | | | questions similar to the following to your physician, |
| point where the user has no effective choice but to | | | | counselor and especially the drug treatment programs. |
| continue use." Since drug addiction is a complex illness, | | | | 1. What types of medications are used in the |
| it has so many dimensions and disturbs so many | | | | treatment? |
| aspects of an individual's life, dealing with this ailment is | | | | 2. Which types of vitamins and/or natural treatments |
| anything but simple. | | | | are used? |
| When a person is at a 'no control' stage, drug rehabs | | | | 3. What is the counselor-to-patient ratio? |
| must help the person discontinue use of drugs and | | | | 4. How do they medically manage withdrawal |
| maintain a drug-free lifestyle, while gaining productive | | | | symptoms? |
| functioning in the family, at work, and in society. There | | | | 5. Test or assess infectious illnesses such as TB, HIV, |
| are many reasons why a person would need to | | | | Hepatitis etc. |
| attend a drug rehabilitation program. Some of them | | | | 6. Also, how long is the treatment program? |
| are: the inability to control drinking or drug use, cutting | | | | 7. Are families involved? |
| themselves off from their friends and family, criminal | | | | 8. What is the cost? |
| offenses, and problematic behavior at work. At such | | | | These and similar questions can help you find out more |
| facilities, through therapy and education, the individual is | | | | about the different drug treatment centers. |
| helped to gain their former self. They are then able to | | | | How do you access if the individual will need residential |
| become part of the society. | | | | treatment programs? Residential treatments are |
| Now, let's think about drug rehab centers and what | | | | geared toward those who have been addicted for a |
| images do you conjure? Resort-like facility or a strict | | | | long time. These are usually longer programs and try |
| hospital-like setting? Chances are, your perception | | | | to educate individuals to live in a drug-free community. |
| does not cover the entire spectrum of drug treatment | | | | It is said that the best rehab programs are those that |
| centers. Since there are several different types of | | | | are structured to an individuals needs. This needs |
| drug rehabilitation programs available ranging from | | | | taking into consideration the individual's race, age, |
| inpatient, outpatient, residential, short-term, and | | | | culture, gender, employment, past drug history, criminal |
| long-term, it helps to learn what's out there and how to | | | | behavior and history of physical or sexual abuse. In |
| choose one. Here are a few : | | | | choosing the drug treatment program, observe |
| First of all, gauge the situation by considering the | | | | individuals within the drug program and notice their |
| following factors in the life of the individual who needs | | | | seriousness. It has been know that those who may |
| the drug treatment: | | | | have only tried a few drugs get more excited about |
| 1. Age of individual | | | | trying other drugs when around serious drug users. |
| 2. Insurance options | | | | In most all drug rehab centers, regardless of their |
| 3. Type of drug used | | | | differences, they have one major goal: try to get the |
| 4. History of criminal offenses if any | | | | individual back to a drug-free lifestyle. Often times this |
| 5. Friends and family support | | | | requires more than one drug treatment and sometimes |
| 6. Number of times the individual needed the treatment | | | | multiple attempts within a drug treatment center. Do |
| 7. Is the individual psychologically addicted and will they | | | | not be discouraged. Do your part in researching and |
| require complete behavioral alterations? | | | | hopefully you will be able to find a drug rehabilitation |
| 8. Will they have withdrawal symptoms? | | | | center that will fulfill your requirements. |