Once you decide its time to quit, the person with a drug or alcohol addiction needs to start exploring his or her options for specific treatments to recovery. There are many options depending upon the type of addiction one suffers. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) National Survey on Drug Use and Health,1 23.5 million persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol abuse problem in 2009 (9.3 percent of persons aged 12 or older). Of these, only 2.6 million—11.2 percent of those who needed treatment—received it at a specialty facility.
SAMHSA also reports characteristics of admissions and discharges from substance abuse treatment facilities* in its Treatment Episode Data Set2 (TEDS). According to TEDS, there were 1.8 million admissions in 2008 for treatment of alcohol and drug abuse to facilities that report to State administrative data systems. Most treatment admissions (41.4 percent) involved alcohol abuse. Heroin and other opiates accounted for the largest percentage of drug-related admissions (20.0 percent), followed by marijuana (17.0 percent).
Many people choose to admit themselves into an inpatient program in which a period of time will be spent detoxing the body and mind in order to start the healing process to recovery. Others that may have a good support system at home, or a location in which they are currently living, might be able to enroll into an outpatient program. There are many choices out there, so you just need to see what offers the best and appropriate outcome for you. These programs will always include treatment for both the mental and physical aspects of addiction.
Inpatient Programs
For some addicts, an inpatient program is often chosen, and many times, treatment will be covered under that patient’s medical health plan. This can help cover the financial aspect of your start of recovery. All inpatient programs are specified to certain addictions, and remember that no program has magic powers to cure addicts just by going there. Rather, all programs need the person to truly participate, and of course, want to change their habits. Understanding what the program is teaching you is important to recovery.
All programs that are inpatient treat not just the addiction, but the health and mind of the addict as well. These are very important key factors to a program that will help an addict with their drug or alcohol addictions. The treatments should also teach a person to deal with different aspects of his or her life, since drugs and alcohol affects numerous relationships, work, mental stability, and physical health.
Outpatient Programs
Many outpatient treatment centers or programs for drug and alcohol addicts take commitment from the person to want to heal and recover. Without this, no addict will be successful in any part of the treatment that is designed to take them to the next step of recovery. Much like a lifetime smoker, if and addict does not truly want to quit using, no type of enhancement or bribery will make him or her successful in quitting.
Outpatient programs teach life choices that an addict has to make to commit themselves to quit drinking or taking drugs to be successful and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Entering the program is the first step, but with the support of the outpatient center staff and counselors, an addict can get to the other side and become healthy, productive, and start living a drug-free and sober life again.
Remember that drugs and alcohol can change your mental and physical stability. Because of this, treatment centers focus on the whole person during therapy. Getting or asking for this type of help increases your success rate immensely. While asking for help from others seems difficult at first, as time goes on, you need that help to get back on your feet and enjoy a life that is prosperous and happy.
Resources:
National Institute on Drug Abuse the Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction Revised March 2011; Retreived: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-statistics
