Five Options for Drug Abuse Treatment

In the current world, there are various addiction treatment options that are available to individuals. People benefit from treatments differently, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to addiction treatments. Depending on the drug you abuse, the degree of care you require, your unique mental health requirements, or the cost of your medical alternatives, you may select the therapy that is most effective for you and meets your needs in the most effective way. The best treatment is the one that is tailored according to a patient’s needs. However, out of the numerous traditional and modern drug abuse treatments, we have narrowed the options down to five:

1. Medication

Medication is the best option for people battling substance dependence. These medications are used to combat the effects of addiction, especially opioid addiction. FDA-approved medications such as suboxone and methadone are prescribed to individuals. When used in conjunction with behavioral therapy, medication can be crucial to rehabilitation. There are several drugs that can help with cravings, moods, and addictive behaviors. This aids patients undergoing treatment for opioid addiction by lowering cravings and withdrawal symptoms. 

The following are some of the medicines that are used in MAT programs:

• Buprenorphine

• Methadone

• Naltrexone

Though the FDA is approving other medicines as well, currently, Suboxone is deemed safe by governmental bodies. These medicines contain opioids and pose the risk of addiction. Methadone, for instance, has addictive properties and poses a risk of addiction. Suboxone treatment, on the other hand, has been seen to reduce ER visits by 45%. Moreover, because it has a partial opioid antagonist, it is less likely to cause addiction. It is very important to offer behavioral treatment therapies along with MAT because holistic treatment works best for people who battle addiction.

Drug testing supplies are essential for monitoring patients and helping to accurately prescribe them treatments. Drug tests are available from Bio Medical Technology Company.

2. Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Most people who suffer from addiction already have a history of other mental illnesses. Sometimes, in fact, addiction can also lead to mental illnesses, a situation in which it becomes imperative to treat both conditions. It is crucial for patients to receive treatment for both a drug use problem and a mental disease at the same time. In a dual diagnosis treatment facility, patients can receive expert diagnoses for each of their ailments.They can start addressing the problems right away once the condition has been identified. 

Signs that you need to undergo dual diagnosis treatment:

• When people start withdrawing from their ties to their family and friends, it is one of the first signs of a problem. 
• sudden difference in their behavior
• When they are not taking the drug to which they are addicted, they are dysfunctional.
• The person could also struggle to regulate their drug usage or their everyday chores.
• Putting their lives at stake
• Developing tolerance towards drugs and going for more and more
• Withdrawal symptoms and a craving for the particular drug.

3. 12-Step Facilitation Therapy or AA Meetings

Alcohol and drug misuse can be treated using 12-step facilitation treatment, which is included in programs like alcoholic anonymous. 

Twelve-step facilitation involves a therapeutic interaction with a counselor. Either solo or group counseling sessions are possible. Twelve-step facilitation therapy is regarded by SAMHSA and NIDA as an effective strategy for treating SUD. In short, this treatment intends to enable people with addiction to accept, progress to submission to a higher power, and then move on to participation in regular group sessions. 12-step facilitation therapy is a type of group treatment that acknowledges that addiction can have a number of detrimental effects, some of which can be social, emotional, spiritual, etc., and gets the patients to accept and then progress. Since patients have company with fellow individuals, it may be easier for them to feel better. It is a short, organized treatment that includes behavioral, spiritual, and cognitive elements. 

Alcoholic Anonymous

Alcoholic Anonymous, an organization founded in 1935, provides former alcoholics support from one another through their whole journey. Attendees of AA meetings make a commitment to give up alcohol abuse and maintain sobriety. The meetings provide several opportunities to help continuing recovery, including a successful 12-step program for treating alcoholism. This organization is led by former alcoholics who try to assist those who currently suffer from alcoholism. The 12 AA practices were created with the goal of stabilizing the program and preventing outside influences that may hinder recovery of an individual. 

4. Behavioral therapy

Behavioral therapies such as contingency management, family therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy are crucial and yield efficacious results when used alongside medication. Most of the treatments in the modern world are holistic, which is why they go for a more encompassing strategy, and these therapies are mostly included when a person seeks professional help. While medication or medical detox may help patients with craving and physical health, behavioral therapies enable them to move past their habit of taking drugs. Below, we have explained how some of the therapies work with addiction, 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This is an effective treatment method for a variety of addictions, including but not limited to food, alcohol, and prescription medication addictions. CBT can assist you in recognising your undesirable behavioral patterns as well as in learning to recognise triggers and create coping mechanisms. CBT can be used in conjunction with other treatment modalities.

Contingency Management Interventions

Contingency management interventions promote behavior adjustment by offering material rewards for a desired behavior. In this instance, the rewards are offered if individuals can refrain from consuming substances. If the drug test comes out negative, they are rewarded with cash, coupons, gift cards, clinic privileges, or other such incentives. According to research, treatments for contingency management may reduce the chance of relapse through retention and drug abstinence. Because these interventions can treat a variety of substance use disorders, NIDA regards them as evidence-based strategies. 

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing is a therapy technique that is particularly effective at addressing uncertainty about hazardous habits. This research-backed approach helps people with SUD evaluate their own need for improvement and start the process of doing so. With the help of MI, individuals can actually start believing in themselves by increasing their self-reliance. Since MI is intended to be a quick therapy, it may be useful in primary care settings in remote areas where access to experts may not be available. NIDA considers this type of behavioral therapy to be evidence-based as it offers long-lasting effects on a person's personality. 

Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT)

Because addiction may be a hereditary trait, MDFT provides family members an opportunity to address the issue of addiction from a different perspective. This program focuses on the interpersonal relationships between parents and children. It also gives people an opportunity to discuss and assess communication among all the members of the family. The National Institute of Justice and NIDA both view MDFT as an evidence-based strategy for treating adolescent substance use disorders. Usually, MDFT will have 12 to 16 sessions, depending on a variety of factors. However, it is very strategic in nature, as the doctors employ various techniques to establish a link between the family members and the patient(s). 

5. Medical Detox

Detoxification is usually the first step when people opt for addiction treatment. You can detox from addictive drugs in a secure setting with the help of medical assistance. Medical detox refers to the process of getting rid of poisonous, addictive chemicals from the body while being closely monitored by a group of qualified medical personnel. This group, which often includes therapists, clinical personnel, and nurses, is led by a doctor. To provide medical care during detoxification, several institutions employ advanced practice personnel like nurse practitioners or physician assistants. This is advantageous since unpleasant physical symptoms of drug withdrawal that have the potential to put your life at risk may occur every now and then. 

Patients should go to detox because it is very effective at treating withdrawal symptoms. It is a procedure that is carried out on-site, and patients need to be at the facility for this. Detox is frequently combined with other therapies because it does not address the underlying behavioral reasons for the addiction. Other programs such as medication-assisted programs, behavioral therapies, inpatient or outpatient rehab services, etc. Undergoing supervision from a medical professional is quite helpful as well. Medical detox addresses not only the physical symptoms of SUD or addiction but also the physiological ones. Moreover, it eliminates the chance of opioids or other drugs meddling with your brain. Therefore, the sooner you seek help, the better. 

The variety of options may make it difficult for someone suffering from addiction to choose a treatment. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use disorder, it is always good to talk to a professional. A medical professional can lay out all the options for you, and then you may undergo the treatment best suited for you. Help is always available, and doctors are at your service. Therefore, the first step is to accept that you have a problem and that you need to address it. This step may seem difficult, but it is much easier than suffering alone. So, seek help now!