Anyone who struggles with addiction knows that it is almost impossible to overcome alone. Many people seek the help of a counselor or drug abuse treatment center to find ways to cope with this struggle.
Help from qualified counselors and treatment centers can mean the difference between success and failure in a person’s quest to overcome addiction, but it is also important to choose the right program to meet individual needs.
Here are a few facts about counselors and addiction treatment facilities that may help you decide on the right program for your situation.
Types of Addiction Services
- Residential addiction treatment. For those patients who need to be removed from a particular environment and housed in a facility where they will receive round-the-clock treatment and car, a residential facility may be the answer.
Residential facilities are often the best choice for someone addicted to a drug that will cause significant withdrawal symptoms when the patient stops using it, as these centers have on-site healthcare professionals who can manage the physical issues related to this withdrawal.
Most residential programs keep patients a minimum of 30 days and may allow them to stay up to a year. During this time, they not only withdraw but also have daily sessions with licensed therapists and others who can help them rebuild their lives and cope with their addictive behaviors when they return to the world outside.
- Outpatient addiction treatment. Some patients cannot or will not go to a residential treatment center, and for these people outpatient treatment may be the answer. Most outpatient centers require patients to report regularly; in some cases, patients report every day and only leave at night to sleep at home.
Other outpatient programs allow patients to maintain a job or other outside relationships. These programs are most suitable and work best when patients are highly motivated to stop using drugs or alcohol, as a good bit of the supervision falls directly onto the patient.
- Holistic addiction treatment. Holistic treatment goes beyond normal medical practice to include activities to heal the mind and spirit as well as the body.
Many holistic centers incorporate activities such as yoga or massage to help patients get in touch with their inner being and control their addictions from within.
- Dual diagnosis addiction treatment. Because so many addicts also suffer from mental illnesses, it is essential that healthcare professionals recognize and treat both facets of the patient’s problem.
Dual diagnosis centers allow for the treatment of mental issues other than addiction through therapy and other psychiatric methods.
How High Is The Recovery Rate for Addiction Centers?
Although a study by the National Institute of Health indicates that relapse rates for drug users who seek treatment can be as high as 60 percent, another study commissioned for the NIH found that 90 percent of addicts who maintained weekly meetings with support groups recovered from drug and alcohol abuse.
This implies that treatment centers can lay the foundation for recovery, but the addict must be willing to maintain the support to enable him or her to continue on the path to total health.
Why Should I Seek Help From A Treatment Center?
Some people do recover from drug or alcohol abuse on their own. These people have generally had some life-changing experience that caused them such a shock that they were willing to make lasting changes to their lives. However, this is not the only way or even the best way to recover from addiction.
If you truly want help in overcoming your addictive behaviors, it is available for you through well-managed addiction treatment centers. The professionals in these facilities have the knowledge and experience to give you the help you need in fighting addiction.
About the Author: Bradley Barks is an online health researcher and published blog author – he appreciates learning and providing useful information on a variety of health topics.








