What Is Substance Abuse Rehabilitation?

When a person is addicted to drugs, alcohol, or other substances it affects the individual in many different ways. Most people suffering from frequent substance use or chronic addiction are unable to stop on their own and remain drug free. Some of the reasons are because the cravings are so strong and intense, the emotional effects are hard to live with and important behavioral changes need to take place in order to maintain abstinence and overcome their need to repeat their destructive behaviors.

Addiction is a very complex disease that changes a person mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually and affects every other area of a person's life at the same time. When our brains are exposed to alcohol, drugs, and other substances over a period of time serious changes take place that not only causes compulsive uncontrollable cravings but it also affects a person's ability to control their behaviors.

Substance abuse rehabilitation provides the individual with the treatment, knowledge, and the support they need to stop using drugs, alcohol or other substances and the tools that are necessary to maintain abstinence and manage their recovery. Because no two people are alike nor are their addictive behaviors completely alike rehabilitation treatment needs to be unique to that person and address all areas of concern.

Most substance abuse rehabilitation programs help people understand their own unique addiction, work through underlying problems that may fuel their addictive behaviors, develop positive strategies to avoid relapse, and provide the knowledge needed to change destructive habits and thought patterns. This is very hard to do on your own without help.

It's important to have positive support when maintaining abstinence and working toward recovery. A rehabilitation treatment program not only provides the tools you need to make important changes in your life but also provides the support you need to strengthen your recovery. Addiction also destroys the family and loved ones as well as the addict. Many rehabilitation treatment programs also offer family counseling and support so that the whole family can recover.

There are various types of rehabilitation programs for substance use and addiction that helps people stop using drugs and alcohol and manage their sobriety. It just depends on what the needs of the individual are as to what form of substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation they may need to overcome their substance use and addiction.

Rehabilitation can include long term inpatient rehab, short term inpatient rehab, intensive outpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, Faith Based rehab, gender specific rehabs, adolescent and teen rehab to name a few. Rehabilitation programs can include many forms of treatment to help patients overcome their addictions and can include detoxification, 12 step therapies, behavioral therapies, pharmacotherapy, nutritional therapy, individual counseling, group counseling, family counseling, group support, life skills, coping skills, addiction education and after care.

Who Answers?

Reasons for Getting Clean

There are many good reasons for stopping the use of illegal drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol and other substance abuse. Many people quit their use of drugs and other substances when they have hit rock bottom and lost everything including their health, family, relationships, and career. Many people have also lost their freedom because substance use has landed them in jail or prison. There are many important reasons for getting clean and leading a drug free life.

Avoid Addiction

Depending on the drug abused addiction can take place very quickly and with prolonged use the more intense the addiction can be. Once a person is addicted uncontrollable cravings are experienced when the abused substance begins to wear off. The user now needs to increase their dose to achieve the same high or rush they're looking for.

Avoid Withdrawal

Withdrawal is associated with addiction and when a person stops using or is unable to get more of the substance they're abusing, symptoms of withdrawal begin to set in. Not only does a person experience cravings it affects them emotionally and physically. This is a very uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous time in an addict's life because even the best of people have been driven to stealing in order get more drugs to relieve withdrawal symptoms.