Abuse Substance Treatment

Abuse substance treatment incorporates all types of addictive products ranging from drugs of the narcotic type, or opioids which are painkillers, non-narcotic types such as decongestants and some types of anti-depressants. In addition, there is the whole group of substances known as street drugs which can certainly come under the category of needing abuse substance treatment. This would include crack, meth, crystal meth, and other illicit drugs commonly available on the street. There is another category of substances which usually are not considered among the abuse substance treatment requirements, but can be just as deadly for youngsters who try the thrill they get from sniffing glue or sometimes paint fumes. The key in each case is that the person using the substance would suffer either physical or psychological withdrawal symptoms if there was rapid cessation or restriction of the level of use.

The abuse part of abuse substance treatment can mean two things. First, it can mean using substances which are harmful to the individual either for the thrill and danger, or for the perceived beneficial results either physically or psychologically. There is also the abuse component which means that a typically helpful substance is being used in a way that is contrary to its helpful intent or is being used at a level which renders it harmful.

Several characteristics are prevalent in those who need abuse substance treatment. First, they do not believe they need help. They feel that they can quit anytime they want to. In fact, many addicts do stop the use of the substance temporarily just to prove to themselves that they are able to quit. Some may even go so far as to go through the detoxification mode of abuse substance treatment with the full knowledge that they will be able to return to the substance and be able to feel its effects more quickly after the period of detoxification. In truth, this type of game playing is not quitting the substance at all, since mentally the addict had no intention of staying away from the harmful substance indefinitely. This is the type of wrong thinking that much of the therapy work after the initial detoxification phase of the abuse substance treatment program is dedicated to eradicating.

The third component of abuse substance treatment is the therapy part. Typically, this is where the greatest differences between the various treatment center programs appear. The majority of treatment facilities in the United States at present is some variation on the 12-step program modality. These programs are strongly tied to the Christian religions in many instances. The basic format is that the addict is unable to help themselves; they can be helped by a power beyond themselves, i.e. higher power, God; once healed, they have a responsibility to save others from substance abuse.

The second largest group of programs come under the philosophy that addiction or abuse of substances is a choice, and the choice can also be to not abuse or be addicted to harmful substances. The major part of such non 12-step programs is spent looking at where wrong choices have led the addict, and then creating a plan of wise and positive choices which will reinforce the habit of not being addicted.

The major difference between this two types of abuse substance treatment seems to be on personal choice. 12-steps programs say alcoholism, for example is an illness and I can't control my illness, but I can choose to let God control it. Non 12-step program adherents, on the other hand, say alcoholism is not an illness, it is a choice on my part to use a substance which I know to be harmful to me. I can also choose to stop using it and make positive choices.

It is difficult to determine valid statistics on which program philosophy is most effective, since most treatment centers consider their program a success if the addict completes the program. If you compare those people who begin a program and are still substance free one year after completion of the program, the statistics are fairly grim. It appears that only five to twenty percent of people actually can be considered substance free after one year. It is known that higher abstinence rates occur when the program is a residence facility. There is also a positive correlation between the length of the stay in the facility and abstinence.

It is important in most instances that the therapy portion of the abuse substance treatment program include work with the family of the addict. This is especially important if the addict is a child or adolescent. While an adult addict has some choice about the environment he joins when he leaves the treatment center, a youngster usually doesn't have that option. If there were family or environment stressors which led the teen into using illicit substances in the first place, it is highly likely that those factors will still be there. Thus, the family counseling and therapy becomes highly important.

The ongoing support and counseling is an important component of abuse substance treatment. An addict, particularly one who has been abusing substances for a lengthy period of time may have lost track of how to do some of the simplest tasks of everyday life. Some of these things can be relearned in the gentle and non-threatening environment of a rehabilitation center; others will only be learned as the situation arises in daily life. At such times, it is important for the recovering addict to have a non-threatening place where he can ask questions and learn ways to deal with the troublesome issues.

It is more common than not that even in the most sincere, hard working recovering addict, there will be relapses. An important part of the abuse substance treatment program is that the person knows, not only that it is likely for this event to occur, but what to do when it does. It's crucial that a stumble not be allowed to throw the person back into full-blown abuse and addiction.