Drug Addiction Treatment

Drug Addiction Treatment

Whether you buy illegal drugs on the street or you are prescribed painkillers or sedatives by your physician, you can quickly become an addict. If you are having trouble going to work, being at home without using drugs or just living life, drug treatment is right for you.

What Is Drug Addiction Treatment?

Drug addiction treatment begins with the detoxification process, which takes place in drug detox centers. Detox is not complete treatment and is not the same as drug rehab. If you go through detox without receiving drug addiction rehab, you are at greater risk of relapsing.

The best drug treatment centers provide 24-hour medical, psychiatric and clinical care. After you complete detox, drug addiction treatment and rehab should begin. The transition from detox to treatment can present you and your family members with another round of decisions. A quick transition from detox to addiction treatment provides you with the greatest likelihood of successful treatment.

The longer the time between detox and the start of drug addiction treatment, the less likely the drug addict or alcoholic is to continue treatment.

What Should I Expect in Drug Treatment?

Some drug addiction treatment centers have a single type of program or a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Drug treatment centers that are founded upon a single philosophy without any other treatment components can be effective for some but are not ideal. A facility’s philosophy, staff training and use of best practices can mean the difference between building a strong foundation for ongoing abstinence and not providing patients with the necessary skills and knowledge to handle life without drugs.

After a treatment center reaches a high standard of care and maintains a qualified staff, the facility can apply to be accredited. Significant standards of accreditation have been developed for the protection of the patient and the patient’s family.

Accreditation is used industry-wide to ensure that a healthcare facility meets or exceeds best practices and standards. The most significant national accreditation organization is The Joint Commission (JCAHO), whose mission is to “improve health care for the public.” The Joint Commission was founded in 1951 and is a patient advocate. It is the nation’s oldest and largest “standard-setting and accrediting body in health care.”

Accredited drug treatment centers understand how to work with insurance companies to ensure that you get the best care for your coverage. Drug treatment typically lasts between 30 and 60 days but it can be longer depending upon your needs.

Help Choosing the Best Drug Treatment Centers

Recovery Connection only works with the best drug treatment centers that have 24-hour medical and clinical supervision and where every patient receives individualized, ongoing evaluations and regularly updated treatment plans. If a patient has a psychological or psychiatric crisis at any point in the detox or drug treatment process, the patient and the family do not have to wait for it to be addressed.

Factors to be considered in choosing the best drug treatment centers to include:

  • Medical staff certified in addiction medicine
  • 24/7 on-site medical team
  • Interdisciplinary medical and clinical team
  • Certified addiction psychiatrist
  • Credible dual-diagnosis program
  • Medication management classes
  • Supplemental education such as life skills, nutrition, and exercise
  • Individual and group therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Recreation, art and/or music therapy

The best drug addiction treatment centers offer dual-diagnosis treatment and specialty treatment programs. Drug treatment centers should have fully developed tracks (based upon best practices) that address the specific needs of particular demographics.