It is important
to note that drug addiction is a treatable disorder. However because there
are so many different conditions in drug addiction, the specific treatment
must be tailored to the individual's needs. Many drug addicted people
have other problems that complicate the treatment such as mental health,
occupational, health, or social problems. Treatments often include
behavioral therapy, mediations, or even a combination of both. If
people are treated for their addiction, they can learn to control their
condition and live a normal productive life. The more treatment the
person receives, the better off they are.
individuals believe that they can quit using drugs by themselves and try
to stop without treatment; however, most of these attempts fail to result
in long-term abstinence. According to the the NIDA "Research has
shown that long-term drug use results in significant changes in brain function
that persist long after the individual stops using drugs. These drug-induced
changes in brain function may have many behavioral consequences, including
the compulsion to use drugs despite adverse consequences, the defining
characteristic of addiction." Thus biology explains why achieving
abstinence without treatment is so difficult.
As was stated
under the psychology portion of our webpage, pyschological stresses can
combine with biological factors and prevent the attainment of sustained
abstinence and make relapse more likely, without treatment.
Components Necessary for
a Successful Treatment
Steps to Recovery
In order for treatment
to begin, the abuser must recognize the problem. Many times, abusers
are in denial about their drug dependence which prevents them from seeking
help. Generally, people that are dependent on drugs do not seek the
treatment voluntarily, rather, they seek it due to the pressures from loved
Treatment begins with detoxification,
which is the gradual withdrawal of an abused substance under a controlled
environment. In some cases a drug that is similar to the abused drug
(e.g. methadone for heroin) is substituted during withdrawal to lessen
the miserable symptoms and health risks associated with the withdrawal
process. Depending on the drug that the person is addicted to, the
withdrawal process can be handled through either an inpatient or an outpatient
The next step in treatment
is rehabilitation. This step is necessary to prevent the recurrence
of drug abuse. Rehabilitation involved behavioral therapies such
as counseling, psychotherapy, support groups, or family therapy. Behavior
therapy helps people to cope with their drug cravings and it teaches them
ways to avoid drugs, prevent relapse, and what to do if a relapse occurs.
It has been seen that combining a behavior therapy program with treatment
medications, such as methadone, helps to suppress the withdrawal syndrome,
the drug craving, and in blocking the effects of other drugs (caffeine).
Studies have shown that using methadone at adequate dosage levels in treating
heroin addiction along with behavioral therapies reduces death rates and
many health problems. There are many support groups to help with the rehabilitation
process, such as: Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Ala-teen,
the abuser must have a life long abstinence from drug abuse. Relapses
from this drug abstinence may occur and lead to recurrent dependence.
Types of Treatment Methods
Outpatient vs Inpatient
Short-term methods - last less
than 6 months, include residential therapy, medication therapy, and drug
free outpatient therapy
Long-term methods - may include
medication therapy such as methadone maintenance outpatient treatment for
opiate addicts and residential therapeutic treatment
Medication vs. Therapeutic
Outpatient drug free treatment-
does not include medication and encompasses a wide variety of programs
for patients that visit a clinic at regular intervals. Involves individual
or group counseling. Generally, patients entering this type of
program do not abuse opiates, or are opiate abusers for whom maintenance
therapy is needed. Generally these patients have stable lives and only
brief histories of drug dependence
Therapeutic Communities - highly
structured communities where patients stay for 6-12 months. Patients
generally have long histories of drug dependence, involvement in serious
criminal activities, and seriously impaired social functioning. This
type of program focuses on the resocialization of the patient to a drug
free and crime free lifestyle.
Short-term residential programs
- "chemical dependency units," based on the "Minnesota Model" of treatment
for alcoholism. Involve 3- to 6-week inpatient treatment phase followed
by an extended outpatient therapy in a 12-step self-help group such as
Narcotics Anonymous or Cocaine Anonymous.
For Further information about medications visit NIDA's Web Page on Treatment
In cases where opiates are abused,
methadone maintenance programs are more successful in retaining patients
that are involved in only therapeutic.
Therapeutic programs are more successful
than outpatient services that provide psychotherapy and counseling.
The methadone programs that provide
higher doses of methadone (usually a minimum of 60 mg) have better retention
Those programs that use a combination
of behavioral therapy with methadone treatment generally get better results.
For further information about Behavioral
Therapies please visit NIDA's web page on Behavioral
Change Through Treatment
Is treatment worth it?
For further information about treatment
Abuse Treatment Outcome Studies
Drug Treatment Programs in Prisons
Can succeed in preventing patient's
return to criminal activity
Some successful programs have reduced
the re-arrest rate by 1/4 to 1/2
Methadone treatment has been shown
to decrease criminal behavior by as much as 50 percent.
shows that prison based treatment including
a therapeutic community, a work release therapeutic community, and a community
based aftercare reduces the probability of re-arrest by 57% and reduces
the likelihood of returning to drug use by 37%
Drug abuse costs the American society
$67 billion per year due to costs of crime, medical care, drug abuse treatment,
social welfare programs, and time lost from work.
Drug treatment programs can reduce
$4-$7 can be saved for every $1 spent
Leaving an untreated abuser in the
community costs approximately $3,600 per month, incarceration costs about
$3,300 per month. Methadone maintenance only costs $290 per month.