Drug Rehabilitation


According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, drug abuse and its effects in the United States cost an estimated $160.7 billion in 2000, including factors such as health care costs and loss of productivity. Drug addiction is a serious problem.

Components of Drug Dependency

There are two components of drug addiction, physical addiction and psychological dependency. A person who is physically dependent on a drug needs to take the drug in order to function and feel normal. His or her body must have the drug or the person will start to go through withdrawal.

A person who is psychologically dependent on drugs thinks that he or she needs to take the drug in order to function. While the person might not experience physical withdrawal symptoms if he or she tries to stop, the person will feel an intense, overwhelming desire to take his or her drug or drugs of choice.

People who are addicted to drugs may be physically dependent or psychologically dependent on drugs, or may be both physically and psychologically dependent.

Picking a Drug Rehab Facility

When considering a drug treatment facility, one must ask the facility several questions before entering a program. Among the factors to be considered are:
  • The qualifications of the administrators and staff

  • Whether the program is covered by health insurance

  • How much the program costs

  • Whether the facility itself is accredited.
What kind of philosophy about drug addiction does the facility follow? Does it use behavior modification, motivational theories, or a Twelve Step Plan? Find out if the facility has a medically supervised detoxification center, as the effects drug withdrawal can be very serious. It is important to know whether they offer support programs as patients transition back into society and beyond.

A key factor to take into consideration is their success rate and how they define “success.” For example, a 70% success rate after three months means something much different than a 70% success rate after one year.

Support and Recovery

Experts suggest strongly that drug addicts who have gone through treatment refrain from spending any time with people who are still using. Some experts suggest joining a long term program such as a Twelve Step program where recovering addicts help each other stay clean by changing the way that they look at their addiction and life.

One such program is Narcotics Anonymous. Narcotics Anonymous, in existence in 116 countries around the world, was derived from Alcoholics Anonymous in the early 1950s to meet the special needs of drug addicts.

By Laura Evans           


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