Facing Addiction and going to Drug Rehab

Realising that you are addicted to drugs can be a difficult fact to face. Some people can spend years of their lives without realising the negative impact that drugs are having on their life, and even more time trying to change their situation.

If you are suffering from an addiction disorder, it is important to remember that there is no overnight fix for this issue. However, recovery is possible, and one of the ways is to commit to abstinence based drug rehabilitation, which works through the following steps: detoxification, rehabilitation, and long-term recovery.

Detox

Medically assisted detox is available for you at the beginning stages of your recovery. A medical detox like those at an ibogaine treatment center involves the use of medication to replace the substances that you have been using, for the purposes of safely clearing the initial substance from your body. Medically assisted detox helps those with physical dependence/addiction to opiate-based drugs like codeine, tramadol, and heroin, or benzodiazepines such as Valium, Diazepam, and Xanax.

According to Jason Shiers, psychotherapist at UK Addiction Treatment, you should undergo detoxification “only with the help of a healthcare professional.” He says that “stopping all of a sudden can result in the onset of physical and mental withdrawal symptoms.” Withdrawal symptoms that come when you abruptly stop taking a drug like opiates or benzodiazepines have “serious health effects, and can lead to hospitalisation, relapse, or death”.

Detoxification may also be called for in recovery from abuse of cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, cannabis, and other psychoactive drugs. If you are addicted to any of these substances, then medical assessment, monitoring and psychological care are needed. A healthcare professional will assess your needs and take the appropriate course of action in order to assist your recovery.

Substance detox is best undergone within the setting of a drug rehabilitation centre or a hospital. This allows for immediate medical assistance if needed.

Therapy
To achieve abstinence from the substance, you will need to educate yourself on how addiction works, essentially what is happening in your mind and body that drives you toward using a substance in the first place. This is best achieved through therapy, including group and individual counselling.

The prescribed daily routine offered by drug rehabilitation centres can help with this. Each centre takes their own approach, but you can expect a variety of therapy sessions throughout the course of your stay. There are many branches of therapy that are used in assisting your recovery, including 12 step programs, CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), DBT(dialectical behaviour therapy), art, music, and drama therapy, and family based and trauma based therapies.

Rehab programs that are of the most benefit in full recovery are ones that incorporate a holistic approach to life, offering meditation and mindfulness sessions, yoga and massage therapy, and exercise and nutritional advice. These elements of rehab provide you with practical skills you can use to aid your recovery even after residential treatment.

Post Treatment/Long Term Recovery
In recovery from addiction, the time you spend in rehab, where you have a professional support network, medication for detoxification, and a structured daily routine, is invaluable. But what about after the treatment program, when these resources and facilities aren’t immediately accessible? For a truly successful recovery, there needs to be a plan in place post-treatment. An individualised care plan is needed after primary treatment in order to sustain and maintain long term recovery. You will need to be supported in your goal of recovery, and be equipped with the skills needed to care for yourself in the long term.

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