Substance Abuse
Substance abuse can involve alcohol, or any number of drugs including cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, Vicodin, OxyContin, marijuana, ecstasy or other substances. Substance abuse refers to the overindulgence in or the dependence of a drug or other chemical, or both, leading to effects that are destructive to the individual’s physical and mental health.
Addictions
Substance abuse leads to addiction. Addiction is a physical and psychological dependence on one or multiple substances leading to compulsive behavior. Substance abuse turns into an addiction when the individual is unable to stop taking the substance or substances. Addiction is also the development of a tolerance to the drug so more and more of the substance is needed to release the same amount of dopamine.
Treatment
The key elements for substance abuse treatment programs include detox, counseling and aftercare. Since there are psychological and physical components to the disease of addiction, all three of these core programs are essential to real success for the addict. The substance abuse is an out growth of other issues so unless the primary issues are addressed, the substance abuse will continue on the other side of rehab. The behavior must be eliminated and new skills learned to deal with stress, disappointment, and long-standing hurt.
Detox involves having the individual stop the use of drugs or alcohol in a medically supervised environment. Detox is the process of getting the addict to a physically stable condition.
Counseling represents the “heart” of the substance abuse treatment plan. It involves Individual, group and family counseling so all parties understand what the dynamics of substance abuse really are.
The aftercare program is where the breakdown in full treatment occurs. In the rehab facility, the recovering addict is surrounded with support and medical advice and love. The aftercare program is not as structured and if the rehab did not address all the elements of addiction, all could be lost here. Aftercare can include follow-up counseling, 12-step meetings or even a specific time living at a half-way house. This also helps to ease the individual back into a substance-free life.
