Addiction Rehab recovery is a multi-level, lifelong process. But to best understand addiction recovery, first understand what addiction is. Addiction is when a substance is used repeatedly and compulsively regardless of negative consequences of that use. Those negative consequences can be social, psychological and/or physical. There are many substances that can be abused today, some are legal and some are illegal. Addiction can be physical. When this happens, there are withdrawal symptoms when the substance is not used often enough or in high enough doses. Withdrawal and dependency are sure signs of a drug addiction.
When these signs occur, it is in the best interests of the addicted person to start the initial phase of addiction recovery which is called detox. Detox or detoxification is the removal of the substance (or substances) from the person’s body. It is best done under the care of a medical practitioner specializing in drug treatment.
The next step in addiction recovery is primary treatment. Primary treatment happens either during or after detox and its goal is to get to the root of the addiction problem. Primary treatment can come in many forms from short multi-day inpatient stays to outpatient visits.
Next is the extended care chapter in addiction recovery. Extended care also comes in many forms from addiction counseling to medication to joining a support a group. The main goal of extended care is helping the addicted person realign their vision of themselves and begin the process of transitioning back into their life. Extended care is similar to the next step, transitional living.
Transitional living is a step in addiction recovery utilized by some recovering addicts. Transitional living is the actual process of transitioning from inpatient care back to a normal, everyday life. Transitional living usually involves staying in a sober living home or another similar housing situation. This type of transitional home offers structure, support and a solid base for learning to live in the everyday world again. Many of these homes offer a variety of counseling, 12 step support groups and even employment assistance.
Outpatient treatment is the final step in addiction recovery. It includes many options such as counseling, behavioral management (such as coping with emotional issues that may have been hidden by the drug abuse), medications and support groups to assist in everyday living stresses.
Though there is no cure for drug Rehab addiction, there is help. For anyone seeking to overcome a drug addiction, there are countless options available. There is a different drug treatment center for each person and each addiction but there are treatments for everyone. Following these steps and seeking assistance with a drug problem is the first step to addiction recovery in a Rehab.
