Drug Rehab

Drug rehab is an excellent option if you are struggling with drug addiction.  You have likely tried to quit drugs on your own, only to succumb to cravings or painful withdrawal symptoms. It is important to recognize that trying to detox from drugs on your own can be extremely dangerous. Your body has become accustomed to these powerful drugs, and withdrawal symptoms can be extreme without medical intervention.
In choosing a drug rehab you want to find a place that offers a medically monitored detox and understands the risks of withdrawal. Some rehabs use replacement therapies, such as Suboxone, to alleviate many of the symptoms. However, be aware that some drug rehabs will be all too happy to leave you hooked on the replacement drug. If you truly want to be free of addictive drugs, you want to choose a drug rehab program that will slowly taper you off the replacement drug while giving you the tools and strategies you will need to move into true recovery.
What happens in drug rehab? It really depends on the treatment center you choose, but the best rehabs have a number of methods of dealing with addiction. Here is a typical scenario in a high-quality drug rehab.
1. Physician assesses drug use and creates a detox plan, then monitors the detox process
2. Psychiatrist does assessment to determine if there are underlying issues that need to be addressed (known as dual diagnosis, this could be clinical depression, trauma/PTSD, OCD or other anxiety disorders, ADHD, bipolar disorder)
3. You are assigned a team that includes an individual therapist, registered nurse, and family therapist who will work with you (the psychiatrist will continue to see you during your stay as well)
4. Process groups to work through issues with your peers
5. Targeted specialized therapies to address specific needs, such as EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) for trauma clients, equine therapy, neurofeedback, and dialectical behavioral therapy
6. Holistic approach to rebuilding your health (physical, spiritual, mental) which might include daily trips to the gym, yoga, meditation, motivational interviewing, art therapy, and other activities
7. Family program to help re-unify the family and guide them in how life will be in recovery so you will have the support you ened
8. Develop appropriate after-care plan so you have support when you return home
9. Exposure to 12-step meetings, so you can get continued peer support at home (rehabs that skip this step are doing you a disservice)
10. Follow-up upon discharge to ensure you are getting the most out of your aftercare plan and are not at risk of relapse.