People who have never gone through addiction treatment may be unfamiliar with the process. Below, we’ll guide you through the steps, so you know what to expect when you or a loved one enters professional treatment.
Before taking the first step in your addiction recovery process, you must first go through an assessment. An addiction specialist will ask you questions to create your personalized treatment plan. The following are some questions that may be asked during your evaluation:
These questions will help addiction professionals curate a personalized treatment plan that addresses your circumstances.
The first step of an addiction treatment program is detoxing from the substance so your body can start operating normally. In most cases, you’ll detox cold turkey under the medical supervision of the staff. The professionals will watch you to ensure your safety and comfort throughout the process.
You may participate in a medication-assisted treatment program, where you’re administered medication under professional supervision that helps relieve uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. These medications may even be necessary for people who are quitting cold turkey after a severe addiction to prevent life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.
As you take these medications, you’ll continue through treatment. You may be administered medication in an inpatient treatment program if you need a sober environment to recover. You also have the option of an outpatient treatment program if your addiction is less severe and you have outside responsibilities.
Counseling is a significant part of your treatment and helps you get to the root of your substance use disorder and learn the necessary skills to overcome your triggers and cravings. There are various types of therapy to help address your specific circumstances, including:
You’ll likely participate in multiple types of therapy to address your needs, sometimes on an individual basis with a counselor and other times with a group.
An aftercare plan is essential to ensure you sustain your recovery long after official treatment. You’ll work with a professional for relapse prevention — a plan that helps you address your triggers and cravings.
You’ll create a list of your triggers and different scenarios you may encounter as you reenter sober society. Then, you’ll work on responses to these instances to prevent a relapse. For example, attending large parties or clubs may trigger you. If you have to attend a large party, you can plan out responses, such as leaving for a few minutes to take a walk outside or meditate when you feel uncomfortable or experience cravings.
You’ll also create a list of people from your support network you can contact if you experience challenging situations. Whenever you experience cravings or triggering situations, you can call one of these individuals to talk to or spend time with.
If you’ve never been through addiction treatment or are considering a different program level, you may have some lingering questions. Below, we’ll answer some of the most common questions about party drug addiction treatment to ensure you or your loved ones are prepared for your recovery journey.
Various medications are used during a medication-assisted treatment program, including Naltrexone, Disulfiram, Methadone and Buprenorphine. Each drug serves a different purpose.
For example, Naltrexone is commonly used for people with alcohol use disorders since it blocks the effects of alcohol, making it less tempting to consume. On the other hand, medications like Methadone trick your brain and body into thinking it’s still using substances, allowing you to feel more comfortable during your withdrawal process and reducing relapse risk.
When you first enter an addiction treatment program, your assessment will help determine if you need medication throughout any stage of your recovery. You may also be prescribed medication if you’re struggling with underlying mental health conditions to help address the root cause of your addiction.
It can be challenging to see your loved one struggle with addiction, but there are ways you can help encourage them to seek treatment:
Your day-to-day treatment may look different than someone else’s, but that’s because your programs are tailored to your individual needs to ensure the best chance of success. However, you can expect high-quality care and support from the beginning.
You should expect to make lifestyle changes, such as the activities you participate in or the people you surround yourself with. Making these changes can be uncomfortable, but they’re necessary steps to improve your well-being. You’ll also need to actively participate in your personalized program to get the most out of it.
Remember that there is no single way to achieve recovery. What works for you might not work for someone else. You can seek advice from professionals and those in the latter stages of their recovery journey and take what works for you. For example, you may find meditation useful to help you cope with triggers and cravings, but that journaling doesn’t provide the same effect as it does for others.
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