Addiction is a life-changing disease and affects not only addicts, but also their loved ones. Overcoming addiction is a daily struggle, even after completing the treatment program successfully. Most people cannot do it on their own and will require a tailor-made program and ongoing support.
Addiction Affects the Whole Family
Alcohol and drug abuse not only have very worrying long-term negative effects on the health of an addict, but can also change their way of thinking and behavior. An addict’s partner, children and other loved ones often become casualties of the addiction, preventing the family unit from functioning as it should. Addiction may cause a host of psychological problems in family members, leaving them to feel incompetent, angry and hurt. Getting an addict to recover from their addiction is not only important for the individual, but also for the loved ones.
Time for an Intervention
Some people believe that an addict should reach rock bottom before addiction treatment would be effective. On the contrary, treatment tends to be more effective in the early stages of addiction, so the sooner you can get help, the better. Treatment doesn’t even have to be voluntary to work effectively. An intervention is a good idea, but chat with the others before the meeting to ensure you are on the same page. During the intervention, remain positive and constructive; otherwise, the addict may become defensive and uncooperative. Another alternative is to get an intervention specialist from an Ambrosia addiction treatment center. The most effective way to get an addict to enroll in an addiction treatment program is to select a facility and make the appointment before the intervention meeting. There is not a single treatment that works on everybody. A treatment program needs to be tailor-made for the specific person, according to his/her history of substance abuse. This is why many treatment programs employ a team of clinical specialists to create an individualized treatment plan for the patient.
Treatment Process
Many programs start off with residential treatment at the facility. At Ambrosia, for instance, the patient will be assessed by a psychiatrist as well as a medical doctor and be assigned to a primary therapist. They may need to receive medication during the treatment. The residential treatment usually lasts about one month. This treatment may also include a partial hospital program and group therapy involving topics like psychotherapy, anger management, life skills, recreational therapy, nutritional education and relapse prevention. After the initial residential period, the patient will be eased back into society through an outpatient program, where the patient is still counseled by their primary therapist and has to attend daily 12-step meetings.
Remaining Sober
It is very important to continually monitor drug use of the addict while undergoing treatment and even thereafter to prevent a relapse. Some facilities, including Ambrosia addiction treatment center, will provide support for months after the initial residential program. The addict may not recover from the addiction instantly, and it will often require multiple efforts, but they need to keep the end goal in mind. Ongoing support is imperative; the addict needs to be convinced that they can change, to prevent them from giving up.
Addiction treatment is a complex process and getting rid of an addiction is not easy. Some people have difficulty signing up for treatment and may need an extra nudge from family and friends. However, in the end, it is all worth it to see a former addict completely recovered and ready to face a new life.