How Is Substance Abuse Treated?

When dealing with a substance abuse problem, there are many different ways to go about getting help and improving the situation. Many treatment options exist for those who are struggling with an addiction, and these options can be tailored to each individual in order to best suit their journey to recovery and beyond.

Effective ways to treat substance abuse

Behavioral counseling
This is a way in which one can change their behaviors and attitudes toward drugs, continue finding the inner motivation and strength necessary to persist with treatment and overall improve healthy coping mechanisms and life skills.

There are numerous different types of outpatient behavioral therapies and treatments that are available for those struggling with addiction. What works for one person might not work for all. It is important for every individual to try them out and see what fits best.

Motivational interviewing is one type of therapy. This maximizes a person’s readiness to change. Motivational incentives reinforce drug abstinence through positive rewards.

Two other types of therapy are multidimensional family therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The first is a good tool for minors who are struggling with drug abuse. It tackles the problem from the angle of improving the functions of the family unit and including parental figures in the recovery process.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, meanwhile, is used to help patients see, understand, avoid or deal with situations in which drugs may be offered or used.

Mental health evaluations
As many people struggling with addiction know, addictive behaviors can have underlying causes with roots in mental health problems. Because of this, an effective treatment plan may include some type of mental health evaluation, follow-up and treatment.

Medication
There are many uses for medications, hospital care, professional medical treatment and medical-grade devices when going through the recovery process. Two of the main reasons for the use of these things are for the treatment of withdrawal and the prevention of relapse.

Withdrawal is a very distressing and painful stage of recovery. It can even be deadly if left untreated, as it puts enormous amounts of strain on a person’s body. Some may go into cardiac failure or be unable to breathe. Medications are used in some cases to help the patient to safely get through detoxification.

Medications can also be used for relapse prevention by decreasing cravings and re-establishing the usual functions of the brain. It should be noted that if a person has an addiction to more than one substance, they will likely need to take unique medication for each substance as there is no “cure-all.”

Care in the long-term One of the most important parts of recovery is persistence. While some may think the journey ends after detoxification, it is really only just beginning. As a person goes through recovery, it is important that they have strong support. This could mean a medical provider or a behavioral therapist. It could mean a psychologist or psychiatrist. In many cases, an entire team of support is behind every individual’s recovery.

Recovery is not a linear path. There may be moments in which relapses occur. This is why persistence is important: A recovering addict will likely need a strong support network to keep getting back on their feet again if they stumble.

Conclusion

Substance abuse can have a devastating impact on an individual’s life. Fortunately, there are many ways in which a person can start their journey to recovery. Whether through a combination of medication, therapy or mental health support, there is a path to a healthier life waiting.

Request an appointment here: https://www.joelnathanmd.com or call Joel Nathan, MD at (347) 237-7944 for an appointment in our New York office.

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