Steps in a Substance Abuse Treatment Plan

• Detoxification. The detoxification process can be the hardest step in the process, and this is why many drug addicts shy away from the detox process necessary for getting clean. We suggest that detox be done under the supervision and care of medical professionals to ensure that any available tools are put to use in order to make it go as smoothly as possible. While detox will never be simple, working with a doctor will certainly be much better than trying to detox on your own. Sometimes things like medication can be taken on an outpatient basis to help, though some people need to check themselves into a facility in order to detox safely. This is especially true if a patient is at risk for something like seizures during the detox phase.
• Therapy. Therapy and individual counseling are important to any New York drug treatment plan because it gives an addict the opportunity to discuss their feelings, fears, and struggles that they are having in regards to staying clean. Keeping in mind that most people use drugs because of a life situation or feeling out of control or anxious, it is critical to have a venue where an addict can discuss their emotions relating to everyday life. This way, an addict can deal with situations without using drugs. This is why support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous are so vital and helpful.
• Medication. Various medications can be incredibly effective when treating drug use. We can help make the detoxification process more manageable, and some people are even able to detox while continuing with their daily activities like going to work or participating in family events. Naturally, any medication needs to be taken under the direct supervision of a physician, and dosages need to be reviewed on a continual basis to ensure that a patient is not using too much or too little. Sometimes medications are provided at the very beginning of the drug treatment plan in order to help with detoxification, but other times, patients are prescribed them at a later date in order to prevent a relapse.
• Mental health evaluations. It is common for people to begin using drugs due to mental health issues, even depression. The challenge is that drugs do make changes to the brain and some mental health issues can actually become worse. This makes it important to determine what mental challenges a drug addict is facing in addition to their specific drug addiction. We recommend performing a mental health evaluation in order to do so and then following up with patients throughout the drug treatment process in order to ensure that these issues are under control either through therapy or medication.
• Ongoing care. Drug rehabilitation is not instant. This is why we recommend continuing therapy, counseling, or monitoring in order to ensure that addicts are able to continue living a life that is free from drugs and that they have both the tools and support in order to do so. Sometimes, having someone to talk to can make the difference between a person relapsing or turning to drugs or alcohol if they feel stressed or are struggling from massive anxiety.