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Addiction AND disease
Addiction recovery research paper
Addiction AND disease
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Once someone realizes that they have an addiction, one of their first questions is “What is detox?” This type of treatment is generally used to remove the physical dependency to drugs or alcohol. Before the individual can continue their recovery, they have to safely quit using drugs.
What Is Detox Used for?
Detox can be used for any drug or alcohol addiction. It helps to remove toxins from the body in a safe treatment center. The patient is always supervised by medical staff members for drug withdrawal symptoms. Throughout detox, the patient is kept as comfortable and safe as possible.
It is important to only detox at a professional treatment center. While some people have successful quit using alone, it is not the safest option. Some of the side effects of withdrawal can be serious, so it is important to only go through detox at a rehab center.
What Is Detox Going to Be Like?
While each
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treatment center is slightly different, they will generally offer a similar detox process. At first, patients will go through evaluation. They will be tested for drugs and alcohol. In this stage, the patient will discuss their mental and physical health problems. After taking the patient's history, a doctor will decide on the best treatment strategy. Once the evaluation stage is complete, the patient will go through the stabilization stage.
During this stage, the patient will begin the withdrawal process. Depending on the individual's addiction, this can take a few days or several weeks. When detox is complete, the patient is ready to start rehab.
What Happens After Detox Is Complete?
The next step depends on the patient, their unique addiction and the treatment center. Most patients will start follow-up treatments for substance abuse and mental health disorders. The right treatment is chosen based on the patient's support at home, the success of detox, their recovery goals, other co-occurring medical conditions and their ability to attend rehab.
While some patients can take the time to attend an intensive inpatient program, some individuals cannot take time off of work or their family responsibilities. It is important to discuss all of the options available with an addiction specialist before determining the next step. Recommended rehab programs may include:
- Inpatient rehab
- Intensive outpatient
rehab - Support groups - Sober living options - Outpatient rehab - Therapy Once patients are ready to ask, “What is detox?”, they have made the first step toward their long-term treatment goals. The next step is to find a treatment center that can help with detox and rehab options. With the right treatment, patients can go on to live a healthier lifestyle. Conquering an addiction is challenging, but you do not have to do it alone. Support is available to help you throughout your recovery. To get help for an addiction, call Beaches Recovery now at 866-605-0532.
These programs may include detoxification of the addicted individual as well as a treatment program that lasts anywhere from 7-21 days (Hanser, 2010). The length of time of this jail diversion treatment program is often based on the cravings and inevitable withdrawal from the substance abuser’s addiction. An added mode of treatment or therapy for substance abusers is self-help groups. After release from the above programs, addicts have the opportunity (or are required) to attend 12-step programs that will aid in the recovery of substance abuse.
Studies have shown that people who abused substances need at least 3 months of treatment to significantly show signs of improvement. However, best results occur with longer treatment durations. Time to Change, where patients are referred by their physicians for substance abuse treatment in Lyndale Ave Bloomington Minnesota, affirms that if you have more time in treatment center, you have more time:
Upon admission, each client could require detoxification. Therefore, after the evaluation, Endeavor House has a medically assisted detoxification program for those who need it. This program includes around the clock supervision by a medically trained staff and the use of comfort medications to minimize the discomfort and reduce the symptoms associated with the withdrawal process.
There are many options for substance addiction treatment and utilizing medication as a means of eliminating substance use is one that has been called a double edge sword. There are two schools of thought with medically assisted treatment. First, let 's define medication assisted treatment (MAT): “it is the use of pharmacological medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a “whole patient” approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Research indicates that a combination of medication and behavioral therapies can successfully treat substance use disorders, and for some people struggling with addiction, MAT can help sustain recovery” (Watkins, 2016). One side of this treatment option is that it provides that extra little nudge to start recovery with less or more withdrawal symptoms. For example, disulfiram is an alcohol aversion agent, that when taken with alcohol the person becomes very ill (Watkins, 2016). There are also other medications that help with reducing symptoms of withdrawal, such as methadone.
Furthermore, each alternative has its advantages and disadvantages. Trying to solve this problem completely alone is probably the worst solution. A person receives no outside support or help. A rehabilitation/recovery center is expensive but provides strict daily routine and continuous professional guidance and support. The patient is away from family and his normal life; therefore, he may resort back to alcohol when he is back in the "real world".
Once detox is complete, patients are typically admitted to an inpatient or outpatient rehab. Inpatients offer more intensive care at the facility, but some patients want the flexibility of an outpatient rehab. Often, inpatient rehab is a better choice for patients with long-term, intensive addictions.
Cranston (2016) suggests that cocaine does not require a medical detox but more a mental one. Cocaine tends to work differently because of this type of addiction. Cocaine abuse also can have physical ramifications to the body such as, sleep deprivation can become chronic sleep disorders. These disorders have a greater opportunity for immune system illnesses. Since cocaine is a stimulant, the heart is at an increased risk of damage. For instance, the chemical use has compromised his relationships, especially with women. As is typical with cocaine users, less than optimum nutrition is common (Cranston, 2016). With this in mind, detoxification will be more successful in a structured detox program facility (NASAIC). Especially since finances were not hindering his use, a structured facility will help remove the drug from his system and hopefully his mind.
Substance abuse treatments are offered in a variety of ways. Some treatments can be done on an outpatient basis, while others may require a stay in a hospital or other facility. The two types of treatments are similar in nature. The main difference is that outpatient treatment is offered to those addicts that have circumstances or situations that will not allow them to get treatment in an inpatient rehabilitation program. Outpatient programs provide patients with more freedom of movement which allows them to maintain a regular commitment to family, work, and educational responsibilities. (Gifford, 2015). This service is also used for those that have already been a part of an inpatient rehabilitation program, yet still require some further support so they do not relapse. Both treatment types first seek to help the individual with their physical addiction and get them rehabilitated, and then focuses on the underlying causes of their addiction and help them deal with it to help prevent and avoid any relapse. Choosing which type of treatment is needed and which would best benefit the individual would need to be decided between the addict and their doctor or counselor. It is not a decision to be made lightly especially for those that need the extra care that an inpatient facility would
There are many contributing factors and political issues that address substance abuse. Throughout the years, many researchers have designed many interventions and social policies designed to treat people who have used, abused, and became addicted to substances. Today, there are many new studies that address substance abuse at the individual, group, family, and community or policy levels. Today, there are many services that are effective for decreasing recidivism in youth who have completed a substance abuse program. A substance abuse treatment program or center is the best way to treat individuals who have abused substances.
“Defining Detox” had some good information for everyone to know about how detox works. Robin Foroutan is a dietitian that wrote this article and had some very interesting knowledge to pass on to the readers. While Robin explained the fact that the medical community that refrain from using the word “detox”. “…much of the medical community eschews the term “detoxification,”…” (Foroutan, 2012) The three main points that I got out of this article and that everyone should know is what the medical community thinks about detox, how detox actually works, and the detox products available.
Unfortunately, the healthcare professional must wait weeks for the completion of the detoxification process to know for sure. “During that detoxification period, the provider also collects collateral data from family members and tests.” (Knopf, 2015). Additional complications are a poor clinical history, stigmas of SUD and mental illness placed on individuals by society, and the fact that withdrawal symptoms mimic all types of mental illnesses. And, to deteriorate conditions, co-occurring disorder clients have a much higher suicide rate, have an increased risk of homelessness, increased risk of abuse, an increased risk of incarceration, and have a much higher chance of contracting AIDS or hepatitis. “Drug users with psychiatric comorbidity (also called dual diagnosis) develop more medical (e.g., Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, Hepatitis) and psychosocial problems and have poorer prognosis than those without it.” (Chahua,
Main Point: The effects on a person after they become addicted to something can be small, or they can be great, depending on the length of time they are exposed to the addictive behavior or substance and what caused it. The addiction affects the addict’s health, career and relationships. I can tell you from personal experience with having family members who were addicts, that I was traumatized growing up. (Personal story about couple arguing here.) According to Roxanne Edwards of Medicine.net, “In terms of effects on the body, intoxication with a substance can cause physical effects that range from marked sleepiness and slowed breathing …to the rapid heart rate...” In addition, psychologically they can have suicidal thoughts or elation depending on the addictive substance or behavior. This is why it is important for the addict to seek help because they cannot get rid of the issue on their own. Most of the time, addicts go through some sort of rehab treatment and when they are released they are instructed to go to meetings that help with the aftermath of addiction. Just a few of these groups are places like Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous, or even Celebrate Recovery. Although some places believe that these programs do not work, it is well worth mentioning that the success rates depend on the want to of the person working them. They have to want to remain sober or free from the addiction or they will go right back to it. Alcohol Rehab.com puts it this way, “Failure to
Remember, detoxification is a process. It took many months, or even years, for these toxins to accumulate; so they can’t be removed in a weekend. Going slowly has the added advantage of giving the body time to adjust. A detox crisis, that period when toxin removal just makes you feel sick, is simply nature’s way of telling us we’re moving too fast. Ultimately, detoxification should be an enjoyable process that restores our energy and preserves long-term health.
Effective detoxification aims to help a person deal with all of the problems created by poor diet and the introduction of others substances into the body which have occurred over a lifetime. To obtain the most effective results, it's always a smart thing to change diet permanently, and well as certain other lifestyle choices, like putting down cigarettes for
Drug treatment programs to help the client detoxify. Detoxification is a process by which the body clears itself, mainly designed to manage the dangerous physiological effects of stopping the drug use. Detoxification should be completed in association with addressing the psychological, social, or behavior problems that are associated with recovery.