Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center

A drug and alcohol treatment center has a number of different functions which are helpful for the individual who is attempting recovery and rehabilitation from use of drugs or alcohol. Although the approach may vary, depending on the patient as well as on the underlying philosophy of the drug and alcohol treatment center, the goal of each center is to assist the patient through the withdrawal period and provide therapy for mental physiological and emotional issues plaguing the patient and finally to provide long term counseling or group therapy sessions to patients once they have reentered the community.

Ordinarily, the first step in a program followed at the drug and alcohol treatment center is that of assessment. The medical professionals or health care providers want to determine as much as possible about the physical and emotional state of the patient so that the best regimen for long term recovery can be followed. Important factors to consider are the physical characteristics of the patient, such as age, weight and any alcohol or drug related health issues. In addition, the drug and alcohol treatment center staff are likely to review such things as the length of time which substance abuse has been going on. They may explore the life stressors of the patient, including family relationships, employment factors and general living environment. If the entrance into the drug and alcohol treatment center facility is due to a court mandated placement, that will have an impact on the treatment program which is designed.

Following assessment of the patient, the usual next step at the drug and alcohol treatment center is to make sure that all vestiges of drugs or alcohol have been removed from the patient's tissues and blood cells. This done through a process known as detoxification. Detoxification essentially means removing toxins or poisons from the cells. Detoxification is also called withdrawal. The withdrawal or detoxification process must be done under the care of qualified health care professionals or medical professionals who specialize in the treatment of those with substance abuse problems. Usually, medications specific to the type of detoxification being done are given to the patient in order to ease the pain and stress of withdrawal. The type of medication is just intended to deal with the detoxification symptoms such as nausea, convulsions, seizures, vomiting, headaches, anxiety and sometimes hallucinations and tremors. Detoxification doesn't curb the desire for alcohol, or lead to long term abstinence, it is only the first step in the program at the drug and alcohol treatment center. During detoxification, which can last from three to five days, the person's body gradually is cleared of the residue of alcohol or drugs so that the next step in treatment can occur.

The next part of the program at the drug and alcohol treatment center is therapy. Therapy can take place on many different fronts. For example, those who have participated in drug or alcohol abuse for months or years often have neglected their health to a serious extent. The treatment regimen often includes extra doses of the B vitamins to help rebuild the tissues and cells which have been damaged by substance abuse. Therapy in regards to training a person how to function in society is a critical part of most programs. Everything from personal cleanliness to how to interview for and work in gainful employment will be part of the therapy provided in a quality drug and alcohol treatment center. The patient will quite often receive therapy in the area of behavior modification both on an individual basis and as part of group sessions. Many times the drug and alcohol treatment center will utilize counselors who are themselves recovering from drug or alcohol abuse. It is believed that these counselors are best able to understand what the patient is going through and how to resolve some of the issues associated with reentry to normal social interaction. The patient must also learn how to handle such reentry issues as meeting and dealing with situations related to peers and acquaintances who use controlled substances or alcohol, or social situations where the patient would previously have participated in drinking or using illicit substances. During this stage of therapy, families and/or employers may be brought in some for counseling and others to assist in the reentry process.

The next step in the treatment program of a drug and alcohol treatment center is often that of being available for the ongoing support of a person who has completed the residential portion of the program. The residential portion can last anywhere from days to months, depending upon the center. The ongoing support can go on indefinitely. There may be regular group meeting such as those similar to the 12-step program. There may be routine personal counseling with a therapist, psychologist or social worker, depending upon the needs of the patient. Often weekly or bi-weekly meetings help the recovering substance abuser stay on course. The resources of the drug and alcohol treatment center are also very helpful if the person should have a relapse. The encouragement of others who have slipped can be the factor that makes the difference between having a relapse on the road to recovery and sliding completely back into substance abuse.

The key features of any good drug and alcohol treatment center is that the program is designed to meet the needs of the individual, whether those needs by physiological, emotional, mental or social. The approach of the center may be based on one or more treatment modalities, but they also tend to follow a similar philosophy as a starting point. Some of the differences have to do with where the funding for the center is coming from. For example, a religious or church based center may look at treatment plans much differently than that run by state or federal government funding. A center which is run by or associated with a hospital or medical facility may look at treatment differently than does a therapeutic community.