Alternatives to Drug Rehab

Drug rehabilitation usually follows three basic principles – detoxification, counseling and aftercare. In most cases, rehab takes place in a facility that sequesters the patient from the rest of the world; however, there are other possible alternative treatment options. All forms of drug treatment focus on making sure the patient recovers from the drug addiction, avoids relapse and has the skills necessary to cope with situations that can promote drug use. Most alternative drug treatments add one or more other steps to the recovery process in hopes of establishing a more complete recovery from the addiction.

Remember that treatment for any type of addiction is vital. There are no alternatives that allow the patient to continue to use their drug of choice. Without treatment, most substance abuse addiction invariably leads to a host of serious health problems that can cause death.

Holistic Drug Rehabilitation

Instead of following the established routine, holistic drug treatment uses the teachings and practices of certain systems to help the patient balance their mind, spirit and body. Common holistic practices include yoga, acupuncture and meditation. Proponents of holistic drug treatment state that the use of these approaches helps the recovering addict come to terms with the reasons and emotional motivations that prompted their addiction. By facing the root problem and using holistic techniques to resolve those problems, addicts are able to overcome their addiction and be protected against relapse.

Individual and Group Therapy

Often addicts require intense therapy sessions in order to overcome the psychological damage caused by addiction. Instead of just focusing on the dependency, like drug rehabilitation, the therapy sessions are geared to changing the addict’s behavior.

Individual therapy allows the recovering addict to talk about their problems and thoughts in complete privacy. In these sessions, the therapist helps the patient come to terms with their addiction and offers coping mechanisms for any strong cravings. According to the National Institutes of Health, this therapy helps the addict communicate better with their loved ones and allows them the time they need to deal with their own internal struggles.

Group therapy is another form of drug treatment that provides counseling in a social setting. Addicts dealing with the same or similar addictions are able to gather together to share their experiences and support each other. The positive reinforcement found within these group sessions often helps the patient with the next steps in recovery. Outpatient group sessions, such as Narcotics Anonymous, may help addicts deal with their problems on an ongoing basis.

Outpatient Therapy Plus Supervision

In some cases, the addict can find medical and psychological treatment on an outpatient basis. Professionals treat the recovering addict on an outpatient basis, and provide the medications and counseling required to help overcome addiction. However, this method is not exceedingly successful unless the addict is able to live in an environment where friends and relatives are able to supervise and monitor the patient’s actions, ensuring they don’t return to drug use when they aren’t at the treatment facility.

Family members and friends will have to be educated on numerous strategies that will help them deal with and support the addict as the recovery process continues.