The goal of addiction rehabilitation is to ensure that patients return to a productive level of functioning in their workplace, community, and family. Longitudinal research has shown that the majority of individuals who attend treatment and follow their treatment plan decrease the level of their criminal activity, improve socially, improve in the workplace, and their psychological functioning improves overall. It is important to note that treatment outcomes are dependent on the patient’s adherence to treatment protocol, the treatments administered, and their unique underlying psychological and behavioral issues.
Addiction is comparable to any chronic disease. It is comparable to chronic diseases due to the likelihood of individuals relapsing due to their addiction. The relapse rate of individuals with addiction has been shown to be similar to other chronic illnesses like asthma, hypertension,and diabetes. Addiction is comparable to these chronic illnesses, as they all have behavioral and psychological components involved. It is possible to manage and treat addiction successfully, but the appropriate treatment must be administered. Treatment within a rehabilitation center enables individuals to offset addiction within their brain chemistry and behaviors and allows them to be able to regain a lifestyle that is not dependent on substances.
Factors that Influence the Effectiveness of Rehab Centers
There are several factors that determine the efficacy of rehabilitation centers. These factors include
- a reduction in substance use
- improvements in employment
- improvements in education
- improvements in relationships
- improvements in legal status
- improvements in mental health
- improvement in physical health
- improvement in public safety
Effective rehab centers typically include the following: staff with graduate level training, doctors who are certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine, treatment that is individualized and developed by an addiction counselor that is licensed, treatment for underlying social or mental health issues, ability to administer medications if needed, multiple forms of treatment, and at least a 90 day time period for rehab that is followed by outpatient treatment, support groups, and therapy. It is important to keep in mind that the most effective rehab centers are accredited by a official organization that specializes in the treatment of addiction. An example of such an organization is the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Accredited rehab centers must meet the guidelines set by the accreditation body which may include treatment that is tailored to each patient being served by the rehab center.
Research has shown that the longer a patient commits to treatment and adheres to their treatment protocol, the more likely that they will achieve sobriety. The best treatment centers invest in continuing care, meaning they ensure that their patients are set up to receive treatment, support, and therapy even after their stay within the facility. Continuing care can include assisting patients with gaining long-term support, encouraging individuals to attend treatment for extended periods of time, providing education and resources to patient’s families and friends, and offering more than one type of treatment.
Treatment offered could include group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy. Further, these treatments should be evidence-based and include treatment methods such as behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy focuses on identifying an individual’s negative thoughts and reframing these thoughts to be more productive and lead to less harmful behaviors. Behavior therapy can include the following: counseling, incentives for remaining abstinent, problem-solving skills, skills for relapse prevention, relationship counseling, and motivational counseling. Another therapy that may be used in conjunction with the treatments listed above is medication-assisted treatment.
Medication-assisted treatment is primarily used with individuals who have alcohol or opioid dependency. Medication-assisted treatment allow patients to avoid temptation due to their cravings being dramatically reduced. An example of medication-assisted treatment is methadone treatment for individuals with opioid dependency. The majority of individuals who engage in medication-assisted treatment are able to remain sober for much longer than others who do not engage in such treatment. If you or a loved one needs more information regarding rehab centers and their effectiveness, please contact us today at 833-820-2922. Our staff is highly equipped to discuss and answer any of your questions regarding rehab centers or treatment. We look forward to speaking with you!