Alcohol and drug treatment centers offer a wide range of services for persons who are addicted. Many times, these programs provide free treatment to those who cannot afford to pay for services. Free inpatient drug and alcohol treatment centers assist people to stay sober by offering support, physical care, psychological counseling, and medical intervention, as well as an array of tools to help someone stay clean and sober.

Drug addiction has reached epidemic proportions across the globe. According to statistics, 230 people use drugs worldwide. In the U.S., 20 million people report using illicit drugs in the last year. Mental illness tends to play a role in drug addiction also. Around 8.4 million Americans report having some type of mental condition. So what is the solution? Inpatient drug and alcohol treatment can help. Find out about five ways to put addiction in your past and get on with your life. Addiction

Number 1: Safe Detox

Detoxification (detox) is used to combat substance withdrawal syndrome. According to the American Medical Association, alcohol withdrawal syndrome symptoms “range from minor symptoms, such as tremulousness and insomnia, to severe complications, such as seizures and delirium tremors.” Inpatient substance abuse treatment centers offer a safe environment for detox, and medications are used to make the experience less traumatizing.

Number 2: Restore Self-Control

Substance abuse can ruin your life in many ways. One of the ways drugs and/or alcohol affects those who are addicted is by interfering with daily activities and routines. It is easy for a person to lose control over his or her drinking, and this interferes with daily routines. Inpatient drug and alcohol treatment will help restore self-control in many ways, first by helping you stop the substance, and then, by restoring a sense of routine.

Number 3: Support Network

Many people lose contact with close friends and relatives when they are abusing drugs and/or alcohol. Inpatient treatment assists the addict to form a support network that gives you opportunities and companionship during recovery. Supportive care teaches you how to build a healthy, strong support network when you leave the center. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, treatment is tailored to meet your unique needs, which includes additional support.

Number 4: Changed Attitudes

Alcohol and drug inpatient treatment helps you change your attitude about addiction, as well as about other things in life. Through therapy and counseling, you learn to gain a better understanding of the dangers of drug use and the benefits of recovery. Attitude changing involves:

• Learning about triggers – These are situations and things that may drive you back to using drugs and/or drinking alcohol.
• Coping with cravings and stressors – This involves facing situations that you may not have considered before. Stressors could be something simple as starting a new job, and cravings could be worsened by certain high-risk environments.
• Thinking through the outcome of a relapse – Many recovering addicts turn back to alcohol and drugs with the expectations of feeling better about themselves. Changing your attitude about this will prevent overdose, loss of relationships, incarceration, or death.

Number 5: Follow-Up Care

Effective inpatient treatment offers some means of follow-up care after you are released or discharged. Most centers provide continued counseling and therapy, as well as assistance with job placement, guidance for career choices, and transition into a life of sobriety. Also called aftercare services, follow-up includes:

• Group therapy meetings with family members
• One-on-one counseling sessions for spouses, children, and partners.
• Educational programs to offer information on addiction and mental illness.
• 12 step programs such as Al-Anon and Nar-Anon.

Resources

Buggle, A. (2013). After 40-Year Fight, Illicit Drug-Use at All-Time High. Huffington Post. 

Our Drug Culture. (n.d.). Foundation for a Drug-Free World.

High Society: How Substance Abuse Ravages America and What to Do About It. (2008). CASA Columbia.