Most people are unable to beat the disease of addiction by themselves. Drug treatment offers professional assistance in helping people overcome their drug addictions. Addiction recovery helps people not only to simply abstain from using drugs but also to live a happy and productive life. Drug treatment is not suggested to be a total cure for addiction: People who complete drug treatment should never use drugs again because the chance of addiction resurfacing is extremely high. Drug treatment helps addicts to learn ways to cope productively with the stress and frustration of normal living. The lessons taught in a drug treatment program are practical and are expected to be used in every facet of the patient's life.

Ultimately the aim of drug treatment is to empower an individual who is caught in the grip of chemical dependency. Instead of being a slave to the drug the patient is helped to take responsibility and live life productively.

Drug treatment can be offered to people who have a dual diagnosis (co-occurring mental disorder) like depression or anxiety. They can learn skills and receive education that will help them to find addiction recovery and to manage their co-occurring disorder better.

Many people try to overcome drug addiction by themselves. This illness is incredibly difficult to beat. Many addicts have become physically dependent on their drug. This means that if they stop using the drug they experience uncomfortable withdrawal effects. Additionally addicts brains become accustomed to using drugs and psychological cravings make it very hard for an addict to stay clean. Drug treatment is a way to help the addict achieve addiction recovery.

Lasting abstinence from addiction and alcoholism is one of the goals of a drug treatment program in South Africa. This is accomplished by first helping the addict to discontinue the use of drugs. This is performed in a specialized detoxification (detox) clinic. The drug treatment that follows the initial detoxification (detox) phase is designed to help the patient learn new life skills that will empower him/her to become a functional and productive member of society.

Before a person enters a drug treatment program in South Africa he/she should be assessed to see if alcohol rehabilitation or drug treatment is required. The assessment will also determine which drug treatment center is appropriate and likely to meet the addicts needs. Matching the client to a facility that is best suited to his/her individual needs improves the likelihood of a positive drug treatment outcome.

Drug treatment programs can be offered in inpatient rehab centers in South Africa. These are very effective in treating alcoholism, addiction, and dual diagnosis. There is a wide range of substance abuse treatment programs and choosing one may seem a daunting task at times.

A drug treatment program will typically include counseling (both individual and group therapy), education about the illness, relapse prevention exercises, medical assistance, and a balanced nutritional program. Addiction and alcoholism affect many areas of life and a comprehensive drug treatment program will address body, mind, and spirit in an integrative and holistic manner.

Some of the different forms of drug treatments that are used in South Africa include psychotherapy (CBT and other types), recovery support groups (like Narcotics Anonymous), family therapy sessions, and educational lectures. Together these clinical disciplines teach the addict to become a productive and happy member of society. Ongoing attendance at recovery orientated meetings help the addict to consolidate what he/she learnt in the drug treatment center in South Africa.

Drug treatment is most effective when it is comprehensive and covers many dimensions of the individual's life. A variety of drug treatment methods are employed in rehab centers in South Africa. This helps to address the many facets that make up the unique individual.

Of course this can make it more difficult for people searching for a recovery program. We Do Recover can help you to determine the treatment methodology and establish the credentials of the staff.

Residential Drug Treatment
Residential drug treatment is one of the more successful methods of addiction treatment. The model used in South Africa typically involves a relatively short term (4 weeks) stay in an intense short-term residential treatment program. After completing this the patient is referred to extended care programs or discharged home with the agreement that he/she attend aftercare support sessions at the drug rehab center.

A residential drug treatment program offers a safe environment for the addict to learn the lifeskills that will enable him/her to live a productive life free of substance abuse and alcoholism. The community in the drug rehab center is supportive. Peers help each other to see blind spots in their life which helps them to challenge their denial.

Residential drug treatment programs in South Africa are usually more intensive than other treatment options. Because the setting of treatment is safe and closely supervised they are able to work deeper and quicker with clients. A residential drug treatment program in South Africa will teach life skills and general social skills. They will provide relapse prevention exercises (usually based on a cognitive behavioural paradigm). There is generally psychiatric evaluation attached to a residential drug treatment center in South Africa.

Residential addiction treatment in South Africa can last for several months. Care is provided on a continuum from intense short-term care to less intense long-term care. There are many sober living, halfway-houses, and extended care facilities that will assist an addict in bridging the gap between closely supervised treatment and living normal day-to-day life.

Residential drug treatment is usually recommended to anybody who has tried another method of addiction treatment and relapsed.

Outpatient Drug Treatment
Outpatient drug treatment programs allow the addict the opportunity to come to the drug rehab center for lectures and therapy while still living at home. They use a variety of approaches to help their clients find meaningful addiction recovery. People who attend an outpatient drug treatment center are still exposed to their normal real-life problems which can make it slightly more difficult for them to stay sober.

As with residential programs the goal of an outpatient drug treatment program is to help the addict find addiction recovery and re-enter society as a functional and productive member. Living a happy and fulfilled life is only possible once the patient has obtained freedom from the compulsion of chemical dependence.

Outpatient drug treatment implies that the patient lives at home and attends therapeutic sessions at the drug treatment facility. The intensity of outpatient drug treatment programs in South Africa varies between facilities. Generally the programs use the technique of "motivational enhancement" to help addicts find addiction recovery.

Detox and Detoxification
Detoxification (detox) is the first step in drug treatment. During this phase of drug treatment the patient is admitted to a specialized clinic under close medical supervision. Drug and alcohol detox rids the body of the chemicals and toxins that have accumulated from substance abuse. Detoxification (detox) is not regarded as drug treatment in itself. A person needs to be comprehensively treated using a variety of therapeutic interventions designed to address the psychological, social, and behavioural that substance abuse may have produced. The detoxification (detox) program by itself will not help most people find addiction recovery but should be followed up with inpatient or outpatient drug treatment programs.

Detoxification (detox) is the time when an addict withdraws from the chemicals. Because withdrawal can be unpleasant or even life threatening this is usually performed under close medical supervision in specialist detox facilities in South Africa.

Doctors have developed many different protocols or methods to perform the detoxification. The specific method of detoxification chosen by the doctor will change depending on the type of substance that has been abused and the personal opinion of the doctor. Detoxification prepares the patient to enter drug treatment with a clear mind and a healthy body.

In closing
Drug treatment provides people with a chance to regain their dignity and live life free of the compulsion to use drugs. It helps people to stop the destructive cycles that addiction creates and to start repairing the damages that substance abuse has caused. Addiction recovery is a long-term process and may sometimes require several treatment events for the patient to obtain. A successful drug treatment center in South Africa offers a comprehensive program that addresses the individual on many levels. People who leave drug treatment have the opportunity to live life as they choose, instead of having every thought and action dictated by chemicals.