Sometime last week during a casual conversation with an acquaintance, the question of rehabilitation for persons with substance use disorders came up. I could tell that the individual was passionate that anyone who walks into a rehabilitation facility ought to come out changed, regardless of the type of condition that took them there in the first place. That got me thinking.
First, no miracles happen in rehabilitation centres and it is important for those who have their kin or loved ones in those facilities to understand as much. A rehab centre is a facility devoted to treating substance use dependence. Many rehab centres offer different environments, levels of care and treatment methods.
The facilities offer comprehensive treatment programmes that address the physical, emotional and psychological needs of someone struggling with addiction. The treatment can also be residential or outpatient, depending on the patient’s unique needs and situation.
For those living with a substance use disorder, seeking treatment can be a frightening experience. Many are bogged down by the thought of how much it will cost them, or the length of time their treatment will take. Since everyone has their own unique story that will require a distinctive approach, there is no one-size-fits-all formula for treatment.
Having said that, it’s also important to point out that just like the length of treatment, the method by which someone recovers from dependence varies across different people. Though individual experiences may contrast, overall, people who complete a rehabilitation programme can expect to progress through at least four distinct phases of the treatment process: intake, detox, rehabilitation and aftercare or ongoing recovery.
Intake entails a wide-ranging assessment, which is then used to create a customised treatment plan for recovery. Detox manages unpleasant withdrawal symptoms and purges the body of addictive substances but does not treat addiction, which is often a mental health issue. During dependence treatment, a person undergoes various therapies that help them work through issues that cause substance use and adopt a healthier lifestyle.
A residential rehab centre makes available a place for someone to live while receiving addiction treatment when admitted to the facility. It takes away people from triggers in their daily lives and often provides a home-like feel so recovering individuals feel comfortable during their stay.
The main benefit of residential addiction treatment is that it submerges someone in the healing process. Everything they do is related to recovery. Through daily therapy and sober free time, they learn to replace substance use with healthier habits.
Due to the all-inclusive nature of the care provided, residential rehab is often recommended for cases of severe or long-term addiction, and for those suffering from co-occurring disorders.
Outpatient rehab may provide similar therapies to those provided in inpatient rehab, but clients return home after treatment each day. There exist diverse levels of outpatient rehab, ranging from programmes that have patients meet once or twice per week to intensive outpatient programmes that comprise six hours per day of therapy.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse proposes that effective addiction treatment should take at least 90 days for full efficacy. However, it is also not mandatory that the entire period has to be spent in an in-patient rehabilitation centre. Sometimes, the structure can be such one begins with a month at the in-patient facility before transitioning to an outpatient facility.
Life in rehab is very structured such that each day is characterised by activities and therapies to eliminate apathy and idle time during which clients may be tempted to relapse to drug or alcohol use.
Through adaptation to a new living schedule, a person can avoid reverting to old tendencies that could threaten their recovery. Meticulous programmes can likewise draw away clients from any cravings they may experience related to their drug of choice.
In rehab, there is a bit of private time available between meals, activities and therapy sessions to allow for personal reflection, but much of the day is planned out for clients.
Manager Corporate Communications, Nacada