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Treatment Program
What is the purpose of the
treatment program? How does it help people who
have a drug or alcohol addiction? Where did it
come from and how does it work? These are common
questions. For an individual, family member or
loved one who has had limited to no experience
with a treatment program, many questions do
arise.
Long before the advent of
treatment facilities as they are known today,
there were certain wards reserved in hospitals
for drug addicts and alcoholics. For those
suffering from addiction and depending on their
financial standing, admittance to an alcoholic
ward could mean the difference between an
asylum, sanitarium or resort-like hotel.
Regrettably, it was usually the later that the
drunk or addict was admitted to and more than
likely it was not their first stay. The drug
addict and alcoholic were usually filtered in
with people who had permanent yet severe mental
problems. One of the reasons for doing this was
due to the physical withdrawal process the
addict or alcoholic would go through. Sometimes
a violent, horrifying event, the alcoholic or
drug addict would have terrifying hallucinations
and would sometimes lose all contact with
reality. The facilities at the time resorted to
what they had which were the psychiatric wards
where everyone who was suffering from
hallucinations or paranoid thoughts would go. If
they were a threat to themselves or anyone else
during their withdrawal, these wards are usually
where they would end up.
Luckily for us today, these
options are no longer available. There are
medical advances that now allow a withdrawal to
be a relatively minor event, at least
comparatively to how it used to be. There are
new drugs available to ease the discomfort and
life-threatening situation of drug or alcohol
withdrawal.
In the 1980’s, a new, private
facility began to appear across the country.
These were called treatment centers specifically
focused on the drug addict and alcoholic. An
individual no longer had to go to the
uncomfortable environment of a hospital psych
ward and now had the choice to admit themselves
to a friendlier environment. With the increasing
use of cocaine and heroin, these facilities
began to fill quite rapidly. In fact, it is
widely joked about in some Hollywood circles,
“The 80’s were when everyone went to rehab.”
A treatment program usually
consists of a plan of action to help the
alcoholic or drug addict remain sober, not only
during their stay in the facility but also for
when they go home. It can seem like there are
about as many methods and ideas for
rehabilitation as there are facilities. Truth be
known, there are many programs available to an
alcoholic or drug addict seeking treatment. Some
are built off a few basic elements and common
philosophies while others are new and cutting
edge. Though expensive, some work well for
particular people while other, less expensive
programs do just as well. A little research into
the facility and its philosophies will allow a
more objective decision to be made.
One of the most common
elements in many treatment facilities today is
the 12 step approach. This treatment program
usually consists of developing an understanding
of the 12 step program while at the facility,
actively working a few steps, attendance at a
few 12 step meetings and preparation to continue
attending meetings after discharge and going
home or to a halfway house.
Regardless which facility is
chosen, any support is better than no support.
Doing it alone has rarely yielded many
successes. The powerful fact about treatment and
rehabilitation facilities today is the
individual is surrounded by other people who are
trying to achieve the same desired result. There
is power in numbers and when a group of
alcoholic or drug addicts get together for sole
purpose of staying sober, their chances of
achieving their objective is greatly increased.
By: Patrick McLemore
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