The initial step for the addicted person is to acknowledge that there is a substance dependency problem (addiction problem). The further step is to get help. In most of the world, there are many support groups and professional services available. Since drug addiction has become a major problem in today’s world, we all should know the ways to cure an addict and the ways to prevent addiction in general. Like every problem has a cure, drug addiction too is a very widespread problem but can be solved easily with the correct methods, medications, and patience. We all know that the main concern while treating a drug addict is to keep him away from drugs so that they have no source of reaching that drug anymore. However, this might be a difficult task in general if one is not aware of the correct ways to cure an addict.
Can Drug Addiction be Treated?
This is one of the most important questions that people generally have. However, there’s a slight catch. Yes, drug addiction can be cured till 95% but a lot depends on the willingness of the patient. If a patient is willing to help himself while being treated, addiction gets cured completely. However, if the patient tries or succumbs to his weakness and starts taking drugs again, the ailment is never cured. Thus, the person himself must have a strong will to get rid of the addiction that affects his health and life.
Treatments for Drug Addiction
Following are the primary things that should be done while treating an addict
1- Behavioral counseling
Drug addiction changes the behavior of person. This calls for a need of an urgent treatment in behavior as the person starts getting violent and abusive. Behavioral counseling is thus necessary to develop change in behavior. Behavioral counseling also plays an extremely important role. We should always remember that motivation is something that the addict needs the most. Behavioral counseling helps the addict to get over his perpetual depression which helps him to overcome many of his problems and find solutions to it. Counseling and meditation also soothes the mind of the person and helps him to respond to medications better.
2- Proper medications
Addiction is a state where the person doesn’t have control over his mind due to chemical changes. Medications will help them to get their previous state of mind and help them in controlling their addiction. Medications play a very vital role while treating the drug addicts. Different addicts require different kinds of medicines based on their health condition and on the type of drug that they were taking. Many medicines might react with the body of the patient due to the presence of the drugs in his body already. For using the correct medicines, being treated by trained doctors and nurses are very important.
3- Peaceful environment
Drug addicts need peaceful environment for restarting their previous life. They should be given a good environment where they can live stress free.
4- Advanced medical tools
Treating an addicted person is not possible without advanced medical tools. There are many places that use advanced techniques to treat the addicts as that help in better treatment and a faster recovery of the addicts. It is always better to admit drug addicts in a treatment center as these centers know how to treat the patients and which medicines to use for which patient. This is indeed a very important point because there have been cases where people tried to treat their family members who were addicts at home and that resulted in an adverse effect on the addict leading to extremely abnormal behavior and mental deterioration. Thus, nowadays people prefer to go for the rehab centers where you can at least stay away from wrong medications.
Also, more and more recovering addicts are using tools like voluntary ignition interlock devices as a way to ensure they are on the right path towards a happy and sober life.
5- A very strong support from the family
The addicted person would definitely need a family support so that he would get inspire to leave his habits. Though this point might seem a little unnecessary, this is undoubtedly one of the most important points. We should always keep it in mind that a person starts taking drugs because of feeling alone or frustrated most of the times. Thus family support is one of the major things that an addict needs to recover. We often find people who are addicts being ignored by their parents, wives or families. This hampers the addicts’ mental and physical condition even more. Hence, apart from the correct medications, family’s support, love and care is an imperative part of treating a drug addict.
The points mentioned above are indeed essential for the treatment of addicts and the success rate in all this is around 65% which is quite a good amount. With higher success rates, more and more people are choosing to go for rehab centers in order to be cured.