If you or a loved one has a problem with drugs, you want to find the best treatment possible. But with so many options available, it can be difficult to figure out which is best for you. Treatments for addiction range from various types of talk therapy, to more outlandish holistic practices such as TRE, EMDR and sound healing.
In this blog, we explore what the most successful treatments for drug abuse are, so you can make an informed decision when seeking drug addiction treatment. To find out more about the strategies that The Beekeeper uses to restore our clients back to wellness, contact us today on +66 90 893 5296.
What are the Goals of Treatments for Drug Abuse?
In 2019, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that 35 million people struggle with some form of substance use disorder, including drug or alcohol use disorders, during their lifetime. That’s around 13% of the world’s population.
Substance use disorders greatly impact a person’s ability to lead a productive and fulfilling life. Given the prevalence of these disorders and how impactful they can be, adequate and appropriate treatment plans are necessary for full recovery from substance dependence.
There are many ways in which substance use disorders can impact behavior, so it’s necessary to develop individualized treatment plans that address specific symptoms, including the underlying causes of those symptoms. Treatment plans should also address the negative consequences substance use can have on different aspects of a person’s life—diminished physical and mental health, strained relationships with family and friends, inability to maintain work, or other issues.
Thankfully, many treatment options are available for patients with substance use disorder. This allows for the use of a combination of treatments, including different types of behavioral interventions. The different focuses of these interventions (for example, increasing motivation, improving self-efficacy, providing new coping mechanisms, etc.) all uniquely contribute to the rehabilitation of this disorder.
People may need to use different combinations of these treatments depending on varying factors, such as the intensity of their substance use dependency. Thus, taking an interdisciplinary approach holds a lot of value and is key to an efficient and successful treatment plan.
Treatment Approaches for Addiction
Many treatment treatment approaches for addiction have proven successful for treating substance use disorder. Here are some of the most successful.
Counseling Treatments for Drug Abuse
Counseling can provide patients with several ways of coping with drug cravings, depending on the type of counseling received. These coping mechanisms can include:
- Strategies for avoiding drugs and preventing relapse
- Mechanisms for dealing with a relapse if it does occur
- Having a safe space for discussing issues surrounding one’s personal life, such as issues at work or in relationships with family and friends
- The inclusion of family members (where appropriate) so that better support and communication can be built
- A space for addressing other issues with mental health, such as anxiety or depression.
- Counseling and behavioral treatments are shown to be effective when utilized in an interdisciplinary way.
Counseling can take different forms depending on what the patient needs. There are many variables that should be considered when choosing the right method, including:
- The environment (i.e., primary or outpatient care v. residential or in-home treatment for more severe cases)
- The counseling provider (i.e., a psychologist or psychiatrist v. a licensed alcohol and/or drug counselor)
- The type of programme (individual, group, or family therapy programme)
When choosing a counseling method, it’s important to consider which combination of approaches will provide the best outcome for the patient based on their individual needs.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Focuses on helping patients recognize, avoid, and cope with situations where they are most likely to find and use drugs.
Motivational Interviewing
This modality can be an effective treatment for drug abuse, and helps patients develop their own motivation for recovery and feel driven to change their own behavior.
Motivational Incentives
Also referred to as contingency management, involves using positive reinforcement to encourage abstinence from drugs.
Multidimension Family Therapy
This treatment for drug abuse addresses different factors that are influencing and resulting in drug abuse patterns, with a highlighted treatment focus on improving the overall functioning and wellbeing within the patient’s family.
At The Beekeeper we use a number of other approaches in addition to the above when working with clients in order to ensure we meet everyone’s particular needs as they evolve in a treatment process.
The most effective treatments for drug abuse will always be those that consider the individual needs, moving away from the cookie-cutter approach which is sometimes favored by drug addiction treatment centers.
Self-Help Groups
The goal behind self-help support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is to provide a support network with others who can relate to the struggles associated with substance use disorder.
These commonly use a 12-step programme for the rehabilitation process. An additional aim of these programmes is to teach that substance use disorder should be viewed as a chronic illness, and to decrease feelings of shame and isolation experienced by people in this community.
Medications Assisted Treatment
Medications Assisted Treatment in some circumstances are the first wave of treatment, and provide uses such as:
Managing Withdrawal Symptoms
Medications and devices can help suppress withdrawal symptoms and cravings during detoxification and the initial stages of recovery.
Relapse Prevention
Medications are also used to normalize brain function and reduce substance cravings. These medications can work very well to help drug users stop using illegal drugs, bringing them out of the risk of arrest and giving them an opportunity to stabilize their lives.
Unfortunately it is quite common for those on medication assisted treatment to relapse once they cease using these medicines.
Treat Co-occurring Conditions
Medications can be used to treat mental illnesses that may co-occur with and contribute to the substance use disorder.
Medications are a significant aspect of the treatment and recovery process and are most effective when used in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies.
Holistic Medicine
Alternative therapies for managing symptoms and mental health can be used to supplement the more common treatment options. Adding holistic medicine to your therapy plan promotes stress management and overall wellbeing. Examples of this include:
- A routine of regular physical activity can decrease stress and promote wellness.
- Meditation has the ability to reduce stress, but it also teaches mindfulness— a tool that can be used to maintain recovery after treatment.
- From relaxing breathing exercises to more strenuous workouts, yoga offers various benefits, including release of tension, feelings of peacefulness, and physical and emotional strength.
- Alternative healing modalities such as sound healing, EMDR and TRE. These tools for addiction treatment now have a host of research which backs up their efficacy.
Although they can be used independently, these treatments are most effective when used in an interdisciplinary manner and part of the patient’s overall treatment plan.
Resident and Inpatient Treatment Centers
There are a few different inpatient treatment approaches for addiction, which vary depending on length of treatment
Therapeutic Communities
Therapeutic communities offer long-term programmes where patients remain in a residence for some 6-to-12 months, receiving treatment for understanding how their behaviors and attitudes contribute to their drug use.
Recovery Housing
Recovery housing offers shorter supervised residential treatment, primarily for transitioning patients out of inpatient services and into an independent life.
Shorter Term Treatment
Other shorter-term residential treatments tend to focus on detoxification and intensive therapeutic behavioral treatment in group settings.
The Importance of Individualized Treatments for Drug Abuse
Not every approach is developed for each individual patient. It is common for many patients to be given the same, generic treatment without much thought. This is something we don’t do at The Beekeeper. To improve chances for success, treatments are developed around a patient’s individual needs. A variety of approaches are available, and it’s vital that patients are matched with those that will be the most beneficial to them.
At the Beekeeper we take an eclectic approach, which means our clinical staff are trained in a variety of different ways that equip us to meet the client where they are and develop treatments for drug abuse according to their unique needs.
We don’t take a single approach, and we might lean on different therapeutic approaches or techniques when working with clients. Our clinical staff are trained and qualified to be able to deliver such services, making sure we are adaptable and agile when working with clients.
The Beekeeper: Holistic Drug Addiction Treatment
At The Beekeeper we use similar drug addiction treatments as those at many other treatment centers around the world. But we also keep an open mind to the possibilities offered by holistic practices. We find that these tools when combined with traditional modalities, sometimes allow healing where it was not previously possible.
If you would like to speak with a member of our team on how we might best use the holistic approach to meet your addiction treatment needs, call us on +66 90 893 5296.
