What Does an Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centre Treat?
Most rehab centres offer treatment programmes to treat:
- drug addiction
- alcohol addiction
- behavioural addiction
Treatment programmes ranges from one to three month, but extended care options are frequently available.
Even though many people battling addictions also have a psychological disorder like depression, anxiety, or PTSD, few alcohol and drug rehab centres are equipped to treat co-occurring disorders. A co-occurring disorder is when someone has an addiction and at least one psychological disorder at the same time. It is vital that people with co-occurring disorders receive care from a psychologist, psychiatrist, and/or trauma specialist alongside addiction treatment for successful recovery.
Even fewer rehab centres offer onsite alcohol and drug detox programmes. Supervised medical withdrawal requires a proper clinic and psychiatric doctors, and many rehabs lack these vital resources. Withdrawing in hospital then transferring to rehab does not provide continuity of care or a smooth transition into rehabilitation it is stressful and uncomfortable.
Alcohol and Drug Detoxes
Detox can be difficult and potentially lethal when attempted alone. Uncontrolled withdrawal can have swift and dramatic medical consequences. Some alcohol and drug rehab centres have onsite detox clinics, specialists, and partnerships with local hospitals to help you safely through the painful withdrawal process. Unsurprisingly, medically-supervised detoxes are significantly more successful than DIY attempts.
Medical detoxes in an alcohol and drug rehab centre are a controlled withdrawal, carefully designed to make your experience as smooth and safe as possible. You are cocooned in a safe environment, far away from stress and negative influences, while professionals administer round-the-clock medical and psychological assistance. This gives your body and brain time to eliminate detrimental substances safely.
Medication is sometimes used to ease the symptoms of withdrawal. It mimics the effects of alcohol or drugs and allows the body and brain to adapt to gradually decreasing doses. Cravings are more manageable and you feel calm and soothed. Withdrawal medications include naltrexone, disulfiram, methadone, and buprenorphine.
Co-treating Addiction and Mental Health Disorders
A co-occurring disorder is when addiction is present at the same time as at least one mental illness. It can increase your risk of treatment-noncompliance, demotivation, early discontinuation of your treatment programme, and relapse.
Long-term substance abuse can chemically alter the body’s physiology and cause mental illness. For example, cocaine addiction frequently leads to anxiety and paranoia, and heroin abuse can disrupt the brain’s pleasure centres and cause depression.
Sometimes, a person with a pre-existing mental disorder may self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. PTSD and prescription painkiller abuse go hand-in-hand because long-term reliance on the soothing effects can quickly turn into an addiction.
Most alcohol and drug rehab centres will conduct a mental health evaluation to determine if you have a co-occurring disorder. Your counsellor will develop an integrated dual diagnosis treatment plan and tailor your rehabilitation programme, counselling sessions, and outcome goals to suit your needs.
Medication is sometimes combined with other therapies to treat co-occurring disorders. Examples include:
- Antidepressants
- Anti-anxiety medication
- Mood stabilizing drugs
- Atypical antipsychotic medication
Private and Group Counselling
You can start your treatment programme as soon as you finish detoxing — if detox was necessary in the first place. Private counselling plays a significant role in recovery at an alcohol and drug rehab centre. It is non-judgemental and helps you dig deep, dissect the reasons behind your behaviours, instil a sense of optimism and hope, achieve sobriety, and learn techniques to cope with temptations, triggers, and stressful situations after you return home.
Substance abuse and recovery can be excruciating alone. Research shows that group counselling is equally as effective as individual counselling. Indeed, for many people, it’s one of the most useful aspects of their treatment, tapping into our natural desire to congregate, share common experiences, and bond with those around us.
Group therapy sessions are an opportunity for self-expression, positive peer reinforcement, and healthy new relationships. They offer insights, ideas, accountability, and motivation that may not have been possible in private sessions alone.
Individual and group counselling used together offers a well-rounded therapeutic tool for treating addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.
What Types of Therapy are Offered?
Let’s look at a few of the many different kinds of therapy offered by an alcohol and drug rehab centre.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
CBT and MBCT are talking therapies. CBT and MBCT counselling help addicts realise connections between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. These therapies are used in the majority of rehab centres because they are highly effective at aiding recovery and preventing relapse. With CBT and MBCT, addicts can finally understand the reasons behind their substance abuse making it much easier to overcome addiction.
With guidance from a trained counsellor, you will hone in on the negative thoughts and behaviours associated with your craving triggers such as pressure at work, time with particular friends, or simply feeling tired, hungry, or lonely.
You will be able to recognise environments and circumstances that lead to substance abuse, learn how to avoid and remove yourself from triggers, and use specific techniques to cope without turning to drugs or alcohol.
After identifying negative situations and behaviours, your therapist will help you list objective evidence to support or disprove your negative thoughts. Then, you will develop new responses to those triggers.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Stress increases the likeliness of substance abuse. MBSR soothes stress with meditation, body awareness, and yoga. It also helps you untangle the unconscious interactions between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Ultimately, MBSR drives a conscious wedge between cravings and actual drug or alcohol use.
The 12 step of AA
The 12 Step Philosophy was introduced in the 1930as and is still widely used today. Following the twelve steps means admitting you have a problem beyond your control, turning to God as you understand him, conducting a moral inventory of self and admitting to any wrongs, asking God for assistance and allowing his help, making amends with people you have wronged, praying, meditation, and finally, awakening spiritually. Research suggests that 12 Step Philosophy is especially effective for patients with a strong support network and this includes local Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings back home.
Family Therapy
When your family or partner attend therapy they can learn more about their role in your life, how to help you gain awareness of your behaviours, and devise ways to bolster the entire family unit. They can improve their own mental wellbeing, open up new lines of communication, and understand and avoid enabling behaviours. They can even become part of your relapse prevention plan and help halt the spread of substance abuse in your family.
Addiction can impact your family and friends. In many cases, dysfunctional relationships can contribute to and perpetuate addiction. It is unsurprising that addiction is often referred to as a family disease. Family Therapy considers a person’s drug problems in light of their family interactions. It explores dynamics that may affect behaviours and contribute to drug or alcohol abuse.
Choose the Right Rehab
People who successfully complete alcohol or drug addiction treatment programmes lead better, more productive lives. They experience social and personal improvements and are less likely to engage in criminal activity. But the key word here is successful. Ineffective programmes will not help you, so it’s important to choose an effective alcohol and drug rehab centre you can trust.
NuLifeLineCare, The Best Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centre in Dehradun
At NuLifeLineCare Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centre in Dehradun, we care for you throughout your recovery with our highly effective individualised treatment programmes. You will feel safe, respected, and valued. We are India’s leading alcohol and drug rehab centre, offering effective and safe medical detox and comprehensive addiction treatment in the heart of Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
