Drug addiction is a growing problem worldwide, and new research on how people get addicted to drugs and how to treat drug addiction is constantly being conducted. A lot of factors contribute to someone deciding to use drugs and what leads them down the road of addiction. Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs have shown several promising ways to treat drug addiction. Here are some of them:
Rehabilitation
Drug addicts have a very high risk of relapse, and rehabilitation is an effective way to reduce that risk. As explained by the professionals from Help 4 Addiction, when addicts participate in a treatment program at a reputable rehabilitation center, they will be able to focus solely on their recovery without the interference of drug use. This allows them to build new relationships with people who do not use drugs or associate with other individuals who may trigger their addiction. At behavioural therapy melbourne, addicts are provided with counseling and therapy sessions that can help them recognize behaviors in themselves that lead back to drug abuse. On the other hand, some experts recommend to try suboxone online for people who wish to be treated at the comfort of their own home because they feel shy talking about their problems in person.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (“CBT”) is a type of treatment that focuses on how an individual’s thought processes and behaviors affect their moods. This form of therapy can be useful in treating drug addiction because addicts cannot often identify and express feelings and rely heavily on using drugs as a coping mechanism, which can influence their actions and behaviors. With CBT, addicts are taught to recognize these patterns and learn healthier ways of dealing with stress or negative emotions. In turn, this practice helps them avoid relapse by making them more aware of what leads them to use drugs in the first place.
Ketamine Infusion Therapy
Although research has been limited due to Ketamine being a controlled substance, recent studies have found that infusions of Ketamine may help patients with their addiction and decrease the amount and severity of cravings. Many experts have confirmed that ketamine’s “psychotomimetic” properties can cause short-term dissociative effects, which essentially make users feel disconnected from reality. This psychological experience can quell cravings so severe that they often result in death by overdose or suicide. Because the timeframe for treatment is limited to around six hours, many addicts find it easier to detox if they receive daily treatments over multiple days. Although this isn’t a long-term fix, it provides valuable time and relief while addicts transition into other forms of treatment such as CBT.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
One of the most effective ways to treat drug addiction is through medication-assisted treatment (“MAT”). For addicts who suffer from severe withdrawal symptoms, MAT can be a safer way to detox from drugs. In addition to helping users overcome physical addictions, this method also helps them avoid cravings and triggers to stay sober. Some forms of MAT include methadone or Suboxone, which are synthetic opioids that mimic endorphins in the brain and relieve pain without causing a high. These medications help ease withdrawal symptoms by stopping cravings associated with detox while potentially preventing a user from overdosing after they stop using their usual drug of abuse.
Addiction can be a debilitating disease, but as you can see, there are effective ways to treat it. Although some methods are widely used more than others, each treatment has its own set of pros and cons that may be better for some patients over others. So make sure to do your research and find the approach that best suits your needs.