What happens in a drug rehab program? What is “treatment”?
Simply stated, treatment is a process of helping a person overcome addiction. That process includes group counseling, one-on-one therapy, family counseling, workshops that teach stress management and coping skills, as well as relapse prevention. Nutritional guidance, physical therapy and exercise, and meditative processes (such as yoga, guided visualizations, and focused breathing) are also offered in some rehab centers. While not part of the treatment process, per se, many programs offer a broad range of recreational activities, as well, to allow their clients to relax and unwind from the hectic pace of life under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
There is serious work involved in rehab, but most programs agree that “all work and no play” doesn’t motivate the patient to remain involved.
For many addicts, the first stage of treatment is “detox”—a period of time (usually one to three days) where the patient is monitored by medical staff. During this period, the chemical remnants of the drugs or alcohol are released from the patient’s system. Medications may be administered to offset the symptoms of withdrawal, which would otherwise be extremely painful and unpleasant.
Patients usually remain in a drug or alcohol rehab center between 30 and 90 days. Research has proven that a patient’s chances of remaining sober and drug-free are directly correlated to the length of the treatment program. In other words, the longer a patient stays in treatment, the better their odds of avoiding a relapse in the future.
When a patient enters a rehab center, he or she usually meets with a counselor for a comprehensive examination and interview. The results from this “intake exam” allow the counselor (and other staff members) to make a determination as to the ideal length of treatment for that particular patient.
Some facilities are simple, with few luxuries. Other rehab centers pamper their patients as if they were staying in a four-star hotel. Either one may offer an effective program. But luxury and comfort aren’t what help people get well. Rehab isn’t a vacation: it’s a place where a chronic, progressive disease receives treatment.
