What Can Help from Withdrawing from Drug Addictions?

Drug addiction is a very complex problem because we as humans are very complex. Addiction is a disease of the brain which affects parts of the brain that are involved in learning, memory, motivation, and control of behavior.

A treatment program has to deal with physical dependency, maintaining a drug-free lifestyle, and helping the person function as a member of a family and society. Most people need treatment for a very long time and will be in recovery for their entire lifetime.

Things that can help someone withdrawing from drug addictions are: support, medications, outpatient treatment, and residential treatment.

Support

Support is a key element that will help people withdrawing from drug addictions. This can come from many sources, like friends, family, therapists, other addicts who are in recovery, healthcare workers, or people in your religious community. No matter what approach you are taking to free yourself of an addiction; rehab, self-help programs, or doing it yourself, support is essential. These people can give you encouragement, guidance, and comfort.

Medications

Medications can be helpful with withdrawal symptoms. Physical symptoms include:

Vomiting
Nausea
Sweats
Chills
Muscle aches
Sleeplessness
Runny nose
Fever

Emotional symptoms include:

Anxiety
Depression
Nervousness
Thoughts of suicide
Extreme mood swings

Medications can also help in your treatment by helping the brain return to its normal functions, lessening cravings, and preventing relapse.

Outpatient Treatment

With outpatient treatment, a person will visit a facility at certain times and will receive individual and/or group counseling. Other therapies are:

Multidimensional family therapy, which helps the family function better
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps the person avoid situations where drug use may re-occur
Motivational incentives or positive reinforcement
Motivational interviewing to determine the person’s readiness for treatment

Residential Treatment

Residential treatment consists of staying in a facility for a length of time. This will be determined by the effectiveness of treatment and is usually a minimum of three weeks. The length of time at a long term treatment facility is usually three months.

Facts About Drug Addiction

Now that you know some of the things that can help someone withdrawing from drug addictions, here are some key facts about getting addicted and getting treatment. Drug addiction is a disease and there are things that can help. The affects of addiction can be treated and reversed.

Overcoming drug addiction is not just a matter of will power. Since addiction changes the brain, it is extremely difficult to overcome it with willpower alone.
Treatment doesn’t have to be voluntary to be effective. Pressure from friends, family, or the legal system can help get the addict on the path to recovery.
An addict does not have to hit rock bottom before they can get better. Treatment and recovery can start at any time and the longer the addiction continues, the harder it is to stop.

Warning Signs of Drug Addiction

Here are the signs that may signal an addiction in a friend or family member. If you notice any of these signs, it may be worthwhile to offer to help.

Physical: changes in sleep or appetite, bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils, apathy about personal appearance or grooming, unusual smells, tremors, bad coordination, or slurred speech.
Emotional: changes in personality or attitudes, extreme mood swings and/or anger, periods of hyperactivity or silliness, lethargy, little motivation, paranoia, and anxiety.
Behavioral: changes in friends and recreational activities, absenteeism, need for money, secretive behavior, getting into fights or accidents frequently.

Treatment is a long process that may have many setbacks. This is no reason to give up. Relapses don’t mean that recovery is impossible, only that you need to refocus or there needs to be a change in the treatment.