Persons who have become addicted to drugs should undergo treatments specifically designed to treat such addiction. The differences in treatment are based on the kind of drugs to which a person is addicted and the personality of the patient (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005). It is widely accepted that drug dependence is a chronic condition that has no simple cure. Indeed, relapse is expected in almost all drug dependents (Anglin & Hser, 1990).
Since drug dependence is affected by various psychological, biological, economic and sociocultural factors, its treatment is not considered as simple medical issue (Anglin & Hser, 1990). Drug addiction treatments, which could consist of behavioral therapy, treatment medications, or, a combination of both, depend on the circumstances in each case (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005). There are various factors that need to be considered before choosing one specific treatment, such as the mental, health, occupational, or psychological factors that influence a person’s behavior (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005).
Drug addiction treatments could also differ in terms of their duration and settings (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005). It is common for drug addiction treatments not to consist in a single, short-term treatment, because by drug addiction by nature is a recurring or chronic disorder (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005). Since patients are often besieged by relapses, drug addiction treatments often involve a long-term engagement that consists of many interventions (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005).
Since long-term use of drugs messes up the brain system of an individual, it is quite difficult for a drug addict to simply stop using drugs on his own (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005). The drugs have the effect of changing the brain functions on an individual, which causes significant behavioral changes (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005). Moreover, the nature of drug addiction is such that it is aggravated by biological and social factors, which could further hinder recovery or rehabilitation (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005).
Thus, the relevance of undergoing long-term and proper drug addiction treatments becomes apparent (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005). Medication treatments can consist of a wide range of prescription medicine, such as mood stabilizers and antidepressants (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005). These medications can sometimes ensure success, especially for patients who have mental health-related complications, such as depression, psychosis, and anxiety disorder (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005).
One common treatment approach to drug dependence under this category is the methadone maintenance program, wherein methadone, a licit opiate, is substituted under controlled conditions for illicit opiates like heroin (Anglin & Hser, 1990). This is often used to treat opiate addicts (Anglin & Hser, 1990). One example of this treatment approach is permitted consumption of alcohol, which is not a prohibited substance, although it can also lead to substance dependence.
Since the social norm permits its consumption, treatment of dependence only consists in the establishment of certain controls in the environment (Anglin & Hser, 1990). Other forms of medical treatment are detoxification programs, which involve the medical management of drug withdrawal (Anglin & Hser, 1990). Unfortunately, these programs do little to provide long-term therapeutic effects (Anglin & Hser, 1990). Therefore, their use is limited to providing short-term effects and opening doors to more intensive treatments in the future (Anglin & Hser, 1990).
On the other hand, behavioral therapy may include psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, or counseling (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005). All of these tools help patients cope with their desire to use drugs (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005). More importantly, behavioral therapy helps patients avoid relapses, or battle them in case they occur (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005). On the other hand, treatment under therapeutic communities involves the provision of controlled residential environment wherein patients are engaged in intensive personality-restructuring (Anglin & Hser, 1990).
Usually, this approach is used to treat heroin addicts (Anglin & Hser, 1990). A combination of both, arrived at through a careful evaluation of relevant circumstances of the patient (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005), holds a lot of potential for helping him be on the road to full rehabilitation. A successful drug addiction treatment shall hopefully help a patient get back on track, especially in terms of his relationship with his family and the rest of society (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005).