We have all heard the term "The War on Drugs." Now, this isn't really a war as with weapons and things, but it is an ever constant battle being waged. Sadly, many of the people we love and care about are the soldiers and casualties of this battle. It is ever constant, and as long as drugs and alcohol are available and used, it will be ever occurring. The only way we can begin to win the war on drug and alcohol addiction is by winning the smaller battles in our own lives. An alcohol and
drug rehab program is one such way. Cirque Lodge in Sundance Utah is here to help with this war. If you or someone you love is fighting with alcohol and drug addiction, Cirque Lodge can provide addiction treatment in a safe and caring environment.
This page specifically is to address drug rehab for the alcoholic or drug addict. It discusses some of the mindsets of addiction, and ways that treatment can help to provide recovery. Addiction can be a very personal battle.
The right drug rehab program can be the reinforcements to win the battle and be the tide to turning the war on drugs in that person's life. A lot of times, the individual is struggling so mightily in the addiction battle that it takes the assistance of loved ones to get them the drug rehab help they need.
When It's Time for Drug Rehab
When someone in your life is struggling with addiction problems, something like a
drug rehab program may become the only answer. Still, getting to the point of the alcoholic or addict admitting to drug rehab can be a difficult process. In the eyes of the addict, treatment for their problem can seem like the enemy. Expressions of concern by a loved one can be met with quite heavy resistance. The addict can be very confrontational about such matters. Someone struggling with alcohol and drug addiction saying 'no' to drug rehab does not mean the end of treatment as an option. It simply means a different way of going about things. It can take planning and an intervention. It can take hitting rock bottom. In some way, shape, or form the addict must decide on their own to win or lose the battle with addiction.
Getting angry and violent are just defense mechanisms used by the addicted mind. Alcoholics and addicts will go to great lengths to harbor and keep safe their problem. At times it means doing things that even to themselves seem wrong. These are things like hurting those they love and committing crimes. The mind is compromised and the addict will do whatever it takes at times to maintain the alcohol and drug addiction. This includes hurting those they love the most. It is imperative to break down these defensive barriers and make the alcoholic or addict realize the damage they cause themselves.
It should go without saying that there has been a loss of control throughout all this. This loss of control can have far reaching effects. It can destroy families, result in loss of employment, and greatly strain relationships. For some it can take a lot before it is time for a drug rehab program. It can take losing everything, hitting bottom and coming literally inches from death before the realization hits them. The realization being: 'If I continue to do this, it will kill me.'
Arriving to the Treatment Conclusion
Even after accepting
addiction treatment the addict can struggle. In their mind, they still have a problem with drug rehab. It is still the defense mechanism acting up. This comes from the influence of alcohol or drugs in the system. As long as the substance is present, it will have a semblance of control.
It can be hard to see clearly or think rationally when giving up drugs or drink is at stake. You see, to most addicts the habits they have developed have become like a comfort zone to them. It is saddening that such comforts of addiction can cost them their lives.
The mindset of an addict when they commit to
treatment and drug rehab can be a confused one. Each person is different and how they are feeling about addiction treatment is not absolute. For some, the thoughts of overcoming these problems are strongly looked forward to. For others it means giving up old habits, friends, and things that they have grown accustomed to living. A drug rehab program can be a life changing experience or just a first skirmish in a long hard fought battle with addiction.
The physical appearance of alcohol and drug addiction should also be noted here. The majority of person's who are in a struggle with addiction look like it. You can see it in their countenance and their physical shape. The constant pursuit of drugs and drink can leave a body in severe disrepair. It isn't uncommon to see these individuals as sick. They are not sick of body however, more like sick of the mind. Admittance to alcohol and drug rehab is the first step in the process of getting better again. And that is exactly what overcoming alcohol and drug addiction is; a process.
Fighting the Addiction with Detox
The first step of the drug rehab process is to rid the body from the influence of drugs and alcohol. These substances have a number of harmful toxins that are present within the body. The detoxification process is the process of alleviating these toxins. Sometimes, when an addict knows they are headed to rehab, they will load up on drugs or drink before they enter rehab. The possible thinking of this strategy is that the influence will get them through. Detox takes care of this and reduces the influence of drugs and alcohol in the system.
The length of detox depends on a number of factors. These factors include the level of physical dependence, the severity of the addiction, and the level of withdrawal. Detox can take a day or two. It can also take a week or two. Alcoholism has been known to require lengthier a detox stay. Heroin is a drug that can require more attention during the detox period as well. The length of stay is determined by the medical staff and is directly linked to the stabilization of withdrawal issues.
A body that is chemically dependent on drugs and alcohol can suffer when the drug or drink of choice is no longer present in the system. This suffering can manifest itself in psychological, emotional, and physical ways. This is commonly called withdrawal. Detoxification eliminates the influence and toxins of drugs and alcohol out of the system. The loss of this influence can cause withdrawal to occur. The peaking of withdrawal problems is different for all individuals. Some can have very minor problems. Others can severely struggle from withdrawal symptoms. No matter the severity of withdrawal, medical detox is available to treat these withdrawal symptoms and to prepare the body for a life after addiction.
Personalizing Drug Rehab
We all have a concept of what alcohol and drug addiction is, but what makes up addiction is completely different. The components behind addiction (what has led to alcohol and drugs) are very different in each individual. How you reach the alcoholic or addict in drug rehab can require a varying use of different strategies and techniques. A way addiction treatment programs have learned to adapt to this is by personalizing treatment to meet the individual on their level. The causes of addiction are equally varying. There are a number of personal, emotional, and psychological factors that can lead into it. Personalizing a treatment approach for each client is a way to apply treatment just for their needs.
Personalizing the program is also effective for treating the individual. In drug rehab, you can have a hodgepodge of individuals in need. These are people of different social backgrounds and cultures. Because of such, people can have different personalities and feelings regarding treatment. Some individuals can be very open. Others can be quite repressed and unwilling to share. Others may require a lot of special attention. Adversely there may be some that are very open and willing to accept ways to change their life. The reason for all these examples, you never know what you are dealing with.
A personalized program can help to make treatment just the right fit for each and every individual in drug rehab.
By personalizing a treatment plan for each individual, particular attention is paid to each and every need. A treatment plan is like a battle strategy against the addiction. While not all battle strategies are successful, adjustments are made to make them work. The same is with a personalized treatment plan for alcohol and drug addiction. The treatment plan is closely monitored and adjusted to provide the best outcome from addiction treatment. Personalizing drug rehab can provide more genuine care and a much greater outcome to the war on addiction.
Fighting Addiction with Therapy
A lot of the personal battles that are fought in the war on alcohol and drug addiction are fought in therapy. The personalized approach to treating each individual also includes plenty of personalized therapy. Personalized therapy means one-on-one therapy, addict and therapist. Personal addiction battles can be a number of things. Things, and issues, that go much deeper and are much more emotionally trying. These things can be traumatic. They can be problems in the home. They can even be psychiatric problems, like depression. One-one-one therapy provides an avenue for discussion regarding these things. It also is counsel and encouragement against the personal battles that must be overcome.
An approach to treatment in
alcohol rehab and drug rehab is called cognitive behavioral therapy. This is a positive reinforcement tool for helping an individual with the thought and action process of addiction. Many of the cognitions (brain functions) affected by addicted directly control actions or behaviors that lead to using. This therapy is designed to explore a number of the thought process, actions, and behaviors that lead to the abuse of drugs and alcohol. It provides a platform for developing coping strategies against trigger situations with drugs and alcohol. A "trigger" can be described as anything (person, place, or situation) that can spark the cognitions to use. Learning coping strategies against trigger situations can help those who at some point must return to living where triggers are ever present.
Progress in the battle against addiction is made by making breakthroughs in therapy. Breakthroughs can be minor and insignificant things. They can also be major and provide a great sense of relief and joy. Making breakthroughs in therapy can change the focus of the individual. The mindset of the addict can change from one of defense and struggle, to one of optimism and hope. As recovery from alcohol and drug addiction is a process, therapy can be also. With the right help and attention, the deeper personal battles within self can be won.
Physical Treatment for the Addiction Problem
Extensive alcohol and drug addiction can do a great deal of damage to mind and body. A high end drug rehab usually has programs and measures in place to address the physical damage caused by extensive abuse. The addict and alcoholic can neglect a lot of the body's basic needs in a lifestyle of seeking and using drugs. Treatment for addiction can provide physical elements to assist in this.
One area that is addressed in treatment is nutrition. A nutrition element of addiction treatment can reintroduce healthy eating habits to the alcoholic or addict. In this, the body can begin the process of healing by having the proper nutrients that it is in dire need of. Drug rehab programs also provide elements of exercise within a treatment stay to help the body to recovery as well as the mind.
High end facilities can offer a lot as far as exercise facilities. Some rehabs even provide elements of personal workouts with trainers to assist in the physical recovery of alcohol and drug addiction.
Many treatment centers have incorporated yoga as an aspect of alcohol and drug rehab. This provides far more than just a physical recovery from alcohol and drug abuse. The ancient practice of yoga provides a centering and a balance. Practicing yoga in rehab provides a balance of body, mind and spirit. These are the three areas of struggle when it comes to alcohol and drug abuse. Using yoga and finding harmony can provide a needed harmony and balance to what once was a chaotic individual. Yoga is used to instruct the alcoholic and addict on the effectiveness of guided meditation. After rehab, when life is out of whack, such meditation can be instrumental in maintaining focus.
Experiential Learning
In dealing with individuals, drug rehab programs have found that an effective balance of treatment types is beneficial to the alcoholic or addict. As discussed earlier, people are different. How they learn is equally different. So individuals may greatly benefit from a one-on-one setting with a therapist, while another might not. To balance out this, drug rehabs have incorporated elements of experiential learning into treatment. The method for learning with this treatment model is through experience and activity. Experiential learning allows the addict to apply their learning. For many individuals this approach to applied learning is far more effective than just hearing from the mouth of someone else.
Experiential activities can be a number of things. They can be activities that are challenging, and in a way meant to challenge the addiction. Other experiential learning activities can be more based in a therapeutic sense, or in ways of spiritual healing. The alcoholic or addict can be struggling inside. Their addiction can be a breakdown of emotional, psychological and spiritual things. Experiential learning in drug rehab provides them a reprieve from these things and a chance to develop and grow in their areas of need.
Utilization of the 12-Step Program
In addiction treatment, a program usually falls into one of two categories. Either they are a 12-step program, or have a non-12-step approach. The 12-step program is the most recognized and utilized treatment modality for alcohol and drug addiction. The program, originally developed by Alcoholics Anonymous, has evolved to incorporate all elements of addiction recovery. A 12-step drug rehab program will focus on providing an introduction and elements to this treatment approach. Because an addiction treatment stay is relatively short, and the recovery process takes a greater deal of time, rehab usually focuses on the initial few steps in the 12-step progression.
The stratagem of the 12-step approach is the process of developing coping elements for recovery. Each step is dependent on a successful foundation of the step prior in the process. All steps are founded on a relationship with a higher power. To each individual this higher power can be anything that they can find strength in. It can be the group, the family, and usually God, the element of a power greater than oneself can be a needed crutch in the times of struggle.
Through the 12-step process, the alcoholic or addict learns what it takes to overcome addiction. The steps help them to overcome the addiction problems within themselves through the help of a higher power, change the things in their lives that can have an influence in addiction, and ultimately help others find this same foundation or approach.
The benefit of the 12-step approach is especially found after rehab is completed. Overcoming an addiction is a process. Rehab alone is not the cure-all answer to the problem. The 12-step program can serve so much importance in the point of recovery. Local and community 12-step groups and meetings pick up where rehab left off in continuance of the 12-step process. This added element of support can make a relapse less likely to happen and the success of recovery a feasible goal.
Family Involvement in Drug Rehab
It is not uncommon to find a rift between addict and family. It is also not uncommon to find the reason for some of the addiction problem is family related. Addiction affects families in just so many ways. The addict or alcoholic can be the cause of harm and pain by their behavior to family members; even though they don't intend to. Their behavior can cause a great deal of emotional strain. To fight the battles against addiction, one must look at the common battle ground; the home.
To assist the family, drug rehab programs implement elements of family programs, therapies, and activities. This is to make the home environment more of a supportive one than one of conflict. For the most part, family members are generally unaware of what makes up an addiction problem. They see the addiction as an issue with taking drugs and alcohol and nothing more. A family program in addiction treatment is designed to provide an education and learning for the family on the true nature of addiction. A family program can teach individuals the dangers of codependence and enabling. They also learn how to make their home one that is supportive and built towards recovery.
The healing of the family can help to create this supportive environment. A drug rehab that offers a family program is an added advantage. Family programs take a closer in depth look at the family conflicts with therapy. It provides the addict and family an environment for addressing the things in the home that have led to the addiction predicament. In this environment the family can learn to truly communicate one with another and begin the steps of healing within the home. After drug rehab is completed, an informed family becomes the most imperative support group. It is the support group that's found within the home.
What is Accomplished in Alcohol and Drug Rehab?
With all that was discussed in this section, what is accomplished in alcohol and drug rehab? Firstly it is an understanding and coping. The alcoholic and addict come to terms with the battle they are waging. They realize the things in their lives that had led to this. They are instructed in ways and strategies to assist them in life after drug rehab. These strategies are designed to help them in critical times when the temptation to relapse is ever present. Over time the ability to cope becomes second nature.
The desire may continually be there, but the chance of relapsing becomes less and less through the use of these coping strategies.
Secondly, rehab provides healing. For the first time in a long struggle with addiction and abuse, a person can feel good about what they are doing in life. The addict in recovery is in a sense repaired. They feel good. They look good, far much more than when they entered the drug rehab program. Family involvement has helped with healing in the home. The addict or alcoholic is more fully prepared to greet the outside world with an emotional, physical and spiritual healing.
As we look at the battles and the war on drugs, the final thing drug rehab accomplishes are victories in a case by case basis. The soldiers who have struggled in the trenches to overcome addiction become allies in the fight against. As the final step of the 12-step approach is achieved, many in recovery enlist to help others overcome their addiction issues. It is not uncommon to find in a drug rehab program individuals who have battled on both sides of the addiction fight. Their personal experience can be the instruction that helps another come to terms with their addiction problem. It is a war being waged. It is battle that will always go on. But with the help of personalized alcohol and drug rehab programs, the battles against addiction are being won; one victory at a time.
Cirque Lodge is here to help you or your loved one with the battle against alcohol and drug addiction. Cirque Lodge is nationally recognized and accredited for its efforts in addiction treatment. The drug rehab elements discussed in this page are utilized to full effect by the Cirque Lodge treatment staff. It is an innovative and unique standard for treatment that has provided many a lasting victory over the war on alcohol and drug addiction. Cirque Lodge can help you or your loved one achieve the same. Call Cirque Lodge today at 1-877-99-REHAB.
