Added: 01/16/2006 |
A Client's Personal Condition Plays a Big Role in Drug Addiction TreatmentThe main thing that must be remembered about drug addiction treatment is that there is no single treatment equally effective for all individuals. A client's personal condition, his particular needs and problems, his emotional condition must match treatment settings as it's a critical factor in successful return to normal functioning in the society, working place and family. At the same time treatment programs should be immediately available. The reason of it is that people addicted to drugs are usually uncertain in taking treatment and it's crucial to take occasion when there is a person treatment acceptance.
Drug users have multiple needs, their problems are not only concentrated on drug abuse, they have medical, psychological, social, family and legal problems. Effective treatment should attend to all needs of a client's personal condition. Treatment plans must be worked out continually and modified with progress in order to meet client's changing necessities. During the course of recovery a patient requires combination of approaches and services. It's also important that the treatment is appropriate to a person's gender, culture and age. Taking treatment for an appropriate period of time is essential for treatment effectiveness.
Many drug users leave treatment ahead of time that's why programs should include methods for keeping patients. Researches show that the threshold of improvement is achieved for 3 months and additional treatment produce further progress to recovery. Behavioral methods and counseling are significant elements of drug addiction treatment. Patients should learn how to resist drugs and how to replace drug-using activities by non-drug-using ones. They should also be taught to solve problems they have without using drugs. A client's personal condition determines the success of these methods as the worse the condition the harder the treatment of behavioral difficulties.
Medication is an important component of drug addiction treatment for many patients. But it obviously must be combined with counseling and other therapies. If drug addiction has caused mental disorders then medications are essential. In many cases mental disorders coexist with addiction and it demands integrated methods of treatment. And again a client's personal condition must be taken into account as many medications have serious side-effects.
The first stage of addiction treatment is medical detoxification; it cures the acute physical symptoms of withdrawal. But at the same time detoxification does little to treat long-term drug use. Lapses to drug use can happen during treatment. Constant monitoring of drug use can help patients resist urges to use drugs.
Drug users are at high risk for getting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis and infectious diseases. Counseling in this sphere can help them to avoid high-risk behavior and is supportive for those who have already contracted some diseases. As with chronic illnesses relapses to drugs can occur during or even after successful treatment. Prolonged treatment or several episodes may be needed sometimes.
Participation in self-help programs and communication with like-minded people is often helpful in maintaining abstinence. It also must be remembered that effective treatment is not always voluntary. Though personal acceptance of treatment makes it contribution to its effectiveness, but nowadays drug users can be subjected to treatment under certain directions and orders.
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