What Do Drug Rehab Programs Do to Cure Someones Addiction to Illegal Drugs?

Question by Gerri R: What do drug rehab programs do to cure someones addiction to illegal drugs?
What does the treatment involve?
Is it anything like Alcoholics Anonymous, where they go to weekly meetings and say, “Hi, my name is John and I’m an alcoholic (or drug addict). Then they talk to other people at the meeting about drinking and why they like it, etc. Then learn the 12 steps and they are done. Or does drug rehab involve something totally different?

How can they get people to stop using something like Cocaine, which is just as addictive as Nicotine?
I don’t use illegal drugs, but I am currently trying to quit smoking and even with the patch and a “quit coach”, it is not easy and I’ve gone about 10 days smoke free, but I still have an occasional desire to smoke, I just know I can’t do it now. I think illegal drugs would probably be harder to quit than smoking.

Why don’t they have a similar rehab program for smoking?

Best answer:

Answer by lance
My mother works with drug addicts and this is what I know. If some one is heavily addicted they have to give consent to being admitted to a clinic, this usually done by persuading them to admit themselves via an intervention. If someone who is addicted to drugs and is immediately deprived of drugs they enter a withdrawal state often cold ” cold turkey ” this happens because the body has become dependant on the drug and no there is none. So what the doctors do is take the patient of their drugs and give them special medication to help the body through the withdrawal phase, but the patient will still not be fine and will experience a difficult time for a while. I’m not sure how long the patient is on these medicines, but the patient usually stays at the clinic or hospital. During their stay they are counselled individually and in groups with other addicts. Sometimes their is group counselling with their family and other addicts and their families. One can be addicted to many things and my mother has help people with addictions that are quite rare. Remember that Tiger Woods was in a clinic for sex addiction. I’m sure the clinics will be willing to admit you, the only difference will probably be the medication they give you to help your body to not be dependant on the nicotine. Firstly I think you should see a doctor and tell him what your problem is, the doctor will refer you to psychiatrist, who will probably give you your main treatment.

Answer by Finnegan
You ask some very good questions and I will do my best to shed some light on the subject. I have experienced drug and alcohol treatment personally. The majority of substance abuse treatment facilities advocate the 12-Step model and incorporate the principles into their treatment plan. Treatment facilities utilize talk therapy to help patients identify the problems they are dealing so they can begin recovering from them, i.e. alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, depression, anxiety, bi-polar, PTSD, trauma, etc.. Many of the aforementioned issues may seem foreign to each other, however, the treatment models for recovering from such afflictions is relatively the same.

It is not uncommon to see a heroin addict sitting next to a cigarette addict in the same 12-Step meetings and/or therapy groups. The 12-Steps are suggestions that can help people live a healthy and productive life free of substances. Treatment facilities do not “get people to stop using”, rather it is the client who chooses to admit that they have a problem and they require assistance with that problem. Treatment’s spend hours educating clients on how drugs work in the brain as well as laying out the addiction model. Nutrition and exercise is given a lot of importance because it helps the brain and body recover from the damage caused by their addictions.

Many treatments will bring their clients to outside 12-Step meetings in order to give them a feel for what to expect if they choose to go to meetings after treatment. Meetings are places where people with common problems work together to find a solution by sharing their experience, strength, and hope with each other. The scientific and medical consensus is that there’s no cure for addiction, but by working a program of spiritual maintenance and practicing principles suggested by those who have walked the road of recovery before them in all of their affairs, one never has to drink or use again if they so desire.

I have personally seen a number of people enter run of the mill treatment programs for their addiction to cigarettes and they have had great success. It really does not matter what one is struggling with as long as they have a desire to stop.

I hope I was of some help….

Don't Worry, Kids, These (Sex) Addicts Are All Right
It's been compared, unfavorably, to the Michael Fassbender vehicle Shame, which treated essentially the same subject with a grand-operatic seriousness and heft — but to measure the two together is to misread Blumberg's intentions. … seemingly … Read more on NPR

Louganis inspires, advocates at local AIDS Walk
He found instead that many had not accepted their diagnosis as well as he had, almost treating it like a second career. “I let the … Major Olympic sponsors such as Coca-Cola are being painted as anti-gay by some, and Louganis said he has become very … Read more on Midland Daily News

The Partnership at Drugfree.org, GRAMMY Foundation® and MusiCares …
The Partnership at Drugfree.org is dedicated to solving the problem of teen substance abuse. Together with experts in science, parenting and communications, the nonprofit translates research on teen behavior, addiction and treatment into useful and … Read more on SYS-CON Media (press release)