Drug therapy is an effective treatment option for those struggling with addiction. An estimated 41 percent of people receiving drug-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid detoxification successfully complete treatment and achieve withdrawal. Of those who successfully complete the MAT for opioid dependence, about 13 percent receive outpatient treatment. It is estimated that one in three people who complete drug or alcohol treatment will remain sober.
Relapse rates decline as a person progresses through their treatment programs.Building a support network is an important part of addiction recovery. Meeting others in recovery and building positive relationships can be difficult at first, but with regular attendance at 12-step meetings and other support groups, these connections are often genuine and occur spontaneously. It can take time to make real progress on some issues, including trauma and mental health disorders, and a 30-day treatment program, no matter how intensive, is not designed to serve as a lifelong comprehensive treatment for ongoing symptoms. Make sure that individualized treatment is provided, that the program includes aftercare and support, and that family members have access to support groups and other options.There is limited scientific literature evaluating mandatory pharmacological treatment.
Evidence, in general, does not suggest better outcomes related to mandatory treatment approaches, and some studies suggest possible harm. Given the potential for human rights abuses within mandatory treatment settings, policymakers should prioritize non-mandatory treatment modalities that seek to reduce drug-related harm.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a valuable tool for addiction treatment. According to the American Addiction Centers, CBT can be used for many different types of addictions, including food addiction, alcohol addiction, and prescription drug addiction. Not only can CBT help you recognize your unhealthy behavior patterns, but it can also help you learn to identify triggers and develop coping skills.
CBT can also be combined with other therapeutic techniques such as Rational Emotional Behavior Therapy (REBT), which helps you recognize your negative thoughts and gives you ways to combat feelings of self-defeat.Contingency Management (CM) is another effective tool for treating addictions. CM can be used to treat a wide variety of addictions, including alcohol, narcotics, and tobacco. Contingency management therapy reinforces your positive behavior (i.e., maintaining sobriety) by providing you with tangible rewards. This type of treatment has been successfully used to combat relapse according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.The primary goal of drug addiction treatment is to help a person with addiction stop using the drug of their choice.
Spontaneous remission for drug or alcohol addiction refers to the phenomenon in which a person with a substance use disorder (SUD) stops using drugs or alcohol without any formal treatment or forced rehabilitation.The chronic nature of the disease means that relapse into drug abuse is not only possible but also likely, with recurrence rates of symptoms similar to those of other well-characterized chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma.Despite the widespread application of compulsory treatment modalities for drug dependence, there has been no systematic evaluation of scientific evidence on the effectiveness of compulsory drug dependence treatment.
