How to Treat Drug Addiction

• Step 1

  Seek a thorough assessment from a qualified professional in order to identify your treatment needs. Talk to your primary health care provider to request a referral for services, contact your Employee Assistance Program, or locate a substance abuse resource in your community. Expect to discuss your substance abuse history, as well as the current drugs you use and their quantities. Co-occurring disorders, in which you have both mental health and substance abuse issues, are common. Therefore, your mental health history, including present symptoms and medications, is important in guiding your treatment.

• Step 2

  Detox. For certain drugs, such as opiate pain medications, heroin and tranquilizers like Xanax, your treatment will require a medically monitored detoxification process to wean the body's physical dependence in a safe manner. Without the appropriate care, serious physical harm or even death can result. This process takes from three to 10 days and involves 24-hour monitoring. Treatment staff will offer medications during this time to make detox safe and comfortable. Medical clearance is necessary to continue treatment.

• Step 3

  Revisit your mental health needs after you are free from substances. Symptoms can change when there are no longer drugs in your system. If a mental health condition is present (which in combination with drug addiction is called a dual diagnosis), psychiatric care will be offered to assist in stabilizing symptoms. Treatment can then focus on preventing a relapse of both issues.

• Step 4

  Get counseling. Group, individual and family therapy will be offered in drug treatment. The group process allows you to learn from others, share experiences, provide and receive support, as well as receive valuable feedback. These sessions will address managing negative emotions such as anger, sadness, grief and depression without drugs. Psycho-educational groups provide education on healthier coping skills like journaling, relaxation exercises, and assertive communication with others.

• Step 5

  Build sober living skills to avoid using drugs again. This relapse prevention will begin during primary treatment. Learn to identify triggers (people, places and events) that contribute to your drug use and prepare ahead of time so you can use newer, healthier coping skills. Because the process of relapse begins before you use drugs again, knowing the early warning signs is essential. These can include returning to old behaviors and ways of thinking (such as rationalization and manipulation) or contact with your old friends with whom you used.

• Step 6

  Make recovery an ongoing process. Staying on top of the addiction will continue even after formal efforts end. Build a sober support system. This may include an aftercare group at the treatment center or a local Narcotics Anonymous meeting. Maintain balance in life with exercise, proper medical care and recreational activities.

• Step 7

  Forgive yourself and move forward if you relapse. Use the experience to learn more about your triggers and to return to your sober supports as soon as possible. Recovery is not an event; it is a way of life.

• 5
• Willingness to change will play a large role in your success. Regardless of how much you pay or where you go, the more you want to recover, the better you will do.
• Willingness to change will play a large role in your success. Regardless of how much you pay or where you go, the more you want to recover, the better you will do.
• These steps are not meant to take the place of professional treatment efforts. Determine whether medical assistance for detoxification is needed before abruptly discontinuing drugs.
• These steps are not meant to take the place of professional treatment efforts.
• Determine whether medical assistance for detoxification is needed before abruptly discontinuing drugs.

References & Resources

• National Institute on Drug Abuse
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
• To Locate Treatment Near You