A study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), revealed that in 2014, nearly 21.5 million Americans aged 12 years or older had substance use disorder (SUD in the preceding year. The report further revealed that 16.3 million of the adult population had an alcohol use disorder, while 6.2 million misused illicit drugs. Surprisingly, only 2.5 million adults (about 7.6% of adults with a previous year SUD), 18 years or older, actually accessed treatment for drug or alcohol misuse at a specialty facility, says SAMHSA.
This trend shows just how pervasive substance abuse has become in our society. It poses serious health, economic, social and legal challenges that may be long-lasting. Understanding the scope of the crisis can help in effectively combating this fast-paced crisis. Prevention efforts to by the federal government, states, communities, and public agencies are gradually paying off, although at a rather slow rate.
Table of Contents
Is Substance Abuse Treatable?
The simple answer is yes, although it may not always be easy. Since substance use disorder is a chronic disease, addicts find it really challenging to completely break free from addiction simply by stopping drug use for a few days. Most patients required long-term treatment in a structured environment in order to gain lasting recovery.
For any treatment method to prove effective, it must assist the addict to achieve the following:
- Quit using alcohol and drugs
- Remain drug-free
- Be useful to the family, society, and workplace
A number of treatment options have proved effective in treating substance use disorder. They usually include a combination of medical and behavioral health services. Most treatment programs begin with medically-assisted detoxification and medically managed withdrawal as the first stage of treatment.
What Is Detoxification?
Detoxification or simply detox is the process of riding the body of harmful substances. It is often administered as the first layer of care at most drug rehab centers. Detoxification alone does little to stop long-term drug dependence. This procedure can be dangerous and is only recommended under the supervision of qualified addiction interventionists and in a closely monitored environment. Historically, a greater percentage of individuals who try to detox on their own failed, and eventually slide back into their destructive habits.
A well-structured detox program allows the body to cleanse itself of harmful drug and alcohol, while at the same time provides the patient needed support to cope with uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. When done in a safe and compassionate way, the addict will be helped to come off clean gradually, thus preventing the likelihood of a relapse.
Depending on the severity of drug or alcohol addiction, a detox program may last anywhere between one week to 90 days. Within 8 hours of taking the last dose, addicts start to experience severe withdrawal symptoms that may take several days to completely wear off. During this time, a team of well-trained interventionists is on standby, available to help the patient manage the ensuing discomfort.
Traditionally, most alcohol and drug rehab centers, offer two types of detoxification programs – Inpatient detox and Outpatient detox programs.
Inpatient detox: With an inpatient detox program, you basically live in the facility in which you are receiving treatment. Depending on the length of your history with addictive substances and the number of toxic substances you have been ingesting, your detox program can last anywhere from 5 to 10 days.
Inpatient detox provides the perfect option for individuals who lack a conducive home environment or social circle of influence. In an inpatient detox program, you are less likely to experience a relapse because you are closely being monitored round-the-clock. Furthermore, you have a community of support (other addicts in recovery) to lean on.
Outpatient detox: As opposed to the inpatient detox program, an outpatient detox allows the addict to live outside the facility they are being treated. Recovering addicts are expected to make daily trips to the treatment facility for therapy sessions.
You will find the outpatient detox to be ideally suited to your schedule if you have family, school or work obligations to attend to. With an outpatient detox program, you are not tied to the facility but have the freedom to attend to other responsibilities while in recovery.
Preliminary assessment for an outpatient program usually involves:
- Taking of history
- Physical examination
- Requesting for laboratory examinations
- Commencement of detox program
During your outpatient detox program, you will attend individual, group and family sessions weekly, excluding weekends. What is more? You will receive medications and assistance in managing your withdrawal and cravings.
Both of these programs have their own merits and are suitable for different classes of patients. Before being admitted into any one of the above programs, a patient is, first of all, evaluated to determine the suitability of each program to the individual’s circumstances. Whether or not you are admitted into an inpatient or outpatient detox program depends on a number of factors such as:
- Your ability to meet job obligations
- Your family responsibilities
- Your schooling schedule
- Your ability to handle routine activities unaided
Since addiction is different for everyone, using a one-size-fits-all approach will certainly end in failure. At Allure Detox, our detoxification program is well-structured according to your individual need. This has resulted in a high program completion rate at our center. As patients stabilize over time, they learn to function without resorting to illicit drugs and alcohol. Once detoxification is completed, patients can now transition into an actual therapy program.
Advantages of Outpatient Detox
Outpatient detox is suitable to patients who have a family or job to return to, and provides the following benefits:
- Comparatively less expensive
- Less time-consuming
- Better social support than inpatient detox
- Ability to function relatively normally and keep up with job and family responsibilities
- Offers greater freedom
- Ability to cope with potential triggers in real-world settings
However, there are certain downsides to outpatient detoxification programs. They may not be completely suitable to certain individuals for the following reasons:
- There is a greater likelihood of relapse due to patient’s ease of access to toxic substances
- Patients may decide to quit program midway
- Limited access to medical care
- Greater risk of exposure to potential triggers
Advantages of Inpatient Detox
Here at Allure Detox, patients admitted into our inpatient residential detox programs enjoy the following advantages:
- Our program guarantees long-term sobriety for patients with a chronic history of drug and alcohol abuse
- Unrestricted access to medical and psychological care
- Completely cuts off distractions of everyday life
- Limits patients likelihood of experiencing complications during withdrawal
- Patients are separated from toxic environments and associates that may act as triggers
- There is a higher possibility of success with more intensive care
- Access to specialized treatment options such as meditation, exercise, and yoga
Despite its numerous benefits, inpatient detox has the following drawbacks:
- Relatively more expensive due to the increased level of intensive care
- May encourage undue dependence on clinical staff
- Restricts contacts with family and friends
- Requires the patient to take time off from work or school
Experience Inpatient Detox with a Difference
To better meet the needs of our clients with moderate to long-term addiction, Allure Detox recently transitioned from being just an outpatient only detox center to inpatient detox and residential treatment center. As a consequence of our improved inpatient detox model, our clients now enjoy the following benefits:
- Undergoing detox at an accredited facility, meeting the highest standards required of detox providers
- Withdrawing safely and comfortably and at their own pace
- Better response rate due to more intensive care
- Access to 24-hour supervision by some of the best mental health and addiction professionals
- Recovering in an environment that is safe, free of temptations, distraction and conducive for long-lasting recovery.
- Acquiring new skills needed for managing your cravings as well as for living responsibly
- Spending group support sessions with individuals with the common goal of beating addiction
- Access to techniques and guidance for relapse prevention
Our success can be directly attributed to the improved level of individualized care woven into our residential treatment programs. An added benefit of our inpatient detox program is that leads to a positive attitudinal change in the addict. Your family will soon realize that you not only quit abusing addictive substances, you have also become useful to yourself and the society at large.
If you or a loved one is looking for a detox program that is result-oriented and sure to steer you back on track, then you need to contact Allure Detox. We are available around the clock and can provide a 100% confidential assessment. We offer the best inpatient detox program that is evidence-based and affordable. In no time, you will experience the happiness that results from being your true sober self again.