When it comes to addiction treatment, there are a number of different options that are available to you. However, one of the main decisions you need to make is whether to go for a long term plan or a short-term plan. Many people go for the latter, which only tend to last between 28 and 60 days. The problem is that these programs are often insufficient in helping people to get over their addiction. Instead, long term care is better suited to anyone who has taken a psychological and physical toll from chronic drug abuse. With that being said, continue reading to find out more about why long term addiction care is so critical.
Why long term addiction care?
Long term addiction care can help you onto a steady path to recovery. The professionals at these treatment centres will take the severity of the addiction and the person’s history into account. They will also take a look at the person’s spiritual needs, and their emotional, cultural, mental, social, and physical needs. They will assess the substances or substance that is being abused, as well as any comorbid condition, i.e. a behavorial, physical, psychological, and medical condition that is happening at the same time. This is much more efficient and has a much higher rate of success.
You cannot apply a specific and single addiction treatment approach because everyone is impacted by substance abuse in different ways. You could take the same drug as someone else, and you could do so as regularly as they do, yet the impact on your body could be different from theirs. This is why a personalized approach is a necessity. A thorough evaluation is required to make sure that the right course of treatment is taken.
There have been a number of different studies that have shown that people have better outcomes in regards to sustaining sobriety if they spend up to a year in a drug rehab program. Long term treatment gives you the chance to really get to the bottom of the causes and behaviors that have led to your addiction. By dealing with these behaviors and understanding the causes, you can get to the root of the problem and this will give you a much higher chance of staying sober.
What to expect from long term addiction care
Now that you are aware of why long term addiction care is so important, let’s take a look at what to expect when you go down this route. A long term treatment plan is often divided into numerous stages. In most cases, a long term stay at a rehab facility will involve a few days of a detox, which will be closely monitored. There will then be several months of intensive alcohol or drug abuse therapy, as well as aftercare planning. The exact duration will depend on the person and how badly the addiction has impacted their mind and body.
There are a number of different therapies that can be used, depending on your specific requirements. As mentioned, almost all patients will start with a medical detox in order to flush the drugs out of the body, and the withdrawal symptoms will be managed. After this, there are a number of techniques that may be used, including contingency management, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and multidimensional family therapy. This is especially suitable for anyone falling into the following categories:
- People with specific needs, for example, adolescents, pregnant women, and mothers
- People facing challenges after they have completed an inpatient treatment program
- Those experiencing numerous relapses
- Those facing recovery issues in shorter-term rehab
Final words on long term care if you have any addiction troubles
So there you have it: everything you need to know about long term care and the benefits that are associated with it. It is understandable why people would not want to seek long term care when they have addiction issues. After all, you may not want to completely up-route your life and check into a rehab facility. However, it is important to think about what is going to be best for you given your current circumstances and the issues that you are facing. If you only seek outpatient care, is this going to be enough to ensure you make the big changes that you need to make in your life? If you cannot confidently answer yes to this question, you should definitely be looking at long-term, inpatient care instead.