What To Expect In A Drug Rehabilitation Facility

A drug rehabilitation facility refers to the location where psychotherapies and collective medical treatment for addiction and dependency to psychoactive substances (alcohol, prescription drugs, street drugs, etc.) is carried out. It is important to be aware of the fact that drug addiction or dependency is treatable and drug rehabilitation facilities have helped thousands of addicts to recover from their chronic illness.

The aim of any drug rehabilitation facility is to impact the life of the addict in a manner such that he/she stops using the drug and also stop the accompanying negative health consequences of the body and mind. To help an addict recover from dependency/addiction, it is extremely important to choose the appropriate drug rehab program and a suitable drug rehab facility. This article aims to provide some information to both the patient and the family of the addict as to what to expect from a drug rehabilitation facility during and after the span of treatment.

What to Bring

The inpatient programs generally run for 30, 60 or 90 days in the drug rehabilitation facility. The medical specialist decides the duration of the program for the patient as each individual case is different. It is therefore necessary for the patient to bring things from home that would make his/her stay comfortable. Some pointers include appropriate clothing, extra pillows, sheets, toiletries, music player, etc.

The Withdrawal Period

The first few days at a drug rehabilitation facility are perhaps the hardest. This is because this is the time when the addict experiences withdrawal symptoms. The sudden stoppage of drugs causes many distressing symptoms for the addict. The severity of the withdrawal symptoms depends on the drug used and the duration for which it was used. Modern treatment methods are directed to exclude the patient from undergoing nasty withdrawal symptoms. Sometimes patients are treated with drugs such as methadone and benzodiazepine to make them feel they are on drugs even during this period.

Daily Schedule

Any drug rehabilitation facility has a busy daily schedule for the inpatient. This is done with a view to instill a felling of control in the addict's life. The daily schedule is replete with group therapy, lectures, and meetings. The group therapy sessions encourages the addict to build relationships with others and form a supportive group. Lectures and meetings are geared towards providing information about various aspects of drug addiction including how it affects the individual's health and working of the brain, how the family is affected, etc. The day at the drug rehabilitation facility ends with free time that is utilized by the addict to complete any assignment handed out during the group therapy session.

Drug Rehabilitation Facility - Common Rules

Any rehab facility has a basic set of rules that are to be followed by the patient. In case he/she is caught breaking any of the rules, they end up having certain privileges taken away or the period of stay getting extended. Some of the common rules are: patients should not share prescription drugs with others, no sex is allowed, drug use is prohibited, the patient should participate compulsorily in specific activities, keep the area clean, etc.

Aftercare Program

Any professional drug rehabilitation facility has an effective aftercare program in place. The rehab center should equip the addict with tools such as continued treatment for the addict as an outpatient, locations of meetings in the area of residence of the patient, references and phone numbers of other patients who are recovering in the area, phone number of an aftercare counselor who would visit the residence of the patient at regular intervals, etc.

Medical Facilities

A comprehensive drug rehabilitation facility usually has the facilities to address the accompanying physical and mental health emergencies that may occur during the period of rehabilitation. The drug rehabilitation facility also has a qualified medical team that is always present to look after the needs of the patient. The team generally consists of a medical specialist, psychotherapist, counselor, nutritionist, fitness trainer and a social worker. In most cases the same team members remain throughout the duration of the rehabilitation period. Additional programs that are on offer at a drug rehab facility include relapse prevention, development of social and psychological skills, awareness classes, etc.

Rounding off, treatment in a drug rehabilitation facility is more scientific and statistics reveal that close to 70 percent of those who are affected and treated in such centers lead a drug-free life.