If someone asks if drug rehab is worth the cost, they simply need to measure the health and incarceration costs of those that are not willing to seek treatment. People able to recover become contributing members of society and can live a healthy life. The steps in treatment include physical detoxification, inpatient and outpatient therapy. All of these steps are designed to remove the addiction and prevent a relapse. The freedom attained by surviving the addiction can be inspirational.

Detox

Detoxification is the first step in the process. This step often involves medical treatment for the physical addiction. When your body becomes addicted to a drug, it begins to need it. Without the drug, the body can have severe physical problems. There are different medical procedures including using other non-addictive drugs to reduce the dependency. This is a very trying time in the process and patients can often become sick, depressed, and even violent as they pass through this stage.

Therapy

Inpatient therapy begins building coping skills. During this time, the person is dealing with feelings of isolation and the need for the drug. Through the sessions, they are able to talk with others dealing with similar issues. This helps by building a support system and teaches stress coping skills that point to healthy outlets like physical activities instead of drugs.

Outpatient Therapy

Outpatient therapy is usually the third step. By this point, the patient has achieved a level of control that satisfies the counselors that the person can reenter society with success in dealing with stresses the right way. During this time, the patient is in frequent contact with their counselor and will attend Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings for group support. Part of this time is to help promote a concept called sober living. When a person has been addicted to something, it is often difficult for them to avoid that addiction when the stress of life attacks again. Having this support available, helps them turn to people that will encourage them instead of relapsing into their previous addiction.

Time Frame

Therapy lasts as long as needed. To put a specific time on the treatment would limit its ability to provide successful and lasting effects. Most people will spend from one to many months in the inpatient system. Once they are ready to reenter society, they will struggle to avoid returning to old habits that caused the addiction in the first place. Most survivors will explain that the treatment lasts the rest of their life as they work hard to avoid a relapse.

Relapse

Relapses do happen. However, with the right family drug addiction counseling system in place they can be minimized. If the patient is surrounded by friends and family who encourage them to continue to grow, they have a much better rate of success. If the environment they reenter is filled with other addicts, they may relapse quickly.