| Narcotic drugs and alcohol are very physically | | | | rehab centres require that patients are "clean" of all |
| addictive substances accounting for the rise in drug | | | | drugs and substances. The patient will need generally |
| and alcohol addiction rates yearly. Once the body is | | | | to pass a drug or alcohol test indicating that their |
| dependent on the substance for normality, the | | | | systems are free of substances. If a client enters a |
| absence of the substance will cause great pain and | | | | treatment programme whilst still under the influence of |
| discomfort to be inflicted on the individual, known as | | | | a narcotic or alcohol, it may affect the safety of the |
| withdrawal. | | | | other clients and the individual themselves. |
| Addiction | | | | The process of a drug and alcohol detox differs for |
| Drug and alcohol addiction counselling and detox are | | | | each treatment centre offering the service. Some |
| highly controversial topics and met with many mixed | | | | rehabs do not offer detoxes and require the client to |
| beliefs and schools of thought, especially when | | | | attend a detox in a hospital or separate clinic as the |
| physical and non-physical drug addiction is concerned. | | | | rehab may not have the correct facilities to offer |
| Unlike previously when addiction was considered a | | | | detoxification. The process is an extremely difficult |
| moral failing, professionals have now been opting | | | | ordeal for the addict to experience and must be |
| towards a more successful approach of addiction | | | | handled with a great deal of professionalism. Alcoholic |
| treatment. Many experts and professionals have | | | | detoxes can cause delirium tremors, inducing |
| come to view addiction as a disease which is | | | | hallucinations and violent behaviour. Only qualified, |
| progressive and fatal if not treated. The disease can | | | | experienced and able professionals should administer a |
| however be arrested through ceasing all addictive | | | | detox to a withdrawing addict or alcoholic. |
| behaviour accompanied by counselling and a daily | | | | Counselling |
| programme of recovery. | | | | A detox programme can take a week or more to |
| Physical addiction and the need for detox | | | | complete, although secondary withdrawals will follow |
| Opiates such as heroin and codeine, benzodiazepines | | | | after this; they are less severe than initial withdrawals, |
| such as Valium and Rohypnol, some amphetamines | | | | not requiring medication or facilitation. Once a detox |
| such as methamphetamines (eg Tik) and ethyl-alcohol | | | | has been completed, the client is advised to enter an |
| (the type of alcohol found in regular alcoholic drinks | | | | addiction treatment programme at a rehab. |
| such as whisky and beer), are substances which the | | | | Drug and alcohol addiction counselling is an effective |
| human body becomes dependant on when exposed | | | | method of treating any form of addiction, helping the |
| to their effects over a certain period of time. | | | | client to become a normal and functioning member of |
| Quaaludes, anabolic steroids, beta blockers, caffeine | | | | society. Group therapy and individual therapy is widely |
| and nicotine also cause dependence. | | | | considered the most effective method of drug and |
| Physical dependency can only be overcome through | | | | alcohol addiction treatment, coupled with a healthy |
| the addicted individual abstaining from use of the | | | | lifestyle and the adoption of a Twelve Step |
| addictive substances. This will cause the body to go | | | | Programme as a way of maintaining abstinence and |
| into a state of withdrawal, as it is dependent on the | | | | sobriety. |
| substance for functioning. | | | | Counselling and a Twelve Step Programme help to |
| Treatment centres, rehabilitation centres and hospitals | | | | enable the patient to cope with behaviours, past |
| usually offer detoxification programmes for drug and | | | | grievances, emotions and dynamics in their lives and to |
| alcohol addiction. Detoxification can be extremely | | | | piece together a practical and realistic approach to life. |
| harmful, even fatal. The process is nick-named "detox" | | | | Whilst the patient needs to stop using drugs and |
| and is carefully monitored by professionals. | | | | alcohol, counselling will help improve their lives much |
| In many instances, the patient is given medication to | | | | further. Abstinence plus change is the main aim of a |
| ease their discomfort during the detox. This discomfort | | | | recovering addict. |
| usually results in the use of drugs to rid themselves of | | | | The life of a drug addict and alcoholic needn’t be |
| the symptoms. It has been found that regulated and | | | | bad or hindered. Addicts have the potential to be very |
| decreasing doses of a pharmaceutical replacement | | | | successful and productive people if they are able to |
| with similar actions as an addictive drug is useful in | | | | stop their drug and alcohol use. Whilst this may require |
| allowing addicts to be "weaned off" the substance | | | | a detox, if followed with proper counselling and therapy |
| without unbearable discomfort. | | | | plus the endorsement of a healthy lifestyle and |
| Detox | | | | application to a Twelve Step Programme, the person |
| When an addict or alcoholic is willing to enter a | | | | suffering from drug or alcohol addiction can arrest their |
| treatment programme to treat their addiction, many | | | | disease and live a normal life again. |