| Drug abuse and drug addiction are two major | | | | program. It is also not uncommon for a person to |
| burdens to society. However the terms | | | | relapse and begin abusing drugs again if the |
| "drug abuse" and "drug | | | | treatment is not properly administered. Medication |
| addiction" are often used interchangeably, | | | | is important, but so is behavioral therapy as well. |
| but in fact, denote very different conditions. The | | | | Therefore the ultimate goal of any drug rehab |
| term "drug abuse" refers to the use | | | | treatment is to enable an individual to achieve |
| of a substance in a manner that deviates from | | | | lasting abstinence, but the immediate goals are to |
| the culturally acceptable norms, while the term | | | | reduce drug abuse, improve the patient's ability to |
| "drug addiction" describes a disorder | | | | function, and minimize the medical and social |
| where the drug appears to be the dominant | | | | complications of drug abuse and addiction. |
| influence on the individual's behavior. Addiction | | | | Drug rehab treatments are multi phased with both |
| occurs when an individual crosses the line | | | | short and long term procedures. The different |
| separating drug abuse from a physical | | | | types of programs offer help in drug rehab, |
| dependency on drugs. This is usually characterized | | | | including: residential treatment (in-patient), |
| by compulsively seeking to use a substance | | | | out-patient, local support groups, extended care |
| regardless of the potentially negative social, | | | | centers, and recovery or sober houses. Sober |
| psychological, and physical consequences. Drug | | | | living creates a real life environment that is less |
| addiction makes drug use a compelling need, not a | | | | structured than a treatment center. The individual |
| casual choice. | | | | is given the opportunity to build up their |
| Drug addiction is said to be a brain disease | | | | confidence and learn a sense of stability and good |
| because the abuse of drugs leads to changes in | | | | orderly direction. |
| the structure and function of the brain. The path | | | | Drug rehabs are a huge help for the addicted |
| to drug addiction begins with that first act of | | | | persons and their families. People should spend |
| taking drugs. Over time, a person may need | | | | some time while choosing a drug rehabilitation |
| more of the drug to get the same effect. The | | | | center which has experienced staff and offer |
| changes in the brain caused by repeated drug | | | | licensed residential treatment services. A 12-step |
| abuse can affect a person’s self control | | | | treatment program is generally followed at most |
| and ability to make sound decisions, and at the | | | | rehabs, though some places might have other |
| same time send intense impulses to take drugs. | | | | forms of treatment other than the 12 step |
| Drug addiction is a complex but treatable disease | | | | program. A twelve-step program is a set of |
| but it is generally difficult to cure a drug addict | | | | guiding principles outlining a course of action for |
| completely, especially without a proper drug | | | | recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other |
| rehabilitation (often drug rehab or just rehab) | | | | behavioral problems. |