What is Substance Abuse Treatment?
Substance abuse treatment is an addiction treatment program for individuals with substance use disorders. Treatment providers consist of a team of addiction professionals, from licensed addiction psychiatrists to board-certified substance abuse counselors and other types of therapists. In recognition of the diverse ethnic, cultural, and gender populations, New Method Wellness provides specialized client-centered addiction treatment to meet the unique needs of each group.
Substance Abuse Treatment vs. Detoxification
Drug and Alcohol Detoxification is not a treatment; it is the management of acute withdrawal symptoms under the supervision of a licensed addiction psychiatrist and a medical team. It’s a form of palliative care intended to provide maximum physiological comfort for the patient as detoxification prevents or removes life-threatening complications.
Substance abuse treatment begins after detoxification, and it’s a comprehensive term for a series of ongoing therapeutic programs that promote recovery.
Types of Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
Available program options correspond with the level of intensity required for treatment:
- Residential Treatment
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
- Partial Day Treatment
- Opioid Treatment Program
Recognizing The Symptoms of Substance Use Disorders
As defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), addiction or dependence is the “continued use of drugs or alcohol despite experiencing the negative consequences of heavy drug or alcohol use.”
Recognizing symptoms of a substance use disorder in a loved one may be difficult because users often are oblivious to their own habits and behavior, and they tend to blame others for problems produced by drug and alcohol use. A substance use disorder is the result of progressive stages, beginning with denial:
- Tolerance – After the body develops a tolerance level for a certain dosage of alcohol or drugs, it will require increasing amounts of the same substance to acquire the initial high
- Craving – A strong psychological need for drugs and alcohol which results in anxiety and irritability if the addict cannot gain access to the drug
- Loss of Control – When an individual tries multiple times to quit but fails, or when an individual uses more drugs and drinks more than intended, the person is unable to manage his or her cravings despite good intentions to stop using.
- Withdrawal Symptoms – When the body has developed a dependence on a drug, it experiences physical withdrawal symptoms when the individual abstains from usage. The severity of symptoms depends on the drug, and common symptoms include nausea, sweating, tremors, anxiety, and seizures.
The Need For Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2013) conducted by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), over 24 million respondents reported to be current illicit drug users and binge drinkers; of the estimated 22.7 million people who needed medical attention for substance abuse, only 2.5 million Americans actually received treatment for a substance use disorder (SUD) or co-occurring disorder.
Based on the U.S. Surgeon General’s report, only 10.4% of individuals with a substance use disorder receive treatment and only a third of this small percentage receives treatment that meets minimal standards of care. What does this say about the accessibility of addiction treatment and the qualifications of health care professionals to treat dual diagnosis disorders?
Lack of Integration in mental Health & Substance Abuse Treatment
Traditionally speaking, patients with mental illness and a co-occurring disorder resulting from substance abuse receive separate treatments from two different sets of clinicians.
Research shows that individuals with substance abuse problems end up in primary care clinics and emergency rooms where health care providers often lack the skills and training necessary to treat patients with substance use disorders, according to the August/September issue of Quality Matters (2014).
From hospitals to primary health care clinics, patients who are referred to behavioral health systems enter treatment with a clinical social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist who treats mental health and substance abuse exclusively.
Treating the Mind, Body & Spirit at New Method Wellness
At New Method Wellness, a premier addiction treatment center, we have a superb team of distinguished addiction psychiatrists and board-certified counselors who specialize in substance abuse treatment. We believe in fusing holistic and clinical methods to heal the whole person, not just treat symptoms of substance use disorders.
To learn more about our holistic treatment programs, call 866-951-1824.
To see why Dr. Phil recommends New Method Wellness, click here!
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From all of us at New Method Wellness co-occurring treatment center, we wish you peace and serenity in knowing that you or your loved one will get the necessary help.
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