Getting Clean With a Drug Rehab Program

Drug and alcohol abuse is a serious problem, not only in the U.S but other countries as well. Over 23 million people are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Teenagers are especially at risk for drug abuse, with all the social pressures to excel in school and be accepted by peers, many kids turn to drugs or alcohol to help them cope. The problem is that drugs are only a temporary fix to the situation, allowing them an escape from the situation for a short time but the problems that caused the abuse remain, as well as now introducing a new problem to cope with.

Many teenagers and adults, who have gone through drug rehab, have said that the reason they started using drugs was due to stress or not being able to fit in with their peers. Some don't know how to react in social situations and have feelings of inadequacy. The drugs or alcohol give them a false sense of confidence, or make them the life of the party. They are addicted to the attention as much as the drugs themselves. Most times they do not acknowledge that a problem exists, they do not see the long term effects of what they are doing. Most addicts will not seek help until they have lost everything; family, friends and income.

The long-term effects of drug use are physical and emotional. The addict alienates their family and friends with their behavior, sometimes even losing their jobs due to not showing up at work or being late, or showing up to work under the influence. Some addicts will spend every dime they have to get their drugs, resorting to stealing from relatives or taking out hefty loans against their homes to finance their drug habit.

This is where drug rehab programs come in. Sometimes the addict will come in on their own, other times their family members have convinced them to go. But no matter how they come in, treatment is necessary to break the cycle of addiction. The program works to change the behaviors that led to the drug abuse in the first place. Counseling sessions and group therapy teach individuals to express their feeling instead of suppressing them. Opening up to others who are going through the same thing is very helpful.

The first step in the treatment process is detoxification; some drugs take a long time to get out of the system. After the withdrawals have passed, the person feels much better and even their physical appearance improves. Once they are off the drugs they need therapy to keep them from using drugs again. The recovering addict must address the issues involved (the cause or causes) and make a plan for solving them to avoid recurrence.

Getting treatment is the only way to help the individual regain their quality of life. People do not realize when things have gone downhill until someone else points it out. Many have just forgotten how to be happy. The best benefit to this is having their life back and being able to function as a happy healthy person again. These programs have had much success in getting people off drugs, but it is up to the individual whether they stay off them or not.