When it comes to treating drug addiction, there are layers of aspects of what works best and how the treatment is approached. While detox is an essential part of treating substance abuse, it is just one factor. One of the most important elements in drug addiction recovery is therapy. Here is why it is essential in treatment and recovery.
There are multiple ways that drug addiction is treated so that the patient can be on the road to recovery. The first thing is with detox. Along with detox is the need for therapy. This is imperative because drug addiction encompasses emotional, mental, and psychological factors whereas detox focuses on the physical aspects of substance abuse.
Some people suffer from what is known as co-occurring disorders. This is where a person has a substance abuse issue as well as another issue like depression or another type of mental health disorder. Up until recent years, only one was treated at a time. If a person went in for drug abuse issues, their depression was not treated – and vice versa. This did not help as well as it could since many substance abuse issues have an underlying psychological issue that needs to be addressed. In fact, it was not until the 1980s that the focus was on co-occurring disorders.
Yet this is important. Studies show that up to 40 percent of those with anxiety or mood disorders also had a substance abuse problem. Another survey showed that smokers fell into a 70 percent ratio for those with mental health issues as well as their nicotine addiction. And while cigarettes aren’t the drug being discussed, that does show an astounding rate of co-occurring disorders among addiction and mental health issues.
When a person is treated in therapy, the triggering issues are addressed. This makes it easier for the person to focus on healing instead of abusing drugs in the future due to stressors.
There are different types of therapy that work in treating drug addiction. These include family counseling, group counseling, one on one counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as in some cases – psychotherapy.
Each of these works in their own unique way. For instance, cognitive behavioral therapy works to help the patient do three things – recognize the behavior that leads to substance abuse, avoid this behavior, and cope with situations where they are likely to lead to substance abuse.
For family therapy, it not only improves the family dynamic but looks at family influences and how they may lead to the patient abusing drugs. This is not just important for adolescents but adults as well. Although in adolescents it is imperative.
Group therapy provides a dynamic that allows the patient to share experiences, stressors, and support with peers who are experiencing the same thing. And one on one therapy is conducive to getting to the bottom of what may cause the patient to abuse.
Therapy encompasses more than simply the physical dependence on drugs. While you may have completely detoxed and are no longer physically addicted, there are still triggers and stressors that can cause a person to relapse. For instance, someone who is under a great deal of stress. Or perhaps seeing an old friend or visiting a neighborhood that reminds you of using. Even being around others who abuse drugs is a trigger than therapy can help address.
It is easy to think of addiction as just the physical dependence but there are psychological and social factors that contribute, and these must be included and addressed in a successful plan of recovery. One other thing to consider is that once detox is done, that doesn’t mean that recovery is successful and finished. Instead. in order for the patient to stay sober, everything must be considered.
As far as therapy, it is one of the main factors in recovery.
According to Wake Forest University:
A therapeutic alliance is the trust patients feel with their counselors, allowing them to feel vulnerable sorting out their problems and work together effectively. Strong alliances like this ensure that patients view their counselors as trustworthy, and know that their best interests are on the forefront. This allows counselors and patients to work together even during tribulation.
Basically, the patient feels comfortable and at ease with their counselor and they can work together to create an environment that is conducive to recovery.
It comes down to one simple takeaway – therapy is essential in treating drug addiction. Other areas of treatment are important as well but they cannot be successful without a therapy program, or at the very least as successful. Therapy treatments range in how they are used but all therapies show substantial help in creating an atmosphere that is more healing to those seeking recovery. Detox is certainly the first step but it is not the only step because therapy must be a part of what treatment encompasses.
