Drug Abuse Treatment

I often found myself wondering why so many people relapsed into their old habits not long after having received drug addiction treatment. In the beginning I was prone to believe that it was the norm and that it was the natural process of the treatment cycle, this however was while I myself was still a junkie.

On a regular basis, I would see ‘friends’ of mine rushed off and taken for drug addiction treatment, but without change, these would be the same friends who a couple of months further down the line would be shooting up with me once again or sharing a crack pipe with me.

This was nothing out of the ordinary and in fact became par for the course, they would go off to a drug addiction treatment center and when they came back, their need and desire for their drug of choice seemed to be even stronger than before, in fact it was normally during these relapses which most of the overdoses would occur.

It was only once I had managed to get clean and stay clean myself that I began to wonder why this was the case. I looked into many possibilities and believe me the excuses for a relapse could be anything under the sun. There was never a shortage of reasons for the failure of the drug addiction treatment and normally it was ‘never the users fault’.

Now this is not surprising when it comes to a drug user as it is never their own fault, no matter what goes wrong or how bad things get, it was never their own fault. I on the other hand was never really a big believer in drug addiction treatment, I refused it most of the time and denied my problem the rest of the time.

It was only once that I decided to follow this route and sought drug addiction treatment, after that I was clean and had vowed never to go back to my drugging ways. So what made such a difference in my case, why was I able to break free of my addiction and leave it behind me for once and for all, never looking back.

Well here is the secret, after 10 very long and now happy years of recovery, I have come to the conclusion that it was the degree of intent with which I approached my drug addiction therapy which made all of the difference, which had helped to keep me clean and drug free.

It was my intent which had helped me seek out and discover the ‘real cause’ of my addiction and which had forced me to come to terms with it. Let me tell you know, if the intent if the addict is not truly to get and stay clean and they are not willing to begin to address and overcome the root cause of their addiction, chances are they too will relapse no matter what quality of drug addiction treatment they receive.

About the Author

David Kuhn was a drug addict for a large portion of his life, but has managed to overcome his addiction which culminated in intravenous heroin addiction. He has been ‘clean’ for ten years now and his passion is to help other people understand and overcome their addictions.

Breaking bad habits is hard to do, but breaking free from drug addiction is exponentially harder. Whether it’s popping pills or falling prey to illegal drugs, drug addiction is no joke. People sometimes develop addictions to prescription pain medications like Oxycontin, Percocet, morphine, and Tylenol with codeine. Patients may start out merely trying to get some pain relief, but over time their bodies develop a tolerance and require higher doses for pain, which may lead to addiction.

Illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana are also very addictive. When using these drugs over a long period of time, the body, brain and nervous system are damaged and affected in ways that are sometimes irreparable. Drug addicts’ bodies are already ravaged by mind- and body-altering drugs, so a safer solution to help them quit would be a natural one.

Popular Treatments for Drug Addiction

Where do addicts typically turn when they want to quit? There are various rehabilitation programs available that may include treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational therapy, hypnosis, support group therapy, spiritual enrichment, and administration of drugs that help to counter withdrawal effects, etc. You can search for and learn about programs like these on the internet or by checking in the yellow pages.

Natural Remedies for Drug Addiction

Outside of these usual methods of treatment, there are other natural solutions that will aid in an addict’s recovery. At natural rehabilitation centers, only natural means are used to detoxify the body and no new drugs are administered since it seems counterproductive to the goal of eliminating drug dependence. Drug addicts are usually very malnourished and lacking in certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients, so nutritional therapy is used to eliminate toxins and restore and repair the functions of the body that rely on proper diet and nutrition for physical and physiological health. Herbal medicines can be administered to help dull withdrawal symptoms, get rid of toxins, help patients relax, and cleanse the blood. Some great herbs that serve these purposes are chamomile, St. John’s wort, Echinacea, Valerian, and milk thistle. Acupuncture has also been known to lessen withdrawal symptoms.

Other natural treatments include hypnotherapy, which helps to guard the subconscious mind from cravings and promote abstinence; chiropractic therapy, which helps to correct any physical problems in the body that may contribute to withdrawal symptoms; meditation, which assists in relaxation and lessens withdrawal symptoms; and physical activities such as yoga or Pilates, to relax and detoxify the body. Natural treatments such as these are safer, encourage positive lifestyle changes and have lasting effects; and natural is better.