by Paul Lines

Created on: November 25, 2008

In promoting the treatment options for drug addiction it is not possible to conclude that there is a "one-size-fits-all" type of remedy. This is for three main reasons. Firstly, the physical, psychological, mental and health condition of the addict needs to be taken into account. Each drug addict presents a different and unique range of symptoms, both physically and mentally. Secondly, treatments differ depending upon the type of drug that the addict is using and, thirdly, the treatment required needs to be balanced to the level of the dependency that has been reached.

However, despite these differences there are one or two areas of treatment similarity. The most obvious of these is that there needs to be a behavioural change on the part of the addict for the treatment to be permanent. Secondly, in almost all cases the treatment will require a certain element of therapy. Sometimes this can be conducted by persuading the addict to attend a rehabilitation clinic for a short period, although in other cases regular counselling sessions whilst maintaining a normal life will suffice.

One vital factor in the treatment process is the task of avoiding a relapse. As has been noted from a number of high profile cases involving celebrities, this is no easy feat to achieve. However, to address this situation it is important to ensure that the treatment programme, which should be tailor-made for the individual addict, must have a sufficient time-scale to be able to avoid future repetition of the drug abuse. Nevertheless, it is often the case that there will be relapses and, when this occurs, the important thing is to continue with the programme in the manner that has been decided as this should reduce the number of future relapses occurring.

In some cases, certainly where there is a severe case of drug abuse and addiction, it may be necessary to include medication as part of the treatment. Medication often forms part of the withdrawal process, especially in terms of reducing the craving for the drug that has been depended upon in the past. Furthermore, it can help to normalise brain functions that might have been unbalanced by the drug abuse. This includes medication such as Buprenorphine, which is a recent addition to the drug medical treatment programme.

All of the above drug addiction treatment can be carried out within a voluntary environment. However, treatments for addiction has also increasing become part of the justice system. This is especially the case where the crime committed has been drug related. Indeed the courts can make it a mandatory part of sentence provision for the drug addict to be entered into a rehabilitation programme, defiance of which might lead to an increased penalty.

Whatever the treatment decided upon the drug addiction, it is important that all of its elements, being behavioural change, counselling, medication where required and other aspects are dealt with as an integral part of a balanced rehabilitation process. It they are not, the chances of a successful withdrawal and future abstinence will be reduced.

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