For anyone suffering from drug or alcohol addiction, the first step in recovery is often the hardest: admitting there is a problem. Cooperation and a willingness to heal are essential for any effective treatment plan, but it’s common for people to assume they can take treatment into their own hands, or just quit “cold turkey.”
Unfortunately, this approach rarely leads to successful recovery. Fortunately, there are many addiction treatment options available that can help. If you or a loved one has made that difficult first step of recognizing and accepting that there is a problem, getting professional addiction help is the next step.
For anyone suffering from drug or alcohol addiction, the first step in recovery is often the hardest: admitting there is a problem. Cooperation and a willingness to heal are essential for any effective treatment plan, but it’s common for people to assume they can take treatment into their own hands, or just quit “cold turkey.”
Unfortunately, this approach rarely leads to successful recovery. Fortunately, there are many addiction treatment options available that can help. If you or a loved one has made that difficult first step of recognizing and accepting that there is a problem, getting professional addiction help is the next step.
Recovery Is A Long-term Process
Addiction isn’t simply a matter of bad habits—it’s a chronic disease that requires long-term, consistent care. In addition to detoxification services, addiction treatment centers focus on helping patients stay drug-free and resume a productive role in family, career, and society at large. The therapeutic portion of treatment, involving both individual and group therapy, helps to uncover the root causes of substance abuse and address them to reduce chances of relapse.
Treatment Programs Increase Your Odds For Success
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, people who complete addiction recovery programs are more likely to achieve lasting sobriety. In fact, about 90% of people who stay sober for at least two years after treatment will still be sober 10 years after treatment. People who complete treatment programs are also less likely to have run-ins with the law and more likely to have better relations with family, friends, and colleagues.
Treatment Programs Can Be Customized
While most medical maladies, like broken bones, require the same treatment regardless of the patient, addiction is not as simple. Some patients require intense initial detox, but not all. Some patients are better suited for residential inpatient treatment centers, while others benefit from the flexibility of outpatient programs. And while medication can be an important part of an overall treatment plan, it’s not necessary for everyone. One key benefit to addiction treatment centers is that individual plans are reviewed often and modified to fit each patient’s changing needs.
Addiction Treatment Takes Mental Health Into Account
As mentioned, no single addiction treatment plan is right for everyone, and one of the most important factors to consider in treatment is mental health. Some patients have existing mental health disorders that are responsible for or exacerbated by addiction and should be at the forefront of the treatment plan. Even when patients are not aware they have a diagnosable mental illness, a reputable treatment center has staff members on hand that are qualified to evaluate and treat a wide spectrum of disorders, through combinations of mental health support groups, individual therapy, and medication.
Ready For Professional Addiction Help?
At Alvarado Parkway Institute, we have provided care for behavioral health in San Diego for over 35 years. Thorough our Culture of Caring, we help people get sober and stay sober. If you or a loved one suffers from addiction and is ready to recover, we offer customized inpatient and outpatient services, along with partial hospitalization programs and opiate detoxification programs. For more information about our inpatient or outpatient services, please reach out via the contact form on our website or call our 24-hour referral and crisis line at 619-667-6125.
