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What are the treatments for addiction?

Addictive disorders are a group of disorders that can cause physical and psychological damage. Receiving treatment is essential for breaking the cycle of addiction.

Detoxification

Detoxification is normally the first step in treatment. This involves clearing a substance from the body and limiting withdrawal reactions.

In 80 percent of cases, a treatment clinic will use medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

If a person is addicted to more than one substance, they will often need medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms for each.

A person might take medication on a continuous basis when recovering from a substance-related disorder and its related complications.

However, people most commonly use medications during detoxification to manage withdrawal symptoms. The medication will vary depending on the substance that the person is addicted to.

Longer-term use of medications helps to reduce cravings and prevent relapse, or a return to using the substance after having recovered from addiction.

Medication is not a standalone treatment for addiction and should accompany other management methods such as psychotherapy.

Addiction to the following substances requires specific medications.

Medications

Alcohol
People with alcohol use disorder can take the following medications to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, including:
  • Naltrexone: This prevents the action of opioid receptors in the brain that produce rewarding and euphoric effects when a person consumes alcohol and reduces the risk of relapse. While not effective for all people in recovery, it has a considerable impact on abstinence in some people.
  • Acamprosate, or Campral: This might reduce long-term withdrawal symptoms, including sleeplessness, anxiety, and a general feeling of unhappiness known as dysphoria. This has a more beneficial effect in people with severe substance-related and addictive disorders.
  • Disulfiram, or Antabuse: This is a medication that disrupts the breakdown of alcohol, leading to adverse effects including facial redness, feeling sick, and an irregular heartbeat should the person in recovery attempt to consume alcohol. It acts as a deterrent for people who have high motivation levels toward recovery.

Rehabilitation programs

Longer-term treatment programs for substance-related and addictive disorders can be highly effective and typically focus on remaining drug-free and resuming function within social, professional, and family responsibilities.

Fully licensed residential facilities are available to structure a 24-hour care program, provide a safe housing environment, and supply any necessary medical interventions or assistance.

A few types of facility can provide a therapeutic environment, including:

  • Short-term residential treatment: This focuses on detoxification and preparing an individual for a longer period within a therapeutic community through intensive counseling.
  • Therapeutic communities: A person seeking long-term treatment for severe forms of addictive disorder would live in a residence for between 6 and 12 months with on-site staff and others in recovery. The community and staff serve as key factors in recovery from and changes in attitudes and behaviors toward drug use.
  • Recovery housing: This provides a supervised, short-term stay in housing to help people engage with responsibilities and adapt to a new, independent life without on-going substance use. Recovery housing includes advice on handling finances and finding work, as well as providing the connection between a person during the final stages of recovery and community support services.

Therapy might occur on a one-to-one, group, or family basis depending on the needs of the individual. It is usually intensive at the outset of treatment with the number of sessions gradually reducing over time as symptoms improve.

Different types of therapy include:

  • cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps people recognize and change ways of thinking that have associations with substance use.
  • multi-dimensional family therapy, designed to help improve family function around an adolescent or teen with a substance-related disorder
  • motivational interviewing, which maximizes an individuals willingness to change and make adjustments to behaviors
  • motivational incentives that encourage abstinence through positive reinforcement

Counseling for addiction aims to help people change behaviors and attitudes around using a substance, as well as strengthening life skills and supporting other treatments.

Takeaway

Our Consultant Psychologist

Dr. N. Rekha (Chakraborty)

MBBS (RGUHS, Bangalore), DPM (IPGMER-IOP) FIPS

Ex-Resident of NIMHANS & Senior Resident of I.O.P.

Consultant Neuropsychiatrist (regd. No. – WB 64312)