Drug Treatment for Addicts from the Betty Ford Center

Drug Treatment

Many Americans suffer today from a chronic, progressive and fatal disease - the disease of addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Historically, alcoholism and drug addiction were treated by our society as ethical lapses and moral issues. Therefore, our government has long treated alcoholism and other drug addiction as a criminal justice issue. As a result, instead of getting drug treatment for their addiction, many Americans are instead relegated to our criminal justice system. In fact, instead of providing alcohol and other drug treatment, the state of California, with a burgeoning prison population including a high proportion of alcoholics and addicts are, is now negotiating to "export" prisoners to other states for rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation from alcohol and other drug addiction through effective drug treatment is increasingly being recognized by the medical community as significantly preferred as and alternative to the more punitive law enforcement efforts that have been underway for many years. Drug addiction and alcoholism are diseases that not only affect the brain of the patient, but the selfish, negative behaviors of the alcoholic and addict also affect individuals, families and communities in a profoundly negative way. Because of this significant impact on the rest of society, the alcoholic and the addict's disease is felt widely in society at large in the absence of effective and useful drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

There are many "quick fixes" for the disease of addiction, including detoxification, rapid detox, pharmacological interventions, hypnotism, counseling, acupuncture and other methods. Each of these things can be helpful, but only when combined with a much more comprehensive look at the medical, psychiatric, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of the individual patient. It is not unexpected that in a quick-fix, instant gratification society, that addicts, alcoholics and family members would think that a simple treatment or prescription would "take care" of the problem. Successful drug treatment combines all of these individual treatment elements in addition to preparing the individual patient for what will likely be the most significant positive transformation he or she will ever go through in their live. The emotional and spiritual transformation of 12-step recovery through alcohol and other drug treatment leads individual patients to go from fearful, self-centered addicts and alcoholics into loving, other-focused citizens who can live healthy and productive lives.

If you have a loved one, friend or colleague who is exhibiting signs of alcoholism and/or other drug addiction, there are actions that you can take to give the prospective patient the best possible chance of entering a quality drug and alcohol treatment center.

The first step you can take to help your loved one get into drug treatment for their addiction is to begin to speak the truth to them. Expressing loving concern for alcoholics and addicts in addition to beginning to set appropriate boundaries can be a powerful beginning to helping an individual to set out on the road to recovery from addiction.

Addiction Treatment - Drug Treatment - Alcohol Rehab - Alcohol Rehabilitation Center
Drug Abuse Treatment - Alcohol Treatment - Drug Rehabilitation - Drug Treatment Center -
Alcohol Abuse - Substance Abuse - Alcohol Addiction - Drug Rehabilitation Center

Drug Treatment | Drug Treatment Center