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The Effectiveness of Drug Rehab

Drug & Alcohol Treatment in Costa Mesa, CA | Resurgence Behavioral Health

Drug overdose is one of the leading causes of injury-related deaths in the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70,237 drug overdose deaths occurred in 2017, a 9.6% increase from the year prior. These deaths could have been avoided with treatment, unfortunately, about 90% of those needing drug rehab fail to receive treatment. Thankfully, the effectiveness of drug rehab has been proven in numerous studies that found that rehab can reduce drug use by as much as 40-60% and help decrease criminal activity.

What is drug rehab?

Drug rehab treatment is a full process of treatment for meaningful and long-lasting recovery from addiction to substances or addictive behaviors. Its holistic and comprehensive treatment approach is the underlying basis for treating substance addiction. An inpatient drug treatment program, for instance, is designed to help patients detox safely with the support of medical staff and counselors and to successfully transition to an aftercare program. The staff at a rehabilitation center is trained to provide patients the best care and support to get back to living a normal life.

Typical days in an in-patient rehab consists of morning meetings with a counselor, therapist or case manager. Afternoons are spent in therapy sessions, which can range from group therapy to special sessions that deal with a particular type of addiction. The length of treatment is based on the requirement of a patient. It’s not uncommon for rehab centers to offer 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day programs, in addition to extended stay and sober living programs.

How effective is drug rehab?

Does rehabilitation even work? Yes, according to data gathered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The institute found that drug treatment reduces drug use by 40-60%, in addition to significantly decreasing criminal activity during and after treatment. Moreover, it found that methadone treatment has been shown to decrease criminal behavior by as much as 50%. Lastly, it said that research have shown that drug addiction treatments can reduce the risk of HIV infection.

Despite its effectiveness, however, the effectiveness of drug rehab will depend on a number of factors, particularly the level of dedication of the person undergoing rehab. “Although these effectiveness rates hold in general, individual treatment outcomes depend on the extent and nature of the patient’s presenting problems, the appropriateness of the treatment components and related services used to address those problems, and the degree of active engagement of the patient in the treatment process,” the institute explained.

How about relapse?

Despite the proven success of rehabilitation, relapses can occur. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, those with substance use disorders have 40-60% of relapsing. So does this mean that rehab is ultimately useless? According to the institute: no.

Patients relapse when faced with high-risk situations that may trigger addiction. The National Institute of Drug Abuse found that stress cues linked to drug use, such as people, places, things, and moods, and actual contact with drugs are the most common triggers for relapse.

The institute explained that relapses are a result of the chronic nature of addiction. Relapse rates, it said, are no different from other chronic medical illnesses in that if the patient stops following his or her medical treatment program, then the condition is likely to come back. It further explained that the relapses only indicate that a person would need to speak to his or her doctor in order to resume or modify a treatment, or try another type of treatment.

To combat prevent relapse, a number of behavioral treatments are needed to modify a patient’s attitudes and behaviors linked to drug use. These treatments, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, help patients handle stressful situations and various triggers that might cause another relapse, enhance the effectiveness of medication, and make patients more engaged with their treatment program.

Orange County Addiction Rehab

Our treatment programs in Orange County offer a complete treatment program that integrates mental health, substance abuse, and primary care services. We offer detox, both 12-step and SMART recovery groups, and a comprehensive drug treatment program. We are not a one size fits all treatment facility, and this sets us apart from other treatment centers. Our treatment plans in Orange County are customized to each patient’s needs and preferences and are administered by our staff of highly motivated and expert professionals.

We Can Help

We believe and have proven many times the effectiveness of drug rehab. Our Orange County rehab facility offers inpatient and outpatient care for addiction and our aftercare programs ensure that you have the tools you need to maintain sobriety when the formal treatment is through.

We can help you find the recovery you’ve been looking for, and all you need to begin is call. Contact us to find out more about how we can help you take back your life from addiction.

David Rofofsky
David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.


Research | Editorial

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