Drug Rehabs: Can A Drug Treatment Center Really Help?

Do Drug Rehabs Work?

hope There are always lots of discussion about drug rehabs and whether they really work. So, in this article I’ll be discussing some of the differing points of view so that you can draw your own conclusion. Drug rehab centers have a track record of proven effectiveness.Even so, many people are skeptical about their effectiveness despite the evidence that such a program significantly increases the addict’s chances of success when compared to an addict’s attempts to quit without medical intervention.

What Factors Determine Drug Treatment Center Success?

First, the effectiveness of any of the drug rehabilitation centers depend on a variety of different factors. For instance, the longer a person has been addicted to a certain drug the more difficult it will be for drug rehab treatment to work because the addiction will be stronger.

Secondly, and more importantly, you must examine the long term effectiveness of the drug treatment and not just the effectiveness of the drug detox program offered by the drug rehab center.

Case Study: Alcohol Treatment Centers

An instructive example of why a drug rehab clinic is a vital part of an addict’s rehabilitation comes from the treatment of alcoholics. When alcoholics try to get sober through self treatment, they have a success rate of approximately 4%. However, the success rate through professional treatment is about 40% (ten times the rate of self treatment).

If the former addict then continues with individual and group therapy, this effectiveness rises even further. The most favorable results occur in a drug abuse rehab that contains a residential (in patient) program option that lasts beyond the initial detox period.

Quit Or Cut Down? The Debate Continues

The main debate between self help advocates and professionals centers around whether or not the goal of the treatment should be to completely eliminate the addiction versus decreasing the severity of the addiction to a manageable level.

Many people believe that the goal of treatment should be to cut down the amount substance they use until the addiction can be safely managed. This makes it easier to declare a “victory” when the addict has reduced the amount of the substance consumed.

But, there is a counter argument that the chance of relapse is much greater if this form of treatment is used because it is easier to “do just a little bit more.”

Drug Rehab Centers On Balance Offer The Best Chance For Treatment

Trying to gauge the exact success rate of drug rehabs is difficult because there are so many unknown factors to consider when examining the data.

However, on balance, it is likely that drug rehab centers do offer a greater opportunity for long term sobriety. Part of this conclusion is based on the better treatment options and support staff offered at most drug rehabs.

However, equally important is the apparent lack of success that results when an addict attempts to treat his addiction alone.