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Drug Abuse Treatment


Why is this procedure done?


Drug abuse and addiction can cause you physical and mental health problems. There are many things that may cause drug addiction. With the right treatment, you can recover and go back to leading a healthy life. Part of your treatment may be taking other medicines to help with signs of withdrawal. These medicines may also keep you from craving drugs. ‚  
You may have been taking narcotics or pain drugs that were ordered by your doctor or you may have been taking illegal drugs. Both legal and illegal drugs act on parts of your brain to block pain and can change how you react. Your doctor may give you a medicine to help with your dependence on drugs. This medicine works on the same parts of your brain that the drugs did. ‚  
Recovery is a process of finding better ways to deal with your problems, other than using drugs. Treatment most often involves counseling. Medicine may be needed and works best when used with other talk therapy. Treatment for drug addiction is not simple. You are taking the first step to health. ‚  

What will the results be?


  • You will work through the physical side effects of your drug problem. This step is detoxification or detox.
  • The next step is working to find out what issues led to your problems with using drugs. This is the treatment phase.
  • You will work to go back to your life before you started using drugs. This step is recovery.

What happens before the procedure?


Before you start a program to help you stop taking drugs, talk to your doctor. It is important to have help in dealing with any signs of withdrawal that you may have. Your doctor will: ‚  
  • Do an exam
  • Ask about your medical history
  • Talk to you about your drug use. You need to be honest to help your doctor work with you on a treatment plan.

What happens during the procedure?


  • Your doctor may give you medicines to help with signs of withdrawal. These medicines may also help ease your desire for drugs. These medicines come in different doses. Always check to make sure you are taking the right dose. Do not share these medicines with others.
  • Your doctor may ask you to have testing to check for drugs and to make sure you are taking your medicines the right way.
  • You may be asked to take part in counseling, either one on one or in groups. The sessions can help you to find out your triggers for drug use. Triggers are people or places that increase your stress and desire to use drugs. You may also learn new ways of coping with life without using drugs.

What happens after the procedure?


Some people will continue to take the medicines to help them stay off of drugs. Others will only need these medicines for a short time. Talk to your doctor to make a plan that is best for you. ‚  

What care is needed at home?


  • Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
  • Most of your recovery will take place after coming home. Work with your doctor. Ask for helpful tips. Make all of your doctors aware of your problem. Then, they will be able to help you as well.
  • Set a goal and write down a plan of action for how you are going to recover.
  • Get support.
    • Find a support group that is right for you. Once you find a group that you like, get a sponsor. Many people find help in 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Cocaine Anonymous. These programs are a way for you to reach out to others with the same problems to help you. Call a local chapter to attend meetings.
    • Talk with friends and family. They may also be a source of support while you recover. Let them know how to best help you. They may find it helpful to join a 12-step program for family members of one who is addicted, like Al-Anon. These programs will give your family facts about recovery and how they can help you recover.
  • Be active.
    • Get involved with others by joining social or church activities in your town.
    • Be a volunteer to help others.
    • Do something new in your life or career and focus on things that are of great value to you.
  • Deal with your feelings.
    • Learn to handle anxiety, anger, conflict, and feeling alone in healthier ways. Your doctor, support group, and sponsor can help with this.
    • Learn how to cope with stress without the use of drugs. Some people enjoy exercise and meditation. Others like to play with pets. Try listening to music or having a massage. Go for a walk or a drive. Find out what works best for you.
    • Avoid places, people, or events that would trigger your cravings. Do not hang out with old friends who are still abusing drugs. Instead, spend time with people who can support your recovery. Avoid going to bars and clubs. Do not drink alcohol. Use caution with prescription drugs. Some of them have a high potential for abuse. These include sleeping pills, painkillers, and anti-anxiety drugs.
  • Find ways to cope with cravings:
    • Talk with family or friends. This often helps to ease and relieve the feeling of cravings. They may also help you do things to distract your attention.
    • Distract yourself with some activities. Get yourself interested in something to make your urges go away. Call your sponsor. Read a book, watch a movie, ride a bike, or take a walk.
    • Challenge yourself to change the way you think. When cravings happen, you may remember the good feelings only and tend to forget the bad effects. Remind yourself that you will not really feel good if you return to drug use. Going to a meeting can give you extra support.

What follow-up care is needed?


  • Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
  • Make sure to keep all visits with your counselor.

What problems could happen?


  • Drug withdrawal. These are the signs that happen when you suddenly stop taking drugs that you have used for a long time. Get the help of your doctor and counselor to watch you and help with drug withdrawal. Dont try to handle the addiction to drugs alone.
  • Mood problems
  • Anxiety
  • Nausea and throwing up
  • Sleep problems
  • Problems with thinking
  • Returning to use drugs or alcohol

Helpful tips


Take good care of your health. Getting regular exercise, enough sleep, eating a healthy and well balanced diet, and keeping busy helps you to feel good. When you feel good, drug use may tend to be less tempting. ‚  

Where can I learn more?


National Institute on Drug Abuse ‚  
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction ‚  
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/principles-effective-treatment ‚  
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ‚  
http://healthqwest.us/pdfs/Methadone.Brochure.pdf ‚  
http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SMA08-4126/SMA08-4126.pdf ‚  

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚  
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