What is Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment?
What Is Addiction Treatment?
by A. Thomas McLellan, Ph.D.
Most dual diagnosis addiction treatment programs are designed to do more than simply reduce or remove alcohol or drug use - they focus on getting addicted people to change their lifestyle and even their core life values as a way of preventing return of the problems. Like treatments for other conditions, dual diagnosis addiction treatment can also include medications and forms of talk therapy, but addiction treatment may be provided by a much wider range of personnel (clergy, counselors, social workers, physicians) than most other forms of healthcare.
No available therapy, program, medication or surgical procedure can remove recurrent desire or craving for alcohol and/or other drugs. Eliminating the desire to use drugs or alcohol is not an outcome of rehabilitation. A more reasonable expectation is that medication may reduce this urge and effective rehabilitation will teach a person what they must do to manage and contain their recurrent desires to use, much in the same way as a person with diabetes or hypertension must learn to manage their lives to control their illness.
It is best to think of three stages of dual diagnosis treatment, each with a different function in the larger picture of care:
• drug detox / alcohol detox
• drug rehabilitation / alcohol rehabilitation
• continuing care
Drug Detox and Alcohol Detox
Following a period of heavy and sustained alcohol or drug use, most individuals develop significant physical and emotional symptoms. While some of these physical problems can resolve with just rest, the use of drugs like alcohol, opiates (heroin, OxyContin, Vicodin, etc.) and tranquilizers (Valium, Xanax) usually need medically supervised detoxification or stabilization.
Drug detox and alcohol detox is not drug addiction treatment - only preparation for treatment. Detoxification must be followed by continued rehabilitative treatment for lasting improvement.
Settings of Dual diagnosis Treatment:
Almost always in hospitals or other residential facilities where medical care is available.
Methods of Care:
The treatments involve various medications to reduce withdrawal and physical discomfort.
Duration of Care:
Usually 3-5 days. More severe cases require a few more days.
Desired Results:
1. Reduced physical and emotional instability caused by substance use.
2. The patient is motivated to recognize and accept that there is a problem that she or he can address.
3. The patient is engaged in some form of continued rehabilitative care.
Drug Rehabilitation and Alcohol Rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation and alcohol rehabilitation is appropriate for patients who are no longer suffering from the acute physical or emotional effects of recent substance use. Alcohol rehabilitation care typically offers an array of treatment components to help to address the many health and social problems associated with substance use.
Settings of Dual Diagnosis Treatment:
Most rehabilitative care for addiction occurs in specialty “drug treatment programs” that include the components described above. If a person has very serious substance use and/or a life situation that has gotten so out of control that they cannot become sober even with treatment in their living situation - they should seek residential rehabilitation. Most other, less severe forms of substance use can be rehabilitated in outpatient settings that provide essentially the same components of care.
Methods of Treatment:
Medications can help reduce craving for drugs and/or help with co-occurring medical or emotional illness. Individual, group and family therapy helps assist with understanding the specific issues that may have led to the addiction and that will have to be faced again following treatment. Assistance and guidance in developing a new drug-free lifestyle are also important parts of rehabilitation.
Duration of Dual Diagnosis Treatment:
Most residential rehabilitation programs last 21-30 days, 8-12 hours per day. Outpatient rehabilitation programs are typically 60-90 days, where patients spend 2-8 hours per day, 2-5 days per week.
Desired Results:
1. Sustained elimination of alcohol and other drug use.
2. Improved health and social function.
3. Engagement in continuing care, personal therapy, mutual help groups and/or other healthy lifestyle changes to sustain the improved health and function.
Technorati Tags: addiction, addiction treatment, addiction treatment program, addiction treatment programs, alcohol detox, alcohol rehab, alcohol rehabilitation, detox, drug detox, drug rehab, drug rehabilitation, drug treatment, drug treatment program, drug treatment programs, dual diagnosis, dual diagnosis treatment, effects, family therapy, opiate, patient, recovery, rehab, symptoms, therapy, treatment, vicodin
Powered by FireStats