Substance abuse impacts both the user and those around them. Luckily, substance abuse is a disease that can be reduced and treated with help from therapy and medications. One of the best ways to get help for reducing substance abuse is through affordable substance abuse treatment at an in-care facility. Find out more about the most common treatment options for reducing substance abuse and how you or a loved one can get care.
Common substance abuse treatment options
Substance abuse care features a treatment plan that is tailored to the individual’s needs. This could look like medical or mental health care, or a combination of both. Many treatment options include the implementation of various types of therapy and medication.
Therapy
Behavioral therapies are often used as a treatment method to help patients recover from substance abuse. Depending on the treatment plan, they can help:
- Minimize negative thought processes associated with substance abuse
- Change behaviors and coping mechanisms associated with substance abuse
- Develop more healthy life skills and choices
- Implement other long-term treatment options like medication
Different types of therapies are also utilized depending on outpatient or inpatient treatment plans.
Outpatient treatment
In outpatient treatment, patients typically visit with a healthcare specialist on a weekly basis in either group or individual therapy sessions. After successful treatment, visits decrease in hours per week. Depending on the patient’s severity of substance abuse, the following therapies may be implemented:
- Motivational interviewing, a type of therapy that determines how ready a patient is to make long-term changes and which treatment options they should pursue
- Family therapy, a type of group therapy that includes the patient’s family members and helps achieve better family functioning
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy, a type of therapy that helps patients identify how and why they are being affected by substance abuse and employs ways to help them cope and heal long-term
- Contingency management, a type of therapy that uses motivational incentives and positive reinforcement to abstain from substance use
Inpatient or residential treatment
Severe cases often result in inpatient treatment. This type of residential treatment helps patients stay drug-free during their stay. The first 24-hours of care include intensive, monitored treatment to help the patient with withdrawal symptoms.
Afterwards, the patient is moved to an in-care facility that provides safe medical care and housing. There are many different types of therapies used for inpatient care, including group and solo behavioral therapy. Patient’s can look forward to comfortable recovery housing, building a therapeutic community, and long-term accountability measures in order to sustain a drug-free lifestyle.
Medications
Substance abuse can also be reduced through certain medications. These medications provide support for relapse, withdrawal, and co-morbid disorders. They can help patients sustain brain function and mitigate the cravings associated with chronic drug and alcohol use. They can also help patients stay drug free after initial detoxification.
For affordable substance abuse treatment, including outpatient and inpatient care options, contact Stout Street Foundation.