Lybrate Logo
Get the App
For Doctors
Login/Sign-up
Last Updated: May 03, 2020
BookMark
Report

Drug Addiction and It's Interventions!

Profile Image
Dr. Pallavee WaliaPsychologist • 11 Years Exp.PhD Clinical Psychology, Post graduate diploma in Rehabilitation Psychology, Internship Certificate in REBT/ CBT, certificate in guidance, M A Clinical Psychology

 Why do drug addicted person keep using drugs?

Nearly all addicted individuals believe at the outset that they can stop using drugs on their own, and most try to stop without treatment. Although some pedrug are successful, many attempts result in failure to achieve long-term abstinence. Research has shown that long-term drug abuse results in changes in the brain that persist long after a person stops using drugs. These drug-induced changes in brain function can have many behavioral consequences, including an inability to exert 

Characteristic of addiction.

Understanding that addiction has such a fundamental of achieving and maintaining abstinence without treatment. Psychological stress from work, family problems, psychiatric illness, pain associated with medical problems, social cues (such as meeting individuals from one’s drug-using past), or environmental cues (such as encountering streets, objects, or even smells associated with drug abuse) can trigger intense cravings without the individual even being consciously aware of the triggering event. Any one of these factors can hinder attainment of sustained abstinence and make relapse more likely. Nevertheless, research indicates that active participation in treatment is even the most severely addicted individuals.

 Treatment for drug abuse 

Drug addiction treatment can include medications, behavioral therapies, or their combination.Treatment medications, such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone (including a new long-
Acting formulation), are available for individuals addicted to opioids, while nicotine preparations (patches, gum, lozenges, and nasal spray) and the medications varenicline and bupropion are available for individuals addiction to medications available for treating alcohol dependence, 1which commonly co-occurs with other drug addictions, including addiction to prescription medications. 

Treatments for prescription drug abuse tend to be similar to those for illicit drugs that affect the same brain systems. For example, buprenorphine, used to treat heroin addiction, can also be used to treat addiction to opioid pain medications. Addiction to prescription stimulants, which affect the same brain systems as illicit stimulants like cocaine, can be treated with behavioral therapies, as there are not yet medications for treating addiction to these types of drugs. 

Behavioral therapies can help motivate people to participate in drug treatment, offer strategies for coping with drug cravings, teach ways to avoid drugs and prevent relapse, and help individuals deal with relapse if it occurs. Behavioral therapies can also help people improve communication, relationship, and parenting skills, as well as family dynamics.

How long does drug addiction treatment usually last? 

Individuals progress through drug addiction treatment at various rates, so there is no predetermined length of treatment. However, research has shown unequivocally that good outcomes are contingent on adequate treatment length. Generally, for residential or outpatient treatment, participation for less than 90 days is of limited effectiveness maintaining positive outcomes. For methadone maintenance, 12 months is considered the minimum, and some opioid-maintenance for many years.Good outcomes are contingent on adequate treatment length.

Treatment dropout is one of the major problems encountered by treatment programs; therefore, motivational techniques that can keep patients engaged will also improve outcomes. By viewing addiction as a chronic disease and offering continuing care and monitoring, programs can succeed, but this will often require multiple episodes of reatment and readily readmitting patients that have relapsed.


What helps people stay in treatment?

Because successful outcomes often depend on a person’s strategies for keeping people in treatment are critical. Whether a patient stays in treatment depends on factors associated with both the individual and the program. Individual factors related to engagementand retention typically include motivation to change drug-using behavior; degree of support from family and friends; and, frequently.

chat_icon

Ask a free question

Get FREE multiple opinions from Doctors

posted anonymously

TOP HEALTH TIPS

doctor

Book appointment with top doctors for Drug Abuse and Addiction treatment

View fees, clinc timings and reviews
doctor

Treatment Enquiry

Get treatment cost, find best hospital/clinics and know other details