TYPES OF ADDICTION TREATMENT

There are many types of addiction treatment out there. How will you know which treatment is best for a particular addict? While the answer ultimately depends on the personal circumstances of the addict and the type of addiction that he or she currently has, we'll explain some of the most common types of treatment here and wish you the best in overcoming any addiction that you may have.

For severe addictions, a great treatment solution is an extended stay at a residential treatment center where you can receive 24/7 treatments for up to a year or more. Many residential treatment centers operate in isolated, quiet communities where you can feel protected from the world in which you gained your addiction.

Some treatment options include the substitution of one drug for another. Methadone treatment is one example of this type of addiction treatment, being used to help people overcome addictions to heroin and other substances. Methadone can often suppress drug cravings for up to 24 hours. However, one drawback is that the addiction merely tends to shift from heroin or another drug to methadone, which causes effects that are still bad (but not to the same degree).

Twelve-step programs are programs that use a set of twelve steps to help people overcome addictions in a systematic manner. The first addiction treatment organization that gained national fame as a twelve-step program was Alcoholics Anonymous.

Finally, consider outpatient care if your addiction is less severe. Outpatient care doesn't allow people to stay for an extended time, but it does offer flexible treatment options to help people get off their addictions fast. For example, a person who abuses alcohol to a moderate extent can benefit significantly from a brief time at an outpatient treatment center.