Substance abuse is a problem that unfortunately a great number of people experience at some point in their lives. For many, it is a life-long affliction. Many of the most well-known 12-step treatment programs actually refer to addiction as a disease. Regardless of how you classify the problem, it certainly has the potential to destroy not only the life of the addict but also the family members and friends who care about the person suffering.
When somebody you know is dealing with symptoms of drug and alcohol addiction, it may be incredibly frightening, both for you and for the addicted individual as well. Addiction absolutely has the power to kill and it is also often rather challenging to interrupt an addict who is in the throes of their addiction. Many television shows have popularized the notion of surprising an addict with an intervention, but this sort of approach should be conducted with great care and will often only succeed when there are trained substance abuse counselors involved.
In other cases, an individual dealing with addiction will seek help from a facility that specializes in drug and alcohol addiction treatment services. These facilities are known as rehabilitation centers or rehab facilities. When an addict checks into rehab, they are given medical and psychiatric care from professionals and are monitored to make sure that they are following the proper path toward recovery. Usually, these facilities will administer care for a set period of weeks after which the addicted person will be released back into “regular society.”
When an addict successfully completes treatment at a rehab facility, they will be encouraged to try and resume a normal life but without the use of any drugs or alcohol. They’ll be encouraged to continue attending meetings with 12-step recovery programs and seek the assistance of a sponsor. Sponsors are individuals in recovery with prolonged periods of clean time from their own drug and alcohol addiction. These individuals can serve as mentors, guides and proof to the addict in early recovery that life does indeed get better when you successfully learn to stop using substances. Recovery from active addiction isn’t easy, but the rewards are there for those who make the effort to get clean. If you are a friend or family member of someone dealing with addiction, there is no better time than now to make an effort on their behalf.
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