Long Term Treatment Programs
In terms of successful drug rehabilitation
programs, it is generally acknowledged
among healthcare professionals that
the more treatment a patient receives,
the better. Running anywhere from
six to twelve months, long-term
treatment programs typically encompass
many of the same procedures as short-term
treatment programs
including residential therapy (living
full-time in a drug rehabilitation
facility with other substance abusers),
medication therapy (includes the
use of prescribed drugs to aid in
the rehabilitation process) and
drug-free outpatient therapy (encompasses
a wide variety of different programs
that include regular visits to a
drug clinic) albeit for a more extended
period of time.
Therapeutic Communities
Therapeutic
communities (TCs) are extremely structured long-term programs
during which the patient lives in a drug rehabilitation facility
for anywhere from six to twenty-four months. Intended for
patients with long histories of drug dependency that may include
serious criminal activities and/or an inability to function
in society, TCs aid the addict in breaking their habit while
simultaneously providing support and training for reintegrating
back into the community.
Halfway Houses
Intended as a transition from life in a closed rehabilitation
facility to a more independent way of drug-free living, halfway
houses are community residences semi-supervised by rehabilitation
professionals in a shared apartment or house with other recovering
addicts. Residents are free to do as they please during the
day, which typically includes going to school, working or
looking for employment. Group therapy sessions are organized
during the evening for residents to share their experiences
and obtain the support of fellow addicts.
Individual Therapy
A major part of long-term treatment programs is an emphasis
on individual therapy. Often referred to as ‘the talking
cure’, the idea behind protracted therapy treatment
is to establish a bond of trust between the patient and the
therapist or drug counselor. As such, it is imperative that
the patient feels comfortable and open with his or her therapist
in order for treatment to be effective. Once such a bond has
been formed, therapy takes on a whole new dimension as the
therapist guides the patient through often painful memories
or emotional experiences as a means of better understanding
oneself and the events that led to drug addiction. An essential
aspect of any drug rehabilitation program, individual therapy
may continue for years after completing a long-term treatment
program as the patient makes a lasting commitment to live
a drug-free life. |