Different treatment options for addiction problems

There are many different treatment options available for drug and alcohol abuse, including inpatient and outpatient programs, detoxification, residential treatment and sober houses.

There's a common perception that people might have about what takes place in a rehab program from watching depictions of them in movies and on TV. The truth is that there is more than just one way to treat someone who is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. There are many different treatment options for addiction, many of which can be used in conjunction with each other to create a program that leads to sobriety. Here are a few of the treatment options available at a reputable drug addiction center:

Detoxification: A person dealing with alcohol or drug addiction frequently will have a high level of toxins in their system. When they try to get sober, they can go through painful withdrawal symptoms that will lead them to restart their cycle of abuse. Treatment centers can help people through their withdrawal symptoms, but this is only the first step in the treatment process.

Initial treatment: In most cases, the initial drug or alcohol treatment program is either done on an inpatient or an outpatient basis. With outpatient treatment, people go to a hospital or outside facility for therapy and other treatment but return home at the end of the day. Meanwhile, inpatient treatment involves checking into a treatment facility for an extended period of time - usually a minimum of three weeks but frequently longer - where they are monitored around the clock along with receiving therapy. Although more expensive than outpatient treatment, an inpatient program is a good idea for people lacking a solid support system of friends and family or who have a chaotic lifestyle that isn't conducive to maintaining sobriety.

Residential treatment: Programs such as therapeutic communities are designed for people with long-term histories of addiction, especially people whose backgrounds include criminal activity or a lack of social functioning skills brought on by their addictions. These six to 12 month programs deal with acclimating people into the real world and giving them tools to become functioning members of society.

Sober houses: Similar to a long-term residential treatment program, sober houses are residences that offer a long-term, sober environment for people coming from drug or alcohol rehab. Sober houses typically involve a small number of people and are staffed by treatment specialists. However, residents are required to participate in the upkeep of the house and are expected to get jobs and begin integrating into the real world.

Nelson Conway is a freelance writer living in Pasadena, Calif. His work has been published by magazines and major online news sites.