Narcotic Addiction Treatment
Treatment for narcotic addiction can ease pain and improve chances of recovery.
Narcotics are some of the most widely used substances in the United States and one of the leading causes for patient admissions into treatment for substance abuse. Millions of people suffer from narcotic addiction and need help to quit. Narcotic addiction treatment provides the people and the loved ones who are adversely affected by narcotics addiction with counseling, guidance, supportive care and medical intervention that aims to change behaviors, heal and promote positive change in life without the use of drugs.
Methods of Treatment for Narcotic Addiction
Various types of treatment exist for those who find themselves addicted to dangerous narcotics such as cocaine, crack, prescription painkillers or other drugs. The most common forms of treatment include:
- Residential treatment
- Sober living homes
- Peer support groups
- Outpatient treatment programs
For most recovering addicts, a combination of residential treatment followed by outpatient support and follow-up care are necessary to provide a solid foundation for lasting recovery. Each type of treatment offers a unique approach to recovery from addiction providing quality, effective means of healing and behavioral change. For the recovering addict, counseling is a primary component of just about any type of treatment that will be effective at helping them overcome narcotics addiction.
Types of Counseling
Various types of counseling are used in narcotic addiction treatment to help the patient to heal psychologically and to learn how to avoid narcotics, how to cope with dangerous situations and how to say “no” to drug use. The most common types of counseling include:
- Individual counseling
- Group counseling
- Behavioral counseling
Individual counseling provides a safe environment for the recovering addict to discuss his or her addiction with a therapist who will not place judgment or blame. In this environment, the user can work through his or her problems mostly on their own with the direction of a counselor who will help to guide the way and lead the user in the right direction of forward thinking which will improve his or her outlook on past and present instances of drug abuse and recovery.
Group counseling is a more peer centered approach to narcotic addiction treatment that focuses on teaching those in recovery how to work with their peers toward a common goal of getting sober. In the group, there will be a mixture of people who are all in recovery from addiction and who are at various stages of recovery. The group members are encouraged to talk to one another openly about their addiction struggles and their recovery and to be open and honest but also respectful of others. Group therapy is a primary component of helping those in recovery to learn how to properly interact with others in society and how to listen to and be respectful of others.
Behavioral counseling is not always used in narcotic addiction treatment but it has become a more common method of treatment in helping to curb poor habits and change behaviors. There are many different types of this therapy which may be used including cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management and the Matrix model to name a few.
