Heroin is arguably the most addictive hard drug that exists. A significant number of former addicts will find themselves slipping back into the problem in spite of a strong desire to stay clean. What struggling addicts need to do even as they seek to deal with this problem once and for all is to identify a qualified institution to help them through. There are many things involved in heroin treatment Richmond residents need to be conversant with.
Treatment modalities for this condition are broadly divided into two: behavioral therapies and chemical drugs. Although these approaches may be used in isolation, it has been discovered that success rates are highest when they are combined. Drugs are most useful in the initial stages while the behavioral therapies have mainly been adopted for the long term management of the condition. Comprehensive rehabilitation is made up of several stages.
The very first step in the process is chemical withdrawal (detoxification. It is highly recommended that this step be carried out in a facility with medical personnel. This is because of the potential emergencies that may arise during the process. Withdrawal symptoms are very common at this time and vary in pattern and severity from one individual to another. Common symptoms include nervousness, depression, nausea, shaking and muscular pains among others.
Other than withdrawal symptoms, the patient is also faced with problems of dependence. They find it quite difficult to carry out any activities if they have not used the drug. These two problems are the reasons as to why the drugs that are chosen to manage chemical withdrawal must have an effect that is similar to that of heroin. Methadone is among the drugs that are most effective for this use. Others include buprenorphine and naltrexone.
The next step of therapy is the treatment proper. It entails counseling at individual and group level. Individual therapy has the advantage of providing an opportunity for the addict to open up about the problem. The therapist will take the opportunity to advise them on mitigative measures that can be undertaken at individual level. In group therapy, addicts with the same problem get to share their experiences and coping skills with each other.
The use of residential home settings for the therapeutic process is among the modern trends of treatment. Such an arrangement allows the patient to enjoy recreational facilities of a home as they continue with recovery. Sporting activities such as swimming, cycling and running are usually made available so as to encourage patients to take part in physical activity. This has been shown to reduce the recovery time.
The third step of the treatment process is the maintenance step. This step lasts for a long period of time (months to years depending on patient response). It is started once the recovering addict rejoins their family. The treatment during the maintenance stage is mainly done on an outpatient basis. The therapists conducts periodic assessments during the scheduled visits to establish whether or not progress is being made.
Although drugs may also be needed, the primary therapy during the maintenance step is behavioral therapy. The aim of this treatment is to safeguard the gains made and to prevent relapse. Positive reinforcement of desirable behavioral patterns is done and negative reinforcement of behaviors likely to cause relapse also done.
Treatment modalities for this condition are broadly divided into two: behavioral therapies and chemical drugs. Although these approaches may be used in isolation, it has been discovered that success rates are highest when they are combined. Drugs are most useful in the initial stages while the behavioral therapies have mainly been adopted for the long term management of the condition. Comprehensive rehabilitation is made up of several stages.
The very first step in the process is chemical withdrawal (detoxification. It is highly recommended that this step be carried out in a facility with medical personnel. This is because of the potential emergencies that may arise during the process. Withdrawal symptoms are very common at this time and vary in pattern and severity from one individual to another. Common symptoms include nervousness, depression, nausea, shaking and muscular pains among others.
Other than withdrawal symptoms, the patient is also faced with problems of dependence. They find it quite difficult to carry out any activities if they have not used the drug. These two problems are the reasons as to why the drugs that are chosen to manage chemical withdrawal must have an effect that is similar to that of heroin. Methadone is among the drugs that are most effective for this use. Others include buprenorphine and naltrexone.
The next step of therapy is the treatment proper. It entails counseling at individual and group level. Individual therapy has the advantage of providing an opportunity for the addict to open up about the problem. The therapist will take the opportunity to advise them on mitigative measures that can be undertaken at individual level. In group therapy, addicts with the same problem get to share their experiences and coping skills with each other.
The use of residential home settings for the therapeutic process is among the modern trends of treatment. Such an arrangement allows the patient to enjoy recreational facilities of a home as they continue with recovery. Sporting activities such as swimming, cycling and running are usually made available so as to encourage patients to take part in physical activity. This has been shown to reduce the recovery time.
The third step of the treatment process is the maintenance step. This step lasts for a long period of time (months to years depending on patient response). It is started once the recovering addict rejoins their family. The treatment during the maintenance stage is mainly done on an outpatient basis. The therapists conducts periodic assessments during the scheduled visits to establish whether or not progress is being made.
Although drugs may also be needed, the primary therapy during the maintenance step is behavioral therapy. The aim of this treatment is to safeguard the gains made and to prevent relapse. Positive reinforcement of desirable behavioral patterns is done and negative reinforcement of behaviors likely to cause relapse also done.
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To recover from your drug addiction, consider seeking heroin treatment Richmond doctors offer. To know more about these medical specialists, go to http://foundationmedicalgroup.org.
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