Drug Recovery Process
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Moving Past Denial
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Recovery from drug addiction requires a total commitment of an individual's will and can be fraught with numerous setbacks. According to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor, admittance is not necessarily required for total recovery. Some recovery treatments are mandated by the court and /or the parents of troubled teens. Although these treatments can be forced on an addict, the true recovery process has to be voluntary. The first step in the recovery process is admitting the problem and breaking through the denial phase. Substance abusers often acknowledge they have a problem, but feel that they are in control and can maintain their drug addiction. Sometimes, it can take drastic events to help the substance abuser move past his denial phase. A family intervention, a fellow-user's accidental overdose, or a drug-induced accident are often the final push required for a substance abuser to admit she has a dangerous problem.
Recovery Program
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The next step in the drug recovery process is to stop using and start going through the withdrawal phase. Some addictive substances have severe withdrawal symptoms like vomiting, violent shaking and insomnia. Withdrawal can cause psychosis and even prove fatal in some cases. There are several options at this stage of recovery, but users might find it helpful to enlist in a recovery program. There are Christian recovery programs that emphasize spiritual strength and healing. Local churches often sponsor outreach ministries that cater to the recovery of addicts in their communities. On the federal and state level, there are various programs that provide individual counseling and aid. Medications like methadone and naltrexone can be helpful in treating heroin and amphetamine addiction but require careful supervision. A recovery facility like the Cirque Lodge in Sundance, Utah, can safely administer medical care and facilitate the transition required for recovering addicts. The Cirque Lodge also utilizes group therapy and empowerment methods from the popular 12-step program. This 70-year-old recovery model is used by Alcoholics Anonymous and has a proven track record.
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Sober Living
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One of the last steps of the recovery process is remaining sober. This is the most difficult stage of recovery because the addict must make positive decisions outside the institutional aid of a recovery center. The substance abuser must stop using drugs and remain in a healthy environment. This may require minimizing contact with enablers who can counteract the addict's recovery process. Sober living homes can help. These facilities act as halfway houses and encourage healthy substitutes to drug abuse, like meditation and exercise. There is an on-site house manager who further assists in providing a stable and structured transition back to sober living. Whether at a sober living home or not, the final phase of recovery is the most important. The desire to abuse drugs may never subside, so the will to remain sober must remain vigilant at all times.
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