• Drug rehab improves the lives of addicts.no drugs image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
  
  According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the three main goals of drug rehabilitation are cessation of drug use, maintenance of a drug-free lifestyle, and the reintroduction of the subject into society as a productive worker and family member. The complex nature of drug addiction requires the incorporation of various components aimed at specific problems caused by addiction. Though no single technique is effective for every addict, rehab methods generally include behavior modification, medication therapies and psychosocial support.
  
  

Medications

• Medications are particularly effective at diminishing or eliminating withdrawal symptoms during the addict's detoxification process. Methadone and buprenorphine ease the cravings and discomfort associated with opiate withdrawal.
  
  For nicotine addiction, prescription medications bupropion and varenicline have joined traditional nicotine replacement therapies, such as skin patches, chewing gum and lozenges to reduce the cravings and discomfort associated with smoking cessation.
  
  Naltrexone blocks the rewarding effects of drinking alcohol, and limits craving for that drug. For those with severe alcohol dependence, acamprosate is used to alleviate symptoms of protracted alcohol withdrawal, such as insomnia, anxiety and irritability.
  
  

Outpatient Treatment

• Outpatient behavioral treatment requires the addict to attend a clinic or other meeting place regularly. Most programs offer group or individual counseling, with some outpatient programs specializing in specific behavior modification techniques. Cognitive-behavioral therapy cultivates the addict's ability to cope without drugs while learning to recognize and avoid situations likely to cause relapse. Multi-dimensional family therapy, designed for adolescent drug abusers, focuses on the youth's drug-taking patterns and the role of family in his continuing sobriety. Motivational interviewing highlights the patient's willingness to change his behavior and enter drug treatment.
  
  

Residential Treatment

• Residential programs have proven effective for those with more severe drug-abuse problems. Therapeutic communities, comprised of recovering addicts and staff, provide a highly structured program in which the community influences the patient's attitudes, behaviors and perceptions about drug use. Usually requiring a minimum stay of six to twelve months, therapeutic communities reinforce drug abstinence through the shared goals of sobriety within the community, and improve the patient's social skills through daily interaction with the group.
  
  

Monitoring

• Relapse during recovery is a constant threat to the recovering addict. Monitoring through drug testing not only provides incentive to the addict to remain "clean," but also shows when a relapse does occur, alerting the staff to the problem and providing an opportunity for the reassessment and improvement of treatment.