Addiction Treatment Approaches In California

Most addiction treatment programs in California combine the use of medication with behavioral therapies. This approach offers an overall treatment process that involves body detoxification, prevention of relapse and maintenance of substance-free lifestyle.

The first step in addiction treatment involves dealing with withdrawal symptoms. Easing of withdrawal symptoms assists a patient in dealing with changes that occur within his/her body as a result of stopping to use a substance. Such withdrawal symptoms may include severe headache, socially withdrawing, increase in weight and increased appetite. This first stage is critical as a patient's chances of relapsing back to substance use are high. Medication may be necessary to assist a patient maintain normal brain function as substance withdrawal causes the brain to switch in how it functions.

Proper addiction treatment after dealing with withdrawal symptoms is the use of drugs to restore normal body feeling without the use of addiction substance. There are medications for heroin, morphine, tobacco, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana.

a) Heroin and Morphine treatment. The drugs used in treating heroin and morphine addiction are Methadone, Buprenorphine and Naltrexone. Methadone is a synthetic morphine-like analgesic, but with a reduced sedative action. It is effective in treating withdrawal symptoms associated with heroin. Buprenorphine is also an analgesic, which has a longer action than morphine and is of low dependence. It is also effective in treating heroin and morphine withdrawal symptoms.

b) Tobacco (nicotine) treatment. Over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapies such as patches, spray and lozenges are available for nicotine- addicted patients. In extreme cases, Bupropion and Varenicline drugs are used. Bupropion is an effective non-nicotine antidepressant aid of smoking cessation, same as Varenicline. Both these drugs target the same receptors that nicotine targets. They are most effective when used alongside another therapy.

c) Alcohol treatment. Naltrexone, Acamprosate and Disulfiram are effective in treating alcohol dependence. These drugs stop the craving for alcohol.

Behavior treatments target to deal with addiction patient's overall behavior. These treatments aim to change a patient's attitude and character associated with substance abuse. Behavioral treatments are very effective when conducted in groups. They also enhance the effectiveness of any medications used.

a) Cognitive therapy: This aims to assist addiction patients to recognize situations in which they are most likely to get involved in substance abuse and be able to avoid the same.

b) Family therapy: This therapy recognizes the importance the family has on an individual, especially the youth. The program involves the family of a patient, where the family encourages the individual to quit substance abuse and lead a meaningful life. This approach is most effective when combined with medication therapy.

c) Motivational therapy: This is effective in addiction patients who voluntarily join a treatment program. The program combines other therapies and medications.

Severe addiction patients may be forced to seek residential treatment therapies. Such patients are taken through intensive treatment programs running for up to six months uninterrupted. Residential treatment is important for such patients as they get to interact with other addiction patients and share their experiences. Most of the patients who undergo residential treatment programs rarely go back to abusing substances.