Is Rehab Really Necessary? Can I overcome addiction on my own?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, relapse rates for addiction are between 40-60%. These rates are around the same as hypertension or diabetes. This clearly means that it is hard to kick an addiction, yet most addicts think they can stop anytime they want and without any help.

Undergoing formal drug treatment can improve the odds of abstinence. In fact, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports an improvement in relapse rates of people who go into a rehab within a month of completing a detox program.

Since drugs change the way the brain works, it can be very hard to kick a drug habit without help from the outside. Drug rehab centers have everything that is required to help you kick your drug habit, and therefore should be the first place you consider if you want to stop using.

Medical Detox

Trying to complete detox at home can be dangerous, and potentially fatal. Many types of drug withdrawal require medical attention, because some drugs have dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

To handle the psychological and physical side of drug withdrawal, many rehab centers will have an in-house detoxification specialist. With 24/7 monitoring and supervision by a licensed staff, rehab centers provide a much safer place to detox to avoid further physical or psychological harm. This is not something that can be guaranteed at an at-home detox attempt.

Length of stay

Most rehab centers offer rehab programs of various lengths, from 30 days to even longer. 90 days is considered one of the most effective lengths for recovery.

These programs focus on the root causes of addiction, and provide a structured recovery process that all addicts go through. This structure can help improve the effectiveness of drug rehab, and cannot be achieved when trying to overcome addiction on your own.

Treatment Options

Drug treatment programs can be in-patient or out-patient, depending on the severity of the abuse and intensity of treatment required.

Out-patient treatment is best for people who cannot take time off from work or need to be around to help family. However, to qualify for out-patient, it is necessary that the drug abuse not be severe and no history of self-harm among other things.

In-patient programs provide a much more cohesive and well-defined rehab experience and should be the first choice for addicts who have relapsed before.

Support Network

Drug rehab facilities provide aftercare options as well. This may be outpatient counseling, group therapy, or even help with finding jobs or a place to live in.

This support can help an addict get back on their feet following a long drug rehab program. Having this support provides a safety net to someone struggling to overcome addiction that allows them to have some help while they find their feet.

Instead of considering overcoming addiction on your own, consider the rehab centers around you and approach this complex disease in the right manner. The right rehab center will be able to provide you with a comfortable and safe drug rehab.