Drug addiction can have a powerful control over every aspect of your life, which can leave you feeling helpless and hopeless. But there is one decision you do have control over: choosing which drug treatment program is best for you. There are several types of drug treatment programs to choose from, but the two main options are outpatient and residential treatment. For people in the later stages of addiction, residential drug treatment is often the best choice. It provides a safe, supervised haven that gives you a chance to heal and gives you access to 24/7 care and support. But it’s not without its sacrifices. Here are the pros and cons of residential drug treatment programs to help you decide if residential treatment is right for you.
Residential Drug Treatment Programs: The Pros
There are many benefits of residential treatment, but perhaps the biggest benefit is that it provides a structured environment that’s free of temptations and distractions. It allows you to live in a clean, sober environment so that you can re-learn how to live a life without drugs and alcohol. It also provides a temporary escape from the daily stresses and responsibilities of home, work, family and other relationships so you can solely focus on recovery.
The other main benefit of residential drug treatment programs is that they provide round-the-clock care and support to help you focus on your recovery and teach you the skills needed to live a drug-free life. In a residential setting you’ll be provided supervised detoxification from the drug’s harmful toxins, individual and group therapy to learn new behavior skills, and holistic therapies such as yoga, meditation and equine therapies to heal the spirit and mind as well as the body.
Residential Drug Treatment Programs: The Cons
Because residential treatment programs provide 24/7 care and supervision, there may be some initial cons you’ll have to consider. These cons include cost and family/work responsibilities. Residential drug treatment programs are usually more expensive than outpatient programs because they provide a wider variety of treatments and more access to a variety of trained professionals. Family and work responsibilities may also seem impossible to ignore, especially if you’re a single parent, are the primary breadwinner, or may lose your job if you take more than a month off. It is up to you to decide if your schedules and responsibilities are a priority, but keep this in mind: A month of focused recovery can mean a lifetime free of your addiction’s consequences.
Residential Drug Treatment Programs: What to Expect
There are many different types of residential drug treatment programs, but the best residential programs provide a wide range of comprehensive treatments that include detox, cognitive behavioral therapy, dual-diagnosis therapy and holistic therapy.
At the beginning of your residential program stay, you’ll receive medically-assisted detox to help alleviate withdrawal symptoms and rid your body of all residual toxins left behind by your drug abuse. After detox, your day will be filled with activities such as educational workshops, individual therapy sessions, group therapy/counseling, holistic treatments and 12-step meetings. Residential drug rehab will provide an intensive focus on the root causes of your addiction and will require a lot of emotional and psychological work in order to completely heal.
Don’t let drug abuse control your life any longer. Get the help you need and deserve at a quality residential drug treatment program.
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