Prescription drugs are one of the most abused categories of substances worldwide, so it is not surprising that the demand for prescription drug recovery treatment is currently on the rise.  This includes opiate drugs sold under the names OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet and Lortab as well as anti-anxiety drugs sold under the names Xanax, Valium and Librium.  These and other prescription drugs are now more widely abused than illicit drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine.

The rise in the demand for prescription drug treatment was recently documented in a report compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  The report included a breakdown of treatment trends for the nearly 2 million people who were admitted for alcohol and drug recovery treatment in 2009.  Opiate drugs accounted for 21 percent of all admissions.  Out of all opiate admissions, 33 percent were for prescription drugs – up from 8 percent in 1999.  What is alarming about this type of addiction is that it often happens to regular people (housewives, business men or women) who are prescribed medication for pain management.  People on these prescribed medications often do not initially abuse them, and instead, a chemical reaction caused by the medication can trigger drug abuse.

The increase in opiate prescription drug treatment can be attributed in large part to the epidemic of painkiller abuse.  Lynn Webster, a director for the American Academy of Pain Medicine, links the explosion in prescription painkiller abuse to a desire on the part of physicians to effectively treat pain. Over the past decade, many doctors mistakenly believed that opiate painkillers like OxyContin and Vicodin were safe and non-habit forming.  The rise in demand for prescription drug recovery has since proven this belief to be naïve.

Many people who abuse prescription drugs will begin to build a tolerance for the drug, meaning that it will take a larger quantity of the drug to achieve the desired effect.  In addition to taking more than the recommended dosage, prescription drug abusers often change the form of the drug, such as crushing or dissolving a pill to make it easier to snort or inject.  This delivers the effects of the drug to the bloodstream more quickly but also increases the risk of addiction and overdose.

Prescription drug abuse and addiction is treatable.  For some drugs, medically-supervised detox is required in order to taper down intake of the drug without serious medical consequences.  For other drugs, the abuser can enter a drug recovery treatment program without detox.  Recovery from prescription drug addiction requires commitment and effort.  For many people, a long-term residential drug recovery program works best.  A residential program provides a safe environment where drug-dependent individuals can concentrate on recovery.

Heroin is a highly addictive substance that impacts individuals, families and society as a whole.  Besides addiction, some of the consequences of heroin abuse include an increased risk of exposure to infectious diseases like hepatitis and HIV/AIDS and an increase in violence and crime.  Use of this opiate drug has grown in the U.S. since the 1990s, creating a pressing need for heroin detox and rehab.

Fortunately, heroin addiction is a chronic disease that can be successfully treated.  Because the physical withdrawal symptoms are extreme, cessation of heroin use should take place in a detox and rehab facility.  Sweating, muscle aches, anxiety, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are some of the symptoms associated with heroin withdrawal.  These symptoms increase in intensity for the first 48 to 72 hours, then may plateau and continue for 7 to 10 days.  Heroin withdrawal is rarely fatal, but it is so acute that it has a high failure rate when attempted without professional support.

A heroin detox and rehab facility can help control withdrawal symptoms with medication and medical support.  Methadone, a synthetic opiate that eliminates withdrawal symptoms and blocks the effects of heroin, is the most common pharmaceutical used for heroin addiction.  Other medications such as buprenorphine are also used for heroin detox and rehab.  The best detox and rehab programs strive to provide a safe and humane environment where heroin withdrawal can be undergone with minimum symptoms and complications.

Detoxification is not a treatment for addiction, but it will help a recovering addiction adjust to a heroin-free state.  The National Institute on drug abuse reports that the most effective post-detox treatment for heroin addiction is a residential treatment program that lasts from 3 to 6 months.  A heroin treatment program will address the psychological effects of withdrawal.  Cravings for the drug will continue long after the physical effects are gone.  Because cravings can be worse when the period of addiction has been longer, treatment for heroin addiction is most effective when it occurs in the early stages of abuse.

Heroin detox and rehab programs deal with addiction on multiple levels.  There should be some level of personalization in order to effectively treat each individual case of addiction.  Besides physical withdrawal, the psychological and emotional issues must be addressed.  Treatment programs that provide medication as well as one-on-one therapy, group sessions and exercise provide the best environment for overcoming heroin addiction and gaining necessary skills for living heroin-free in the real world.

If you are considering entering a rehab center for drug or alcohol addiction, or if you have a loved one who needs treatment, one of the biggest questions is what to expect during the first weeks of rehab.  While each rehab center has a unique set of practices and procedures, most of them follow a common format.  Here is an overview of what you can expect to happen during the first 30 days of rehab.

Intake Interview and Assessment

The first step in rehab treatment is a comprehensive interview with the person who is being admitted.  The information obtained from this initial assessment will allow the rehab center to determine the best treatment program.  The rehab center's staff will ask for a medical history and details about the patient's addiction.  Medical tests such as urinalysis or a blood test may be performed.

Detoxification

Most forms of addiction require a period of medically-supervised detoxification.  The goal is to wean the patient from the physical effects of the abused substance and to remove all traces of the substance from the patient's body.  Because withdrawal symptoms can be severe and even life-threatening, some rehab centers require a patient to undergo detox in a hospital or clinic before being admitted for treatment.

Substance Abuse Treatment

Following detoxification, the substance abuse treatment phase begins.  During the treatment phase, a rehab center will use a variety of methods to address the problem of addiction.  One-on-one counseling and group therapy are the most common forms of treatment.  Some treatment programs center on the 12-step model, while others are based on cognitive behavioral therapy and other forms of therapy.  The recovering addict must learn to recognize the triggers of substance abuse and adopt coping skills that will allow him or her to resist relapse.  Many rehab centers also offer occupational therapy and exercise programs to engage patients who are fighting the cravings of addiction.

A patient's type of addiction, frequency of use and length of addiction will determine the duration of rehab center treatment.  Addiction experts recommend at least 30 days for inpatient rehab treatment; rehab center stays of 60 to 90 days are often required.  During the early weeks of treatment, visits from family and friends may be restricted.

Rehab Aftercare

The most important thing to remember about the first 30 days of rehab treatment is that it is the beginning of a lifelong journey.  When a recovering addict or alcoholic leaves a rehab center, a plan for aftercare treatment should be discussed.  Aftercare therapy and support will help avoid relapse and maintain long-term sobriety.  The family of the person in recovery should also receive follow-up counseling to help them understand their loved one's addiction and to educate them on the best ways to support sobriety.

Drug abuse is a problem that affects more than the individual drug abuser.  Everyone in the abuser's life can be impacted, from co-workers to friends to members of the community.  The abuser's family is especially vulnerable to the effects of his or her drug abuse and it is the family that is most interested in seeing the abuser undergo treatment for drug recovery.  Often a member of the abuser's family will initiate drug recovery treatment by staging an intervention.

Drug addiction completely alters an addicted individual, making him or her unrecognizable to loved ones.  Watching the downward spiral of addiction, family members experience a wide range of conflicting emotions that may include anger, disappointment, frustration, concern, fear and betrayal.  They may have a strong desire to cut all ties with their addicted loved one.

An integral part of the drug recovery process is putting back together the pieces of a life that was shattered by addiction.  The family should play an important role in supporting the recovering drug abuser.  This usually requires mending broken relationships and re-establishing a sense of trust.  Many treatment programs provide family therapy to help members of the family learn more about their loved one's drug dependency and to address their own issues that may be related to the problem.

There are three main goals for family therapy during drug recovery:

(1)   Help the family understand the nature and extent of their loved one's addiction.

(2)   Create or strengthen a family support system that will aid in their loved one's drug recovery.

(3)   Provide treatment for family members for emotional and psychological damages caused by the addiction.

Family therapy will help family members develop coping mechanisms through group therapy sessions, educational lectures and one-on-one counseling.  The family will learn that there is no cure for drug addiction and that drug recovery is an ongoing process.  By providing love and support, they can help their loved one avoid relapse and continue to progress on the road to recovery.

What are detox and rehab?

Detox is the process that cleanses the body of a substance that has been abused.  It begins when an addicted person stops using the abused substance continues until the most serious physical symptoms of withdrawal have abated.  Rehab refers to a rehabilitation treatment program that follows detox.  It may consist of outpatient counseling sessions several times a week or involved a residential treatment center where a recovering addict lives for several weeks or months.

How long do detox and rehab take?

Because each case of addiction is individual, there is no standard timetable for detox and rehab.  In general, rehabilitation should be thought of as at least a year-long process.  This doesn't mean that a recovering addict must stay in treatment for an entire year, but he or she should have access to treatment resources for that period of time.  Once a year has passed, addiction recovery should be thought of as a life-long process.

Do detox and rehab really work?

Detox and rehab work best for addicted individuals who are committed to recovery.  There are many forms of treatment and some have higher success rates than others.  The best programs will provide a safe and humane environment for detox and rehab and equip the recovering addict with coping skills that can be used on a daily basis to avoid relapse.

What's the best way to find a detox and rehab program?

There are a variety of ways to locate detox and rehab programs.  The Internet is a powerful tool for searching for treatment programs and finding out more about them.  Medical professionals and addiction support groups are good sources for treatment program recommendations.  When you've found a program that you're interested in, visit the facility and find out more about their detox and rehab procedure.

Do detox and rehab only work when a person wants help?

It's best to approach addiction treatment with an open mind, but that's not always possible.  Many people enter a treatment program unwillingly following an intervention by family and friends.  They experience a life-altering change following detox and are able to that successfully complete rehab treatment.