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Drug addiction treatment and alcohol abuse treatment are widely underused services. In 2015 alone 89 percent of addicts ages 12 and over didn't seek treatment in a specialty facility, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Getting help for chemical dependency can make the difference between a life lost and a life very much lived. Whether you need help or a loved one needs help, understanding the different drug addiction treatment options and how they work is a step in a healthy direction.

Detox

The detox process is typically done in consultation with medical professionals. When the addict stops using the substance, physical, mental and emotional changes take hold. A specialty treatment facility can help to ease this process, making it a healthier experience. Detoxing under a doctor's supervision helps to manage the withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms of withdrawal depend on the substance, and can vary in severity. Having an expert's help during this time won't make the experience easy. But, it will make it much safer.

Medications

In some cases addicts may need medications to help the treatment process along. These are used in different parts of the patient's recovery. Some withdrawal symptoms may require medications to treat or suppress them. This makes detox more bearable. In some cases medications are prescribed for ongoing use to prevent relapses. These meds help to decrease cravings by acting on the same receptors in the brain that the drug did. This doesn't mean that the patient becomes addicted to the new medicine or that it gets them high. Instead, it helps to stop drug-seeking behaviors.

Behavioral Counseling

There are a variety of different behavioral counseling techniques used in specialty facilities. The strategies that the pros choose to use depends on the patient's needs and addiction. For example, some counselors use cognitive-behavioral therapy (or CBT) to help alcohol or substance abusers to identify problem behaviors and then apply newly taught skills to correct them. This type of behavioral counseling lets the patient develop coping strategies that they can use during and long after treatment. Other types of counseling strategies include motivational enhancement therapy, contingency management and 12-step therapies.

Support

Along with one-on-one counseling patients seeking drug addiction treatment and alcohol abuse treatment may take part in supportive services such as group therapy. During treatment the substance abuse professionals will also typically work with the patient to make sure that they have a support system set up for the ongoing recovery process. This might mean having a network of friends or supportive family members who are there to help.

Specialty treatment for chemical dependency provides addicts with the tools that they need to continue the recovery process. Having professional drug addiction help (or alcohol addiction help) can make getting treatment more beneficial than going it alone. From medical support during detox to continual counseling, the experts at treatment centers are there to make sure that the patients get what they need to succeed right now and in the future.