Drug Addiction Treatment in the 20th Century

Drug addiction treatment is finally making the same advances in their treatment methodology as other forms of health care. For many years rehab centers would treat every patient the same regardless of their history, psychological assessment or medical issues. Patients would be admitted into the same rehab groups and be expected to make the same progress as everyone else. Needless to say, this approach to drug addiction treatment did not produce the results addiction treatment professionals were hoping for.

Specialized Addiction Treatment

After much research, it became quite apparent that rehabs across the country had to do a better job of evaluating patient needs and adjusting treatment to meet those needs. for example, if a patient suffered from a psychiatric problem in conjunction with a drug addiction (dual diagnosis) the rehab had to provide the patient with a strong psychiatric component. If a patient was gay or lesbian and their personal issues needed to be addressed in a more private setting rather than in a heterosexual setting, the the rehab needed to provide specific LGBT focused groups to accommodate the patient. By addressing the individual needs of each patient, the overall recovery rate increased.

The reorganization of these addiction treatment programs did not come without many challenges. The rehab had to add staff, retrain clinicians, adjust treatment schedules and decide which populations they wanted to effectively treat. Unfortunately, you will still find a rehab in every state, usually multiple rehabs, that still have not made the change. Take your time when deciding on which drug treatment program to attend. If you require assistance, call one of several recognized helplines for assistance.

You can call 1-800-99-DETOX or 1-800-511-9225. Both of these addiction helplines are toll free, staffed 24/7 and are provided as a public service.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Leave a Comment

Health