No matter who you are or what substance you use, there are some factors that will always lead to a greater chance of success in recovery. A full continuum of care, consisting of detox and various types of drug or alcohol treatment, a readiness to change, and a focus on mental wellness can be key components of sobriety.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defined the levels of care possible in a treatment program. In general terms, they are intensive inpatient services (24/7 medical supervision in a residential setting, for patients with medical, emotional, behavioral and/or cognitive conditions severe enough to require a licensed physician in a hospital-like setting), residential/inpatient services (clinically managed 24/7 residential services of a lower intensity), intensive outpatient/partial hospitalization services (20 hours or more of clinically intensive programs each week for patients who need daily monitoring and management in a structured outpatient setting), and outpatient services (day services typically amounting to less than 10 hours per week, involving individual and group counseling, motivational enhancement, family therapy, educational groups, occupational and recreational therapy, psychotherapy, and more.)
A client-directed and outcome-informed approach (CDOI) has been found to have positive outcomes. This involves an emphasis on therapeutic alliance, or the strength of the rapport between a client and therapist, evidence-based tools for tracking patient outcomes, weekly clinical supervision of individual therapy sessions, and regular third-party evaluation of treatment process and outcomes.
In addition to choosing the proper treatment program, the approaches that program takes are also important. Evidence-based treatments are proven clinically to get the best results. These include both pharmacological and behavioral aspects. For example, Medication-Assisted Treatment involves the use of medicines to further treatment, such as naltrexone for alcohol use disorders and buprenorphine for opiate abuse.
Family and social support are important for long-term recovery. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), people with less social support are more likely to relapse. The more involved the family is, the more everyone can understand the factors that led to addiction and the triggers for relapse.
Mental and emotional wellness must be addressed. If someone has a co-occurring mental illness that led to or worsened their addiction, it’s imperative that this is treated as well. Otherwise, the cycle of self-medication will just continue.
A structured environment and routine can help prevent relapse. Boredom can be a major trigger, so it’s important to stay busy. This can mean finding productive things to do, such as seeking employment or doing chores around the house, or even something as simple as learning a new hobby.
Of course, a person has to want to change for treatment to be effective. Identifying motivations for getting clean can help. You also have to believe in your ability to overcome the challenges you will face.
If you or a loved one need help to quit drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.
