Treatment and Prevention
Substance use problems are treatable. Treatment may take a few weeks or months and may involve relapses, but for many, treatment is successful in the long term.
There are various treatment options available. A treatment plan will depend on a person's needs and will take into consideration such things as the severity of the problem, the person's support network, and the person's desire or motivation to enter treatment. The treatment plan may need to be altered as the needs of the person change. Treatment may include support groups, withdrawal or detoxification, counseling, or harm reduction for those that may not be ready to completely quit using substances that are causing problems.
Medications may also be used as part of a treatment plan. People with alcohol use problems can be given naltrexone*, a medication that helps to reduce cravings for alcohol; or acamprosate, a medication used to rebalance certain brain chemicals in people with substance use problems.
In some cases, other medications are used to treat withdrawal symptoms. During withdrawal of some substances, the person is gradually weaned off the substance by being given smaller and smaller doses. They may also be given less harmful substances instead of the ones they're dependent on. For example, people dependent on heroin are often given methadone. Methadone isn't as harmful to the brain as heroin or other narcotics.
Treatment plans almost always involve counseling. Counseling helps the person understand their substance use problem and helps them develop effective coping skills.
There are many types of treatment services, and availability may vary depending on where a person lives. Some programs are based in the community and involve the person living at home and coming to a treatment center on a daily or regular basis. Other programs involve staying at a treatment facility for a certain period of time. The types of services and treatment approaches can vary between programs and centers, and a person with a substance use problem should be comfortable with the approach a program or center uses.
During recovery, many people will have relapses along the way. These relapses should be viewed as temporary setbacks that can be a source of learning (e.g., what triggered the relapse and how to develop strategies that might help deal with this trigger in the future). Overcoming each relapse will bring the person closer to recovery. Recovery can be a long process for some people, but it is possible.
Many prevention programs (e.g., for schools, families, and the media) have proven to help prevent substance use problems. Helping youths understand the risks of substance use problems reduces substance use. Fostering and modeling open and respectful communication within families helps reduce the risk of developing substance use problems. Talk to your family about alcohol and other drugs. If you are not sure how to talk about alcohol and drug use, contact your doctor or community health center for information and resources.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
Paul Ballas, DO, Attending Psychiatrist, Friends Hospital, Philadelphia PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.