CECOS UNIVERSITY OF IT AND EMENRGING SCIENCES

NOTE: This fact sheet discusses research findings on effective treatment approaches for drug
abuse and addiction. If youre seeking treatment, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-
662-4357) or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov for information on hotlines, counseling
services, or treatment options in your state.
What is drug addiction?
Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive, or uncontrollable, drug seeking
and use despite harmful consequences and changes in the brain, which can be long lasting. These
changes in the brain can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who use drugs. Drug
addiction is also a relapsing disease. Relapse is the return to drug use after an attempt to stop.

iStock/Evgeny Sergeev
The path to drug addiction begins with the voluntary act of taking drugs. But over time, a
person's ability to choose not to do so becomes compromised. Seeking and taking the drug
becomes compulsive. This is mostly due to the effects of long-term drug exposure on brain
function. Addiction affects parts of the brain involved in reward and motivation, learning and
memory, and control over behavior.

Addiction is a disease that affects both the brain and behavior.

Can drug addiction be treated?
Yes, but its not simple. Because addiction is a chronic disease, people cant simply stop using
drugs for a few days and be cured. Most patients need long-term or repeated care to stop using
completely and recover their lives.

Addiction treatment must help the person do the following:

stop using drugs

stay drug-free
be productive in the family, at work, and in society
Principles of Effective Treatment

Based on scientific research since the mid-1970s, the following key principles should form the
basis of any effective treatment program:

Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior.
No single treatment is right for everyone.
People need to have quick access to treatment.
Effective treatment addresses all of the patients needs, not just his or her drug use.
Staying in treatment long enough is critical.
Counseling and other behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of
treatment.
Medications are often an important part of treatment, especially when combined with
behavioral therapies.
Treatment plans must be reviewed often and modified to fit the patients changing needs.
Treatment should address other possible mental disorders.
Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of treatment.
Treatment doesn't need to be voluntary to be effective.
Drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously.
Treatment programs should test patients for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis,
and other infectious diseases as well as teach them about steps they can take to reduce
their risk of these illnesses.
How is drug addiction treated?
Successful treatment has several steps:

detoxification (the process by which the body rids itself of a drug)

behavioral counseling
medication (for opioid, tobacco, or alcohol addiction)
evaluation and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and
anxiety
long-term follow-up to prevent relapse
A range of care with a tailored treatment program and follow-up options can be crucial to
success. Treatment should include both medical and mental health services as needed. Follow-up
care may include community- or family-based recovery support systems.

How are medications used in drug addiction

treatment?
Medications can be used to manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent relapse, and treat co-
occurring conditions.

Withdrawal. Medications help suppress withdrawal symptoms during detoxification.

Detoxification is not in itself "treatment," but only the first step in the process. Patients who do
not receive any further treatment after detoxification usually resume their drug use. One study of
treatment facilities found that medications were used in almost 80 percent of detoxifications
(SAMHSA, 2014).
Relapse prevention. Patients can use medications to help re-establish normal brain function and
decrease cravings. Medications are available for treatment of opioid (heroin, prescription pain
relievers), tobacco (nicotine), and alcohol addiction. Scientists are developing other medications
to treat stimulant (cocaine, methamphetamine) and cannabis (marijuana) addiction. People who
use more than one drug, which is very common, need treatment for all of the substances they use.
Opioids: Methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex),
and naltrexone (Vivitrol) are used to treat opioid addiction. Acting on the same targets in
 the brain as heroin and morphine, methadone and buprenorphine suppress withdrawal
symptoms and relieve cravings. Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids at their receptor
sites in the brain and should be used only in patients who have already been detoxified.
All medications help patients reduce drug seeking and related criminal behavior and help
them become more open to behavioral treatments.
Tobacco: Nicotine replacement therapies have several forms, including the patch, spray,
gum, and lozenges. These products are available over the counter. The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two prescription medications for nicotine
addiction: bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix). They work differently in the
brain, but both help prevent relapse in people trying to quit. The medications are more
effective when combined with behavioral treatments, such as group and individual
therapy as well as telephone quitlines.
Alcohol: Three medications have been FDA-approved for treating alcohol addiction and
a fourth, topiramate, has shown promise in clinical trials (large-scale studies with people).
The three approved medications are as follows:
Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors that are involved in the rewarding effects of
drinking and in the craving for alcohol. It reduces relapse to heavy drinking and is
highly effective in some patients. Genetic differences may affect how well the drug
works in certain patients.
Acamprosate (Campral) may reduce symptoms of long-lasting withdrawal, such as
insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, and dysphoria (generally feeling unwell or unhappy).
It may be more effective in patients with severe addiction.
Disulfiram (Antabuse) interferes with the breakdown of alcohol. Acetaldehyde
builds up in the body, leading to unpleasant reactions that include flushing (warmth
and redness in the face), nausea, and irregular heartbeat if the patient drinks alcohol.
Compliance (taking the drug as prescribed) can be a problem, but it may help patients
who are highly motivated to quit drinking.
Co-occuring conditions: Other medications are available to treat possible mental health
conditions, such as depression or anxiety, that may be contributing to the persons
addiction.
How are behavioral therapies used to treat drug
addiction?
Behavioral therapies help patients:

modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug use

increase healthy life skills
persist with other forms of treatment, such as medication
Patients can receive treatment in many different settings with various approaches.

Outpatient behavioral treatment includes a wide variety of programs for patients who visit a
behavioral health counselor on a regular schedule. Most of the programs involve individual or
group drug counseling, or both. These programs typically offer forms of behavioral therapy such
as:
cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps patients recognize, avoid, and cope with the
situations in which they are most likely to use drugs
 multidimensional family therapydeveloped for adolescents with drug abuse problems
as well as their familieswhich addresses a range of influences on their drug abuse
patterns and is designed to improve overall family functioning
motivational interviewing, which makes the most of people's readiness to change their
behavior and enter treatment
motivational incentives (contingency management), which uses positive reinforcement to
encourage abstinence from drugs
Treatment is sometimes intensive at first, where patients attend multiple outpatient sessions each
week. After completing intensive treatment, patients transition to regular outpatient treatment,
which meets less often and for fewer hours per week to help sustain their recovery.

Inpatient or residential treatment can also be very effective, especially for those with more
severe problems (including co-occurring disorders). Licensed residential treatment facilities offer
24-hour structured and intensive care, including safe housing and medical attention. Residential
treatment facilities may use a variety of therapeutic approaches, and they are generally aimed at
helping the patient live a drug-free, crime-free lifestyle after treatment. Examples of residential
treatment settings include:
Therapeutic communities, which are highly structured programs in which patients remain
at a residence, typically for 6 to 12 months. The entire community, including treatment
staff and those in recovery, act as key agents of change, influencing the patients
attitudes, understanding, and behaviors associated with drug use. Read more about
therapeutic communities in the Therapeutic Communities Research
Report athttps://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/therapeutic-
communities.
Shorter-term residential treatment, which typically focuses on detoxification as well as
providing initial intensive counseling and preparation for treatment in a community-based
setting.
Recovery housing, which provides supervised, short-term housing for patients, often
following other types of inpatient or residential treatment. Recovery housing can help
people make the transition to an independent lifefor example, helping them learn how
to manage finances or seek employment, as well as connecting them to support services
in the community.
Is treatment different for criminal justice
populations?
Scientific research since the mid-1970s shows that drug abuse treatment can help many drug-
using offenders change their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors towards drug abuse; avoid relapse;
and successfully remove themselves from a life of substance abuse and crime. Many of the
principles of treating drug addiction are similar for people within the criminal justice system as
for those in the general population. However, many offenders dont have access to the types of
services they need. Treatment that is of poor quality or is not well suited to the needs of
offenders may not be effective at reducing drug use and criminal behavior.

In addition to the general principles of treatment, some considerations specific to offenders

include the following:

Treatment should include development of specific cognitive skills to help the offender
adjust attitudes and beliefs that lead to drug abuse and crime, such as feeling entitled to
have things ones own way or not understanding the consequences of ones behavior.
This includes skills related to thinking, understanding, learning, and remembering.
Treatment planning should include tailored services within the correctional facility as
well as transition to community-based treatment after release.
Ongoing coordination between treatment providers and courts or parole and probation
officers is important in addressing the complex needs of offenders re-entering society.
Challenges of Re-entry

Drug abuse changes the function of the brain, and many things can "trigger" drug cravings within
the brain. Its critical for those in treatment, especially those treated at an inpatient facility or
prison, to learn how to recognize, avoid, and cope with triggers they are likely to be exposed to
after treatment.
How many people get treatment for drug
addiction?
According to SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 22.5 million people (8.5
percent of the U.S. population) aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit* drug or alcohol
use problem in 2014. Only 4.2 million (18.5 percent of those who needed treatment) received
any substance use treatment in the same year. Of these, about 2.6 million people received
treatment at specialty treatment programs (CBHSQ, 2015).

*The term "illicit" refers to the use of illegal drugs, including marijuana according to federal law,
and misuse of prescription medications.

Points to Remember

Drug addiction can be treated, but its not simple. Addiction treatment must help the
person do the following:
stop using drugs
stay drug-free
be productive in the family, at work, and in society
Successful treatment has several steps:
detoxification
behavioral counseling
medication (for opioid, tobacco, or alcohol addiction)
evaluation and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression
and anxiety
long-term follow-up to prevent relapse
Medications can be used to manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent relapse, and treat co-
occurring conditions.
Behavioral therapies help patients:
modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug use
increase healthy life skills
persist with other forms of treatment, such as medication
People within the criminal justice system may need additional treatment services to treat
drug use disorders effectively. However, many offenders dont have access to the types of
services they need.
Learn More
For more information about drug addiction treatment, visit:
www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-
third-edition/acknowledgments
For information about drug addiction treatment in the criminal justice system, visit:
www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-abuse-treatment-criminal-justice-
populations/principles
For step-by-step guides for people who think they or a loved one may need treatment, visit:
www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/treatment
References
Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBSHQ). 2014 National Survey on Drug
Use and Health: Detailed Tables.Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration; 2015.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).National Survey of
Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS): 2013. Data on Substance Abuse Treatment
Facilities. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; 2014.
HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-489. BHSIS Series S-73.
This publication is available for your use and may be reproduced in its entirety without
permission from NIDA. Citation of the source is appreciated, using the following language:
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.

This page was last updated January 2016

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NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health

Rehabilitation, or rehab, can be used to help a person recover from

addictions, injuries, and even physical or mental illnesses. However, drug
rehab programs are usually the most common types of rehab. People
addicted to drugs often need the additional care and assistance that drug
rehab provides.

What Is Drug Rehab?

The Facts About Drug Rehab
Patients are free to leave anytime.
One reason for this is that drug rehab can only be truly effective when the patient has a desire to be
there and to change his or her addictive habits.
Rehab and Detox
Drug rehab treatment facilities
Drug rehab facilities help drug addicts prepare to re-enter society. Drug
addiction often changes a person's behavior, which can affect all aspects of
his or her life, including work and relationships. In drug rehab, patients do their
best to regain their normal lives in a safe and healthy way.
There are many different types of drug rehab facilities. Some specialize in
helping patients with a specific drug addiction; others offer a broader range of
drug addiction services.Some rehab facilities are even gender- or age-
specific, as this often helps patients feel more comfortable in the rehab
setting. Inpatient and outpatient rehab facilities are also available.
Drug rehab treatment centers often carry the stigma that patients are forced to
stay. However, this stereotype is untrue. Patients in rehab centers are free to
leave anytime they choose to. One reason for this is that drug rehab can only
be truly effective when the patient has a desire to be there and to change his
or her addictive habits. That being said, in instances where individuals are
compelled to go to rehab -- such as via a court order -- the rehab process can
still be effective, even if they were initially reluctant to go.
Drug rehab centers range from very basic facilities to luxury treatment
centers. The type of center a patient attends depends upon his or her budget
and level of insurance coverage. While luxury centers offer more amenities
than basic facilities, they are not always the best treatment centers. Patients
should investigate a rehab facility before making a final decision.
Before entering a rehab facility, patients may have to undergo detox
treatment. Detox is the process in which a patient rids his or her body of the
addictive substance. This process usually takes about a week and is
monitored by doctors and nurses. Once a patient completes detox, he or she
is ready for rehab.
Drug rehab treatment facilities help patients change their attitudes toward
drugs. Many times drug addicts deny that they have an addiction and
sometimes even claim that the drug is not harmful. The first step in rehab is to
help patients get past this denial so that they can make an effort to change.

Committing to Recovery
 DIAL 1-888-341-7785 TODAY
Doctors and counselors in rehab centers help patients make goals for
themselves. Patients commit to themselves and their loved ones that they will
strive to make a positive change in their lives. They make long-term goals and
then short-term goals that help them along the way.
To help patients overcome denial and make healthy choices and
commitments, doctors educate them on the consequences and effects of drug
abuse and addiction. Patients learn about the effects that the drugs have on
their bodies in the hopes that they will be more motivated to make a change.
Drug rehab treatment centers offer frequent individual counseling to patients.
These counseling sessions sometimes even take place on a daily basis.
Counselors help patients discover any emotional or psychological factors that
may have contributed to their addictions. It is important that these
psychological factors are addressed if a patient is to make a fullrecovery.
In addition to individual counseling, patients in rehab often participate in
group therapy. Patients with similar addictions meet together under the
direction of a counselor. This allows them to form friendships and to have
fellowship with one another. These close personal bonds aid patients on their
road to recovery.
Patients in drug rehab learn to recognize situations that may trigger drug
abuse. These triggers could be emotional, physical, part of relationships, or
simply part of their normal routines. Counselors and doctors help patients
learn how to combat those triggers and get out of circumstances that may
lead them to abuse drugs.
Once patients learn to recognize drug abuse triggers, they learn the skills
needed to cope with them. Counselors and doctors in drug rehab treatment
facilities work with each patient to come up with a personalized set of coping
skills that the patient can use to prevent him or her from turning to drugs.
Counselors also help rehab patients change their negative habits that are
related to their addictions. This could include changing leisure activities or
even changing aspects of the addict's career or everyday life. The goal is to
reduce the amount of stress and triggers in the patient's life to keep him or her
from relapsing.

Medication in Rehab
Doctors in rehab centers may administer medications to patients to assist
them in their recovery. A patient may take medication to control mental or
physical drug abuse triggers. This medical treatment can be short term or long
term, depending on the patient's circumstances and needs.

Life Changes in Addiction Rehab

 DIAL 1-888-341-7785 TODAY
Patients in drug rehab treatment programs are encouraged to end toxic
relationships. Toxic relationships are those that have the propensity to lead to
drug abuse. Conversely, patients are encouraged to seek help from other
people who can support them on their journey. These supportive relationships
could include friends, family members, and even other rehab patients.
Family members of rehab patients can seek drug rehab information by talking
to the counselors and doctors at the facility. Friends and family members can
help and support patients by learning about drug addiction. They may do this
by participating in counseling sessions with the patient. Counselors in rehab
facilities can also teach family members and friends of patients how they can
help. They can learn about the coping skills that the patients are learning, the
different drug abuse triggers, and the best ways to show love and support.
Sometimes drug addictions can negatively affect the friends and family
of the addict.-REHABS.COM
Sometimes drug addictions can negatively affect the friends and family of the
addict. In this case, drug rehab treatment centers can offer counseling and
healing services to friends and family of patients. Loved ones can help a
patient best once they have sought healing for themselves.
Drug rehab usually lasts 28 days, but it can take several months. The length
of time a patient spends in the rehab facility depends on his or her healing
progress. Doctors and counselors may suggest an early release for the
patient, or they may request that the patient stay in rehab longer than
expected.
Many rehab patients continue to receive treatment for their addictions after
leaving rehab. They may have regular clinic visits with a doctor to manage
physical symptoms. Patients may also meet with a counselor on a regular,
outpatient basis to refine coping skills. In addition to the love and support of
family and friends, patients may also attend support group meetings after
leaving a drug rehab treatment facility. All of these aftercare services help
patients remain drug free and avoid relapse.

If you'd like help finding a rehab center that can help you achieve sobriety,

contact us at 1-888-341-7785. We are here 24/7 to help.

Rehabilitation hospitals were created to meet a perceived need forfacilities which
were less costly on a per diem basis than general hospitals but which provided a higher
level of professional therapies such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and
physical therapy than can be obtained in a "skilled nursing care" ...
5000 B.C. The Sumerians use opium, suggested by the fact that they have an ideogram for it
which has been translated as HUL, meaning joy or rejoicing. [Alfred R. Lindesmith,
*Addiction and Opiates.* p. 207]
3500 B.C. Earlist historical record of the production of alcohol an Egyptian papyrus
3000 B.C. Approximate date of the supposed origin of the use of tea in China.

Earliest recorded historical account of brewing of alcohol in Eqypt, 3500bc

2500 B.C. Earlist historical evidence of the eating of poppy seeds among the Lake Dwellers on
Switzerland
c. 1000 Opium is widely used in China and the far East.
1493The use of tobacco is introduced into Europe by Columbus and his crew returning

Tobacco smoking is introduced to Europe by Columbus in 1493 from America.

c. 1525 Paracelsus (1490-1541) introduces laudanum, or tincture of opium, into the practice of
medicine
17th century In Russia, Czar Michael Federovitch executes anyone on whom tobacco is found.
Czar Alexei Mikhailovitch rules that anyone caught with tobacco should be tortured until he
gave up the name of the supplier. [Ibid.]
1800 Napoleons army, returning from Egypt, introduces cannibis (hashish, marijuana) into
France.
1841 Dr. Jacques Joseph Moreau uses hashish in treatment of mental patients at the Bicetre
1805 Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Serturner, a German chemist, isolates and describes morphine.
1844 Cocaine is isolated in its pure form.

Merck Cocaine 1882

1883 Dr. Theodor Aschenbrandt, a German army physician, secures a supply of pure cocaine
from the pharmaceutical firm of Merck,
1903The composition of Coca-Cola is changed, caffeine replacing the cocaine it contained until
this time.

Cocaine is removed from Coca Cola in 1903

The Roots of Rehabilitation

 William Faden [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

This was around the year 1750, and it marked the first
form of organized rehabilitation in America.[3]
Eventually, senior tribesmen came to understand the
nature of the alcoholism that was plaguing their people
primarily because, as leaders, they were heavily subjected
to colonists plying them with alcohol to make them more
susceptible to offering concessions. To stem the problem,
tribal leaders would encourage younger members of the
tribe who had become addicted to alcohol to use their
ancestral heritage and beliefs to guide them back to
sobriety. In these sobriety circles (so named because the
shape of the circle was believed to ward off the spirits of
evil), elders used the idea of something larger than the self
as a way to provide some focus on how to overcome the
temptation to drink remarkably similar to how modern
Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-Step groups espouse
the concept of a higher power from which addicts can
draw the strength it requires to abstain. Alcoholics
Anonymous even incorporated the idea of a sobriety
circle into its Circle and Triangle logo.[2]

Short-Term Effects of Drug Use

Drugs are chemicals and while each drug produces different physical effects, all abused
substances share one thing in common. They hijack the normal function of the brain
and change the way the brain responds to issues of self-control, judgment, emotion,
motivation, memory and learning.

Short-Term Effects of Drug Use

This is why the person feels differently the signals coming and going from the brain
have been changed. Although this can cause temporary euphoria it can also cause
hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and uncontrolled behavior. It can cause your
respiratory (lungs) and cardiovascular (heart) systems to malfunction or fail.
And, there are social consequences to using drugs including losing the trust of friends
and family; poor performance at school or work; quitting activities you enjoy; making
bad decisions like placing yourself at risk to be a victim of violence, drugged driving;
getting pregnant and surrounding yourself with other people who use drugs.

Long-Term Effects of Drug Use

Beyond the short-term risks and consequences are the potential long-term effects. It
depends on the drug, but all drugs can cause negative health effects and can lead to
addiction.

Whether you become addicted to marijuana, OxyContin, heroin, Xanax, cocaine,

methamphetamine or Vicodin, the effect on the brain and your life is the same: an
uncontrollable craving to keep using that is more important than anything else in your
life, including your family, friends, co-workers, career, school and even your own health,
security and happiness.

Disadvantages of drug abuse

1. 1. Disadvantages of Drug Abuse HEALTH SOSIAL FINANCIAL
2. 2. Social effects The hard drug make the taker hyperactive at the point of taking this
drug.This make the taker to behave abnormally, contribute to immoralties such as armed
robbery, sexually transmitted diseases e.g HIV AIDS and many other sicietal vices.
3. 3. Financial effects The person that so much addicted to drugs tend to spend more money
on the purchase of these drugs.This can make the taker to become bankrupt or start
searching for money by all means.This will eventually increase the problem of the taker.
4. 4. Health effect It makes the taker becomes unstable . The taker tends to go mad and started
behaving abnormally. It infiltrate a lot of diseases into the system of the taker and can
eventually lead to death.