Searching for a rehab facility that will fit your needs can be overwhelming in and of itself. Competition is high for traditional rehab programs, and there are tons of factors that need to be addressed before you sign on the solid line. While filtering through the different programs, you might come across something called Alternative Drug Rehab. How does this program differ from the traditional?
Traditional Rehab and the Alternatives
Traditional programs make most of the rehab facilities in the United States and Canada. There are several different types of services each program or center will offer. Some specialize in one form or another, some offer various forms – it depends on the facility.
Medical Detox is form of smoothly withdrawing the body from a drug of choice utilizing medications such as suboxone, benzodiazepines, and clonidine. Some medical facilities use a combination of medicines and other natural remedies to help transition the body out of drug dependence.
Non-medical detox reaches for the same result as medical, only without the use of medicines. Some addicts believe this is the way to go, especially if a person is addicted to a prescribed medication as they might be wary of taking more medication. Non-medical facilities utilize natural remedies, sometimes intravenously to help a person withdraw from a substance. Therapies are more so utilized in this detox type.
Bio-physical detox involves the complete cleansing of the body from a drug. With extended use, drug residues become lodged in the fatty tissues of the body, causing patients to continuously feel cravings even long after medical or non-medical rehab. Facilities featuring bio-physical rehab feature the use of saunas, vitamin supplements, improved diet, and rest to clear the drugs out of the system. These methods take longer than others, requiring weeks or even months of continued stay. Bio-physical detox has proven to be effective for more than just drug abuse.
Fire fighters, law enforcement, and others first responders exposed to harmful chemicals, gases, or heavy substances have cleared their bodies of the chemical through bio-physical methods.
12 Step Programs are part of the traditional mold. These programs utilize various techniques to get addicts to stop abusing drugs. The use of sponsor, extended education and meetings are used here to teach people the dangers of drug habits. This process takes as long as the name implies: 12-steps. Medical and psychological rehab facilities use prescribed medication to help wean patients off of their drug of choice.
Counselors are also utilized in these programs. The purpose of medical rehab is to adjust the thinking of the client or get to the underlying medical issues the patient might be suffering from, either of which could have spurred the drug issues.
Non-traditional centers veer away from that of most facilities. There are several different centers that offer alternative services to achieve a drug-free lifestyle. These centers feature Social Educational (learning) models to get the addict to focus on improving their self-control and will through enlightenment. These types of rehabs usually feature therapeutic communities. Rational Recovery is a center that uses a mind model to label various behaviors in an addict.
Through this model, the addict is able to get control over their behaviors and in that way push themselves mentally into recovery. Narconon is another facility utilizing a Social Educational model. Rather than labeling patients as addicts trying to recover, Narconon welcomes in people as students looking to learn something they did not know about themselves. They are a drug-free, all natural facility and address disabilities that drug abuse causes and teach their students new abilities to be used to pursue life. Non-traditional programs tend to lean more toward individualizing their services so that the person gets their own personal program.
Benefits of Alternative Drug Treatment Programs
Alternative treatment programs fit the mold of many of the facility types described above but one of the greatest benefits of them is that they differ from program to program. Some other benefits include:
Varying lengths of time with some programs even basing the stay on the specific needs of the individual
Holistic or natural approaches like yoga, meditation, equestrian therapy and even art therapy
Natural or alternative solutions to physical and mental problems such as vitamins and nutrition
Drug free methods so no alternative drugs and no side effects and cross addiction risk
Open curriculum; a program based on the specific needs and learning style of the individual.
As already mentioned there are a number of different alternative drug rehab programs. It is best to look at each individual facility to determine what is best or call us now for a free assessment and listings of alternative programs near you.