Drug And Alcohol Rehabilitation Methods That Work

Drug and alcohol rehabilitation is often attempted on an outpatient basis using conventional, standardised, short-term treatment programmes.  Some dissenters have long held that these methods are not effective, but somehow, tradition had held sway for a long time.  Some evidence suggested that alternative methods should be explored but it was not until 2008 that the attention was focused afresh on the traditional methods and they were irrefutably proven to be wholly ineffective by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC).  Their research showed a staggering 93-percent relapse rate for these treatment methods.

A Blow for Conventional Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

A was a blow for conventional methods, but one that could not have come soon enough and it quickly focused the attention on the need for a new status quo – and on the institutions that were doubting the traditional methods all along.  That they were shown to be right was little consolation in light of all the lives that were wasted and lost and all the addicts that had relapsed with slim hope of recovery and with time running out.

A Holistic Approach is All-Encompassing

Drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres that were previously regarded to employ unorthodox methods were vindicated and it soon became clear that addiction does not keep office hours or follow rules.  This means that a holistic approach was in order; an approach that brings all the elements of drug treatment together and creates a synergy that was never possible, given the fragmented traditional approaches.  The holistic approach would aim to restore the addict to their rightful place in society by correcting all their maladaptive behaviours and not just the ones related to or stemming from their addiction.

Re-Assessing the Timetables

Whereas traditional drug and alcohol rehabilitation methods administered standardised programme content over a set time, it was evident that the timetables needed a rethink.  Experience has shown that very few addictions can be overcome in much under five months, so it only seemed reasonable that drug rehab centres should impose a minimum period of six months to ensure the best chance of a full recovery.  However, there are provisos attached and this time period would only prove sufficient if the recovering addict followed an individual treatment plan and was treated in a residential treatment facility.

Individual Treatment Plan

Rather than being just a standardised drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme that was rushed through with little regard for results, an individual treatment plan would take into account a multitude of factors, like:

  • The physical and mental condition of the addict upon arrival
  • The level of training or education
  • Financial or legal problems
  • Other maladaptive behaviours

This treatment plan would be reviewed weekly and adapted as necessary based on the resident's progress.  The resident is not permitted to graduate from the programme before they have reached at least Step 7 of their 12-step treatment programme.

Residential Treatment

The final important part of any truly effective drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme is that the recovering addicts should stay in a fully controlled environment for the duration of their treatment.  Outpatients are exposed to all their normal environment's temptations and influences and rarely stay clean, seriously jeopardising their chances of a full recovery.  In a residential treatment facility, the environment is conducive to effective rehabilitation without any distractions.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is an integral part of any drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme and its value cannot be overstated.  At our centre, we offer group therapy in a variety of different formats, including:

  • Welcome and farewell groups
  • Didactic and educational groups
  • AA and NA meetings
  • KPA (Key Performance Areas)
  • CHAPTERS (peer and self-evaluation groups)
  • Gender- and culture-specific groups
  • Spirituality and spiritual grounding

Life Skills and Educational Lectures

More than fifty lectures are also offered under our lecture training module to equip recovering addicts, as part of our drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme.  These include:

  • The principles of planning (the 7 Ps)
  • Abuse and abandonment
  • Addiction and recovery
  • Addiction disease concept and neuroscience
  • Anger and conflict management
  • Art of war – the battlefield of addiction
  • Boundaries
  • Decision-making
  • Denial
  • Cross addiction

For more information on our drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatments, please contact us.

We will do whatever it takes ...

SCRC's approach is aimed at facilitating change from the culture of addiction to the culture of recovery.

This process will yield limited success when approached outside of a residential treatment facility particularly when detoxification is required. It is imperative that individuals entering treatment are given as much training and education as possible.

I Need Help

Testimonials

I don' know what I would've done without many of you. Thank you for giving me the gift of life.

I'll never forget SCRC and everyone involved!

More Survivors