Drug rehabilitation is the process of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment for dependence on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and illicit drugs like cannabis, cocaine, heroin, or amphetamines. The SAMHSA National Helpline is a free referral service that can connect you to state-funded treatment programs, facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale, or those that accept Medicare or Medicaid. Trained information specialists answer calls and provide support to those seeking help. Alcohol and drug addiction can have a devastating effect on the entire family.
Substance abuse treatment works by addressing the psychological component of addiction and providing lessons for making better decisions. Drug addiction counselors are an integral part of the substance abuse treatment industry and the broader American workforce. After completing a treatment program, psychiatrists at NYU Langone offer counseling to help with recovery. Psychotherapy, or “talk therapy”, involves meeting with a mental health professional to discuss addiction and mental health problems.
Group therapy is an opportunity for recovering addicts to share experiences while receiving mutual support. Contingency management (CM) is a type of positive reinforcement counseling that encourages patients to abstain from drug use and engage in health behaviors. Residential drug treatment programs provide a safe and supportive living situation for people who are trying to stop using drugs and alcohol. Family counseling is an opportunity to rebuild trust and re-establish bonds between family members that existed before drug addiction entered. Scientific research since the mid-1970s shows that drug abuse treatment can help many drug offenders change their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors towards drug abuse; avoid relapses; and successfully exit a life of substance abuse and crime.
