Treatment Plans

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy


As of 2016 recreational marijuana was legal in eight states and medical marijuana is available in 28 states. Access to the drug is greater than ever. However, the evidence regarding the medical benefits of marijuana is very inconclusive. Marijuana's calming and euphoric properties come from THC and other chemicals present within the plants. Other effects include enhanced sensation and laughter, as well as altered perception of time and an increase in appetite. However, not all individuals who use marijuana experience pleasant side effects. Anxiety, fear, distrust, paranoia and panic are all side effects of the drug. More vulnerable individuals may be more prone to psychotic illnesses that last longer like schizophrenia.
CBT is a form of therapy that focuses on cognitive behavior. (CBT) is utilized to assist people in recovery uncover problematic thoughts or feelings that could compromise their recovery or cause an recrudescence. This form therapy is also helpful for treating co-occurring disorders like bipolar disorder.


The two main kinds of tranquilizers are benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin and Valium -- which are generally used for treating anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia and seizures as well as barbiturates, a type of sedative that has fallen out of favor in the medical community but is still in use. The stimulants, like Adderall and Ritalin, are generally recommended to adolescents and children suffering from symptoms of ADHD. They can have a relaxing effect that can help people concentrate. Stimulants are highly addictive and prone to abuse. At large doses, they may lead to an irregular heartbeat or heart condition, seizures and a dangerously high body temperature. Abruptly quitting the abuse of sedatives could cause seizures, and mixing alcohol with these drugs could result in an death or overdose.
In dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) the most severe mental illnesses like obsessive compulsive disorder are treated in conjunction with a substance use disorder. The goal of this therapy is to boost self-esteem, teach stress management skills and help those who are recovering to eliminate triggers from their life.

Contingency Management


In the report of the Monitoring the Future study, an annual study funded through the National Institute on Drug Abuse, cocaine usage declined among 10th and 12th grade students from 2013 to 2016. However researchers from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health discovered that there were 1.5 million cocaine users aged 12 or older in 2014. The euphoria associated with the use of cocaine will begin to take effect and last up to an hour in just one dose. Users of the drug feel alert lively, energetic, chatty, and extremely sensitive to sound, light and touch. In large quantities, it can cause erratic behavior and cardiovascular irregularities such as heart attacks and death. The combination of alcohol and cocaine can be particularly risky. Both substances produce cocaethylene, which could increase and intensify the effects of cocaine and alcohol in the body.
Experiential therapy employs non-traditional methods of treatment to assist recovering addicts overcome repressed feelings and emotions that may have contributed in their dependence. The most common types of this therapy include outdoor activities such as rock-climbing.

12-Step Facilitation


No matter if they are synthetic or plant-based hallucinogens typically create the same effects: alteration of reality through hallucinations and visions, as well as sensations as well as perception of time and space. Hallucinogens are also known as dissociative drugs, cause stress, loss of memory, as well as impaired motor function such as body tremors and the sensation of numbness. Since hallucinogens affect nerves that aid in detecting pain, those who are under those who are influenced by the substances are sometimes involved in accidents that require hospitalization , or even cause death.
In Holistic therapy, emphasis is on the individual's general well-being. Physical symptoms of withdrawal are also addressed. The holistic therapies can include yoga and art therapy, acupuncture or guided meditation.

Treatment with Medication


Paints, markers, spray paints, cleaning fluids, glueall fall under the category of drugs called inhalants. The effect of abusing these volatile substances is psychoactive (mind-altering). In combination with alcohol, inhalants may cause extremely low blood pressure, and, over the long-term they can lead to liver and kidney damage, nerve damage, loss of brain function and increased risk of pneumonia, which can lead to death if not appropriately treated.
The therapy of motivational enhancement (MET) is utilized to assist people who are in recovery to alter negative thoughts and behaviors attached to their addiction. This type of therapy is often used to treat people in recovery from substance use disorders who have co-occurring conditions, such as bipolar disorder as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Symptoms and Causes


An opioid synthesized from morphine heroin is a naturally occurring extract of the plant of poppy. It is a highly addictive drug Research has shown that almost quarter of those who use heroin become addicted to the drug. Heroin is inhaled, smoked or snorted. The three methods all deliver this drug into the brain incredibly fast, making it one of the deadliest drugs available. The brain is affected by heroin by attaching to receptors that cause the "feel-good" hormone dopamine to be released, which causes the sensation of high. However, some of these receptors are found in the brain stem and are responsible for life-sustaining functions such as the ability to breathe and high blood pressure. If the receptors are affected by heroin, they are unable to do their job. Heroin overdoses are common and can result in lasting brain injuries if an overdose is able to be fought. One of the main impacts that the opioids and heroin have on those who abuse them is an increase of tolerance. Over time, people need to take more and more of the drug to achieve the same result. This could lead people to self-inject fatal doses, which can lead to overdose or death.
Psychodynamic therapy helps individuals explore their feelings to discover how their subconscious thoughts are connected to their addiction. This can help identify the root cause behind substance use. By working closely with therapists in recognizing these deep-seated issues, people are much more prepared to identify and avoid temptations during their ongoing recovery.

Diagnosis and Tests


A person's age can significantly influence their risk of addiction and the health risks that come with it. Abusing drugs as a teenager or child could hinder brain development. Young adults going to college for the very first time often find themselves in a setting that is awash with drugs. Even seniors may develop dependence or addiction to opioid painkillers after treatments for cancer or surgery pain.
After finishing an addiction treatment program, it is highly recommended that patients join a support group. Support groups are an instrumental element in staying in the recovery process when you are out of treatment, which allows for ongoing care following rehab. The people you get to know in support groups can provide support throughout your recovery process.