You hear about celebrities going in and out of drug addiction treatment centers all the time, but what exactly happens to them once they get there? And why do they often relapse after being home for a while?
DrugAbuse.gov, the official website of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), reminds us that “Drug treatment is intended to help addicted individuals stop compulsive drug seeking and use.” And that, “drug addiction is typically a chronic disorder characterized by occasional relapses, a short-term, one-time treatment is usually not sufficient. For many, treatment is a long-term process that involves multiple interventions and regular monitoring.”
What You Need to Know About Drug Addiction Treatment Centers
More specifically, let’s talk about what you can expect throughout your stay at The Discovery House drug addiction treatment centers.
Checking into Drug Addiction Rehab
Upon admission to our drug abuse treatment center, you will start with undergoing physical and psychological assessments to evaluate your addiction. You are given a drug test to determine what substances you are using and a detox plan is developed based on those findings. Once the initial treatment plan has been established, the sub-acute detox process begins, if necessary.
After you have successfully detoxed from your substance, counseling and therapy sessions take place to help you learn how to live without your substance addiction. The Discovery House, which is a fully-licensed, Joint Commission-accredited facility, provides an individualized approach to treatment, using a variety of methods to help address residents’ needs.
Residents at The Discovery House, located in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, can expect to attend four group therapy sessions per day and two to three individual counseling sessions per week.
“For individuals with family members close by, we provide sessions specifically for families to learn how to mend their relationships and be a support to each other,” says David Dequa, Program Director at The Discovery House.
“Clients at The Discovery House can expect to be tested regularly for drugs to ensure their sobriety,” adds Dequa. “We also take residents on socialization outings in order to help our residents learn how to live a sober life outside of our drug treatment center.”
Taking Care of Mind and Body Throughout Residential Rehab
Most drug rehabs, such as The Discovery House, understand that they must address not just the physical addiction to drugs, but the health of the body, mind and spirit. Physical exercise is an important part of the healing process since exercise triggers endorphins, the body’s natural chemicals that make a person feel good. It is critical that residents develop ways to feel good without drugs or alcohol and exercise is a healthy way to do that. That is why The Discovery House offers yoga and gym memberships to its Phase II residents.
“Nutrition is critical to maintaining an even keel in early recovery,” states David Dequa. “There are often ways to help manage cravings and cope with stress and emotional turbulence naturally. Our addiction nutrition program is one tool our therapists use to help individuals balance the rest of their life while in recovery.” Because good nutrition is so important to one’s overall well-being, therapists at The Discovery House use a nutrition-based addiction program. The program incorporates healthy meal plans and nutrition classes to establish a balanced diet.
Leaving the Recovery Center and Returning to the “Real” World
Once the resident has successfully completed drug addiction treatment at The Discovery House and is free of drugs and alcohol, they are invited to participate in the alumni program for ongoing support to help prevent relapse.
After a patient has been discharged from intensive drug rehab treatment, they are still at risk for relapse and need a continuing care plan to ensure that they stay sober and seek help when they encounter triggers or relapse. Although many of the same objectives and goals will carry over from the initial treatment plan, the focus will shift to using coping mechanisms to stay sober. Even though the intensive portion of treatment may have ended, the patient will need to continue outpatient services, group or individual counseling sessions, job training and 12-step meetings to ensure lasting sobriety.
The Discovery House utilizes a variety of treatment programs that allow each client to receive the individualized care they deserve. Our Southern California rehab center offers a variety of inpatient and outpatient drug treatment programs to help drug addicts and alcoholics achieve and maintain sobriety. Each client at The Discovery House receives customized care to end their dependence on prescription drugs, heroin and other opiates and/or alcohol in order to live a sober life.
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