A big step

It is not uncommon for people to assume that the first stage of treatment aimed at initiating the process of recovery begins when the person walks through the door of a  treatment facility such as an exclusive rehab centre.

In truth, there is an important period before that. From the moment when they first realize they need help, it may take someone quite a while before they actually reach out to ask for it. Despite the motivating horror of their current situation, it is a big step to take.

The important point is that it signals recognition (if not yet full acceptance) that there is indeed a problem; that something needs to change for which help is required. The denial and self-delusion that have helped sustain the addiction may be weakening.

Although the person may be full of doubt,  uncertainty and ambivalence, as well as harbour unrealistic notions about what follows as they embark on a rehab program in one of the world’s top luxury rehabs, nonetheless an important psychological shift has taken place. This is sometimes overlooked.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal begins when the drug of addiction is no longer entering the system or when the addictive behaviour stops. It is the uncomfortable state of being without something that has come to feel essential. Submitting voluntarily to this process, as in admission to a luxury drug rehab centre, represents a particularly significant shift in the relationship with drug and alcohol abuse or behaviour.

It is important to take careful advantage of this recovery process by surrounding the individual with holistic therapeutic support.

In the case of drug or alcohol addiction in which someone may become dependent, withdrawal is both a  physical and psychological process. Dependency is when the system has come to expect and indeed, requires the intake of the drug to enable any semblance of normal functioning.

The focus of everyday life is almost exclusively driven by the urgent need to obtain and use it. Without drug abuse there is only agitation, distress, discomfort and craving. For other drugs and addictive behaviours withdrawal is almost solely psychological.

In the cases of physical dependence, because the brain has adapted to the expectation of the drug, its withdrawal has to be carefully managed through the process of detoxification.  This may mean the necessary use of other drugs under controlled conditions and medical monitoring, something for which a private alcohol or drug rehab facility is well equipped.

Initial adjustment

It is one thing to stop taking the addictive drug or give up the behaviour, it is another to begin facing up to life without resorting reflexively to those habits. Apart from anything else the addiction or substance abuse will have taken up a lot of time and energy.

What is to be done with those resources now? Without the consuming activity, the person is exposed and vulnerable to their internal unconscious world and to the world at large. They are dealing with loss and now facing reality as they may not have done for many years. It is a  significant adjustment in the addiction recovery process.

In this vulnerable early recovery phase, they need support to understand the condition from which they suffer and to take on board what will be necessary to aid recovery. It will be a period in which they reconnect with others, including family members, which may well be challenging.

Most importantly they will need to learn coping skills to deal with stress and the feelings generated without resorting to the addictive behaviours that have led them to the doors of the private inpatient addiction treatment centre.

Changing the approach to life

The consuming nature of addiction means that almost all of life is taken up with thinking about, obtaining and taking the drug or enacting the behaviour before dealing with the consequential feelings which prompt the person to enter the self-destructive circle once more. For this reason, the person’s whole approach to life has to change radically.

Time in the safe environment offered by a luxury rehab centre offers the opportunity to try out and practice new approaches to life and self-care, using the range of expert support available such as behavioural therapies, family therapy, and access to support groups.  This helps to equip the person to cope with what comes next.

Transition to life in the external world

As the addiction treatment program draws to a close, planning for managing continuing recovery to maintain abstinence in the short and long term is essential as the person assumes responsibility for self-directed recovery in the world beyond the support of the private addiction treatment centre.

Getting on with your life and treatment are not in conflict. In fact, treatment is very much about getting on with your life because it addresses those things that are likely to make doing so difficult, if not impossible. To be able to “get on with life” you have first to ensure you have a life to get on with. Recovery-initiating treatment is focussed on that very goal. It is surely worth investing whatever it takes to increase the chances of success. Critically, that includes time.

Some perspective is needed. Most people seeking treatment will have been consumed with addiction for years. Over that time it will have established itself as the organising dynamic of life. You will have adapted to its increasingly exclusive demands. It will have affected your thought processes, attitudes, beliefs, emotional reactions, relationships, behaviours, choices and decisions. Many of these will not have been in your best interests. If insufficient attention is paid to those addiction-aligned factors in adapting to a new way of life, they may well have a powerfully negative say on the course of your recovery.

Research tells us that the brain will likely take at least three months to return to something like pre-addiction health where irreversible damage has not occurred. In many cases it takes longer. Other evidence suggests that achieving at least five years of recovery is needed to build the degree of resilience required to cope with the range of stressors that could trigger relapse. That doesn’t mean undergoing five years of treatment but it means sufficient treatment at the most vulnerable time in order to build the essential foundations for securing recovery in the long term.

The pre-disposition to addiction will have developed unconsciously, meaning that you will probably be unaware of quite how vulnerable you are; something treatment helps you identify and address. To expect this underlying susceptibility, developed over years, to evaporate in a few short days or weeks is wholly unrealistic. It is why we tend not to use the word ‘cure’. That word has an unhelpful finality to it that contrasts with what the process of recovery actually involves. And treatment is not the whole answer. It is only the starting point of a change in your approach to life.

One thing of which to be particularly wary is the post-withdrawal lift; sometimes called the “honeymoon period” or “the pink cloud”. The completion of this critical process, which may include medical detox, will, generally, leave a person feeling much better. For that reason alone you may be eager to convince yourself that you have shaken off addiction and are ready for whatever life holds. But addiction is not limited to physical intoxication or the compulsive repetition of mood-altering behaviours. That’s only part of the picture.

Impulses, attitudes and thought processes characteristic of addiction tend to linger well beyond withdrawal from addictive drugs and behaviours; often undermining, even directly sabotaging, approaches to treatment and early recovery. For instance, central to addiction is the attraction to the “quick fix”, the short cut, the easy solution, the avoidance of discomfort, the gain without pain and the pressing urge to be “somewhere else” emotionally and to escape from difficult realities. To secure recovery: be prepared for the opposite.

So, let’s change the question to: “I want to get on with my life. What do I need to do in this stage of the recovery process to improve my chances of being able to do so?”

What Happens During Drug Detoxification?

During detox, a patient’s individual goals and treatments can vary in a number of ways. In professional centers, the use of medications is possible to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms in a controlled manner, and in addition, it is possible to use medications.

A holistic approach that considers mind, body, and spirit can be helpful. Abstinence-based methods are often recommended.

Risks to be Safely Managed

As there are risks that accompany the consumption of addictive substances, so it is also with the weaning of the person off dependence upon them. These risks vary according to the nature of the drug, its strength, the quantities and frequency of its use, other substances being simultaneously consumed, the length of time of the addictive use, and aspects of the person’s physical and mental condition.

The risks associated with alcohol detox and benzodiazepines include potential fatality. With other addictive substances, the difficulties generally come in the form of significant physical and psychological discomfort.  While these are not immediately life-threatening they may, perhaps through craving, lead to a rapid resumption of use, which in the case of heroin or other opioids could possibly result in overdose.  

To be as safe as possible, alcohol, benzodiazepine, and heroin detoxification should be managed under medical supervision and monitoring.  It is also wise to manage withdrawal from cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabis under similar circumstances.

Withdrawal Syndrome – The System Protests

Not every addiction treatment requires detox, but recovery from every addiction involves a form of withdrawal.  In fact, symptoms are a defining characteristic of addiction. The body and mind react to being without the substance or behaviours, such as problem gambling, pornography consumption or excessive exercise, etc., on which it has become dependent.  

Types of Withdrawal

There are three types of withdrawal syndrome – physical, psychological, and social. Each has its own unique set of symptoms which can vary in intensity and duration. However, all share certain commonalities such as anxiety, irritability, cravings, and depression.

Physical withdrawal symptoms result from the body’s reaction to the absence of a substance to which it has become accustomed. These can include headaches, nausea, sweats, shakes, and even seizures.

Psychological symptoms are the result of the mind’s reaction to no longer having the substance or behaviour on which it has become dependent. These can include anxiety, depression, irritability, and insomnia.

Social symptoms occur when an individual is no longer able to participate in the activities and relationships that revolved around their addiction. These can include isolation, financial difficulties, and relationship problems.

Severity of Addiction Symptoms

Symptoms vary in severity and duration depending on a number of factors such as the type of addiction, the length of time the individual has been addicted, the frequency and amount of use, and any underlying physical or mental health conditions. However, with the right support, drug detox, and treatment, it is possible to safely overcome danger and go on to live a life free from addiction.

Substance Abuse and the Drug Detox Process

There are different types of detox services to address the specific needs of individuals with substance abuse disorders. The most common type of detox is medical detoxification, which employs a team of doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals to help people through the plan of detoxification.

This type of care is often provided in an inpatient setting, where people are able to receive around-the-clock care and support.

Are There Different Types of Detox?

There are various forms of detoxification services that meet specific clinical requirements. Many detoxification programs employ a medical model which means medical personnel using medically-prepared medications can help detoxify patients.

Detoxification is possible in many situations, and in a varied intensity to the mind and body. There are five levels of care for people with substance abuse to consider, including the following:

1. Inpatient detoxification program: This is the most intense form of detox, as patients are monitored 24/7 by medical staff and given medications to manage the symptoms.
2. Residential detox: This form of detox is similar to inpatient care, but patients are not always monitored by medical staff and may not be given medications to help with symptoms.
3. Partial hospitalization: In this type of detox, patients live at home but come to a facility for several hours each day to receive treatment.
4. Intensive outpatient detox: This form of detox is less intense than partial hospitalization, as patients typically only come to a facility for a few hours each week.
5. Outpatient detox: This is the least intense form of detox, as patients typically only come to a facility for a few hours each week and may not receive any medication to help.

The Body Gets Better Faster than the Mind

For whatever reason people decide to undergo detox at a treatment center, it is an opportunity for change. It is, however, important to remember that detoxification is a necessary but insufficient step to achieve recovery from drug abuse.

It is, with the possible exception of benzodiazepines (and assuming there are few complications), relatively easy and quick to achieve. However, the body gets better more quickly than the mind which can result in self-delusion about the rate of progress overall.  

It is essential that, as soon as possible, whether undergoing alcohol, heroin, or detoxification from some other substance, the person focuses on releasing the psycho-social attachment to their drug or behaviour and begins creating an entirely new approach to life. This is not an easy step to manage and close support is generally required.

Quitting Cold Turkey

Quitting a particular drug can cause serious health problems. Using substances abruptly can lead to seizures, delirium, diarrhea, or even death. Taking opiates abruptly can cause severe pain and irritability and cause diarrhea and other problems.

During withdrawal from opioid drugs, there is often a drug craving. Experiencing these suddenly can sometimes trigger someone to return to opioid use. It may also be helpful to talk to your doctor about quitting cold turkey and seek out mental health services as needed.

 What Happens After Detox?

Rapid detox and eliminating toxins are not enough to achieve long-term recovery from a substance use disorder as this is only one step in an addiction treatment plan.

Effective treatment must address drug addiction and any associated mental, physical, vocational, and legal issues.

Treatment has numerous health benefits, but those with high blood pressure, heart disease, or who take medication or other drugs should consult a doctor with medical expertise before starting treatment. Medication can also be used, but behavioral recovery therapy is also commonly used in treating addictions.

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Preventing emotions from undermining the process

The kinds of interrelated emotions at play include fear, anger, resentment, hurt, grievance, helplessness, despair and loss of control. There is commonly an underlying co-dependent desperation to get the loved one to change; for them to give up their addictive attachments to alcohol, drugs or behaviours without delay for everyone’s sake.  There may be a urge to punish or seek some sort of payback for wrongs suffered or endured or to achieve a measure of control over the wayward individual. None of these attitudes are likely to help. To ensure they do not undermine the purpose, they must be named and honestly aired in advance by those seeking to take part.  If it is clear that any family member cannot get past such feelings they should not be included in the intervention team.

Consistency to the empathic approach is essential

The group conducting the intervention should be limited in number and must keep consistently to an emotional perspective of love, compassion and care. An intervention is not a court of righteous moral judgement. The empathic purpose is to help the person to face and acknowledge the grip that addiction has over them as a first step to seeking help, for which it is made clear there will be ongoing support. Each person will tell their family member what has been causing them such concern for the subject’s wellbeing, being as specific as possible.  

Guidance from a professional interventionist

A professional interventionist will advise that detailed and careful preparation is vital, including choosing a neutral venue to which the family member is invited. Personal perspectives will have been individually written. They should not be too long. They should be clear and straightforward. Other members of the team should review these in advance so that all the letters have collective approval. A sequence is agreed as will how and by whom the process will be introduced.  Treatment options will have been carefully investigated with the intervention team agreeing which one to present as being, in its reasoned opinion, the best for the person at this time.  It is essential for each member to be clear about the consequences as far as they are personally concerned should treatment be refused.

Preparing for reactions

The team will have discussed the possible range of reactions which may be shown by the subject of the intervention and on this point, if not before, the advice of an experienced specialist would be wise. Whatever the outcome, following the intervention each family member should turn to their own sources of support.

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Creating an opportunity for the acceptance of help

Sometimes straight talking by a family member about what they observe and experience may be enough to encourage the addicted person to seek help. However, such a person will be well practiced at deflecting from the issue; sometimes forcefully. This common predicament was what prompted practitioners to devise the first family intervention models in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Principles and practices have developed over the subsequent decades and they have become increasingly common as route into treatment. The idea behind an intervention is to create an opportunity in which the addicted person comes to accept the need for help and is supported to act upon it.

Consider advice from a professional specialist

An off-the-cuff approach is ill advised. Even if a professional interventionist is not directly involved when the intervention eventually takes place,  obtaining specialist advice in advance is a sensible option to consider.  Careful planning and preparation are essential, as is the need for everyone involved to buy fully into the approach to be adopted.  An effective professional should have a good understanding of the part addiction plays in family systems.

The importance of tone

The intervention must come from a place of genuine care and compassion for the sufferer.  It is intended to be an expression of support for the person presently trapped in addiction and to facilitate their acceptance of help as their route out.  It is vital that the subject of the intervention does not feel ambushed by a family posse bent on unloading all their pain, hurt and resentment in a punitive, blaming way. This would almost inevitably be counterproductive, quite possibly strengthening the hold of addiction.

What happens

Having selected a neutral venue and assembled the thoroughly prepared and well-co-ordinated team, the addicted loved one is invited to meet with members of the family.  The participants take it in turns to express and explain their concerns based on their personal experience of the individual’s addiction.  Treatment options that will have been researched in advance are presented. The consequences of failing to take such an option are clearly set out and discussed.

While interventions can result in people choosing to go into treatment, there is no guarantee of immediate or subsequent success. That does not mean that benefit from the process cannot be derived by both the family and the addicted individual.

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The model or method of addiction treatment selected will also depend on a comprehensive assessment evaluating the patient’s assets and deficits in terms of the personal and social resources they bring to the process of recovery.  Lastly but critically, it must also take into account what the patient aims to achieve, to what treatment method they are drawn and what makes most sense to them.

Two different approaches  – the same goal

The main two addiction treatment methods currently favoured fall broadly under the headings of abstinence-based recovery and medically managed (or medication-assisted) recovery; hitherto referred to as harm reduction. The former begins with the earliest possible, complete but safe withdrawal from drugs of addiction.  The latter concentrates on steadily reducing the harm being suffered by using medication to regulate the addicted state and to stabilise the patient’s health more generally. Division has arisen between these two approaches which is unhelpful to the patients they have in common.  In truth, some people may need to begin abstinent recovery in order to build themselves a new life, while others may need to start building themselves a new life before they can develop a sustainable long-term recovery. One addiction treatment method does not have to conflict with the other.

Informed consent

Patients will also need to give informed consent to whatever drug addiction treatment methods are proposed for them. This means ensuring that the patient has a thorough understanding of the benefits and risks as far as they are known of the treatment options available. It may prove important to repeat and expand on the information provided as patients in the very earliest stages of treatment are generally anxious, often finding it difficult to retain information, especially if they are undergoing withdrawal.

Immediate priorities – preserve life and stabilise health

All drug addiction treatment methods will take into account the fact that addiction is a life-threatening condition. For this reason, whatever the patient’s ultimate goal, immediate steps will need to be taken to reduce the risk of death, especially if the patient arrives for treatment in an intoxicated state. Their physical and mental state must be stabilised before they can begin to engage fully with psychotherapeutic and various other forms of psycho-social support.  This may require medication as well as food supplements since many patients admitted for addiction treatment will be in a depleted state. On the whole it is best to opt for an integrated model where medical management and psychological therapies work effectively together in complementary fashion.

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Assessment of recovery capital

Intensive, short substance abuse treatment programs of a few weeks are the norm for those seeking an abstinence-based recovery. This may often work for people with significant personal and social resources, now referred to as “recovery capital”; especially if a comprehensive aftercare programme is set in place before discharge from an inpatient rehab.

For those with significant deficits in recovery capital, such as co-existing mental health disorders, significant physical ailments, and/or unstable social circumstances, a long-term inpatient rehab programme may be called for.  

The need for such an extended treatment program to strengthen the foundations on which to sustain recovery may only come to light once the initial substance abuse treatment intervention has begun. In this regard, treatment necessarily involves a process of continuous reassessment of the substance use disorder. 

The benefits of long-term alcohol and drug rehab

“Long-term” drug and alcohol rehab may mean anything from three months to a year. This does not necessarily have to include a stay in a residential treatment facility.  

However long term inpatient rehabs offer the benefit of a 24-hour, 365-day programme in a structured, managed environment, which can provide the degree of safety, containment and resources for an holistic approach that non-residential treatment centers may find difficult to provide.

Practicing recovery behaviours with support groups in rehab programs

In a supportive long term residential treatment facility, people can continue to improve their understanding of their personal vulnerability to drug addiction. Time can be spent identifying underlying issues that may be having a previously unrecognised influence in any resistance to substance abuse treatment.

With the distractions of daily life in the home environment temporarily removed, a person has the opportunity to recognise and address the patterns of behaviour, thinking, emotional states and attitudes that put them at risk of relapse.

A long term rehab in treatment centers can help patients maintain focus on integrating the necessary changes in their approach to life simply through practice; consistently replacing unhealthy habits with healthy ones. By participating in the recovery community and culture of the long-term rehab they also gain the invaluable experience of drawing on a positive social network, one of the major factors known to help sustain and enhance recovery over time as well as improve mental health.

Recognising and mitigating the risks

While acknowledging the potential benefits of long-term rehab for some people, it is important to take account of potential downsides of long term treatment. There is a chance that some people will become overly insulated from the challenges of normal life.

Despite its best intentions, long term treatment programs can inadvertently collude with a person’s tendency to avoid taking responsibility for self- direction and care.

To reduce this risk, long term inpatient rehab will need to provide avenues through which to experience and process a range of real-life experiences. The opportunity to involve and engage families consistently over an extended period can prove critical to outcome.

Long Term Residential Treatment at Clinic Les Alpes

Clinic Les Alpes is a luxury rehab in Switzerland that’s committed to excellence in all aspects.

Our addiction treatment center is located above the town of Montreux, Switzerland, with a breathtaking view over the Alps and Lake Geneva. Get started with a long term rehab program at Clinic Les Alpes. Contact us today to learn more here.

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Draft plans for aftercare early in treatment

It is essential that an aftercare programme is not cobbled together almost as an afterthought shortly before the patient is discharged.  Given the relative brevity of most addiction treatment programmes, an outline of aftercare planning should start as soon as a comprehensive profile of the patient has been established in the admission process.  Of course the picture can change quite significantly over the course of a treatment episode as new perspectives emerge.  In drafting any aftercare programme such developments should be taken fully into account.

Collaboration between the patient and treatment provider is essential

It is best for an aftercare programme to be devised collaboratively with the patient and, wherever feasible, involve the family and employer. It should not simply be handed down as a prescription concocted by the treatment centre or practitioner. The patient will benefit from taking ownership of the plan and be more likely to feel motivated to follow through with the elements of the plan once they have left treatment.

The aftercare programme needs to take full account of the individual’s social circumstances, including family relationships, work life and leisure interests. While prioritising the practices that support the essential everyday commitment to recovery, it takes into consideration the realties confronting the person more broadly. It is important to ensure that the patient is not set up to fail.

12 things to consider in shaping an aftercare programme

• Give thought to aftercare planning as soon as possible after admission
• Draft an outline aftercare programme based on what is already known about the patient
• Mid-treatment, patient and practitioner take a collaborative approach to developing the plan
• Take full account of what emerges in treatment and be prepared to adjust the plan
• Involve significant others wherever safe and feasible
• Set realistic, incremental goals to reduce the risk of demotivation
• Identify sources of support in the patient’s home community and make links before discharge
• Build on personal and social resources available to support recovery
• Identify something that is purposeful, meaningful and emotionally rewarding in which to engage
• Include actions to address ongoing mental and physical health issues
• Identify high risk factors for relapse
• Identify actions in case of relapse

Recovering a life

The goal is for recovery to become integrated into everyday life. Planning the aftercare programme identifies approaches to enable this to happen so that recovery is sustainable. Integration means recovery becomes part of life and life becomes part of recovery.

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Substance abuse is generally defined as the use of any psychoactive substance to the extent that it severely affects physical health and well-being, social functioning, relationships, and personal responsibilities. It is widely thought that substance abuse refers to the consumption of illegal drugs. In fact legal drugs, either legally or illegally obtained, may feature in substance abuse or a substance use disorder.

Substance abuse and drug addiction are often wrongly conflated. This is perhaps unsurprising as substance abuse and substance dependence have been combined by some experts into a single diagnostic category of substance use disorder covering a range of severity. Alcohol and drug abuse may well indicate a high degree of susceptibility to addiction in some people.

Most commonly abused drugs

The most commonly abused drugs are: alcohol, marijuana, nicotine, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, cocaine, prescription drugs and opiates.

Steroids, hallucinogens and volatile substances are also abused. Some experts argue that caffeine and refined sugars should be included. While people may have a “drug of choice”, it is rare nowadays for people with substance use disorders to restrict their use to just one chemical.

An inherent dilemma – wanting to have the “benefits” without the harmful consequences

Drug abuse creates problems which impel the person to seek help. However at this point it is probably the more or less conscious aim of the person to find a way to continue their use of the substance but without the range of harms that come with doing so. It is therefore essential at the beginning of the treatment process to undertake a thorough drug addiction assessment. Knowing the right stage of addiction can be used to help give proper treatment and the right level of care to you or a loved one.

Completing an Addiction Assessment During Drug Abuse Treatment

As well as focussing on substance quantities, frequency and history of abuse, the drug addiction assessment will encompass physical and mental health, previous treatments, family and the person’s wider social situation. It will be important to understand the person’s alcohol or drug addiction treatment goals and the resources (or lack of them) that they bring to achieve those goals. 

If they desire to continue using drugs or alcohol, the risks of doing so need to be carefully examined and a harm reduction approach initiated. In devising an addiction treatment plan that can help the individual, safety will be the top priority. The treatment should introduce personal strategies and recovery therapy to enhance physical and mental wellbeing.

Outpatient treatment

Depending on its severity, treatment for a substance abuse disorder may be undertaken with the help of an outpatient treatment service, which will look to reduce alcohol and drug addiction risk and improve personal resources, including positive social support. The involvement of families is strongly advised for substance treatment.

A lifestyle that supports alcohol and drug use will be respectfully challenged with alternatives being explored that would bring greater meaning, purpose and self-fulfillment to life.  Underlying and co-existing problems such as trauma can be addressed depending on the types of treatment for your substance abuse and mental health issue.

Residential treatment

A residential drug treatment service is probably the choice for those seeking to end their relationship with a substance completely. While taking time out from the pressures of an unhealthy environment, medical supervision can oversee safe withdrawal and related health issues while specialists work holistically on the psycho-social aspects of the disorder.

If you or a loved one is suffering from a substance use disorder, Clinic Les Alpes can help. Our luxury rehab in Montreux Switzerland offers private treatment in our medically licensed clinic. Contact us today.

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Life narrows slowly and cunningly to the substance and its quest. Nothing else then matters. Addiction conveys its own culture, values, practices and whole lifestyle. This is where residential treatment comes into play. But before explaining why this treatment option can be highly relevant for substance abuse, let’s define what residential treatment is.

Residential Treatment

Residential or inpatient treatment centres are homes where patients come to seek treatment in a mid/long term perspective. They enter a live-in place where they are going to commit to treatment 24/7. Therapeutic and medical cares are mainly completed inside the centre, allowing the team to monitor closely the progress of the patient. This allows the programme to be fully individualised and flexible to the day-to-day situation of the patient.

Residential treatment centres offer bedrooms, meals, housekeeping service, common places to relax, 24/7 support and, according to their therapeutic programme, spa care, counselling sessions, nursing care, medical interviews, conferences, etc. This format allows the patient to practice self-care and improving his health and mental state on an intense daily basis. Usually visits and outings are allowed in a reasonable proportion and activities are mainly carried out in-house.

The first stage of residential treatment usually is to stabilise and improve physical health state when needed. In a second phase, deep psychological work is involved, and emphasis is put on identifying addictive patterns of thoughts and actions, developing life skills and integration in the aftercare life.

Why Is Residential Treatment so Pertinent When It Comes to Substance Abuse?

Residential treatment is a particular setting that drags the person out of her daily life and environment. As life has been narrowing for long around the substance/behaviour despite all the other things the person might have loved or enjoyed, inpatient facilities allow patient’s life to widen again and open up to all the beautiful shades of the world. It increases commitment to treatment and allows 24 hours a day monitoring of the progress to tailor the best possible care.

Change of environment

Addiction resembles a bacterium, trying to survive by any mean, everywhere. By having its own culture, addiction is its own microcosm the person needs to change in order to practice recovery. One has to get rid of the values spread by the addiction and take the values of recovery on instead. To do this, a drastic change of environment is required, and this is where residential treatment is the key element.

By entering an inpatient facility, the sufferer wrests himself from the whole environment of addiction. Cutting off with the toxic triggers of everyday life allows to test new ways of doing. The container that such a facility provides permits to experiment abstinence in a safe and monitored frame. Abstinence is not an end in itself, it is a mean throughout recovery. A patient with a 20-year history of addiction might discover himself as he had not done for long. He might realise that values of addiction he practiced for so long are not the values his true self cherishes and wants to apply as a new sober person. This containment can only be provided by a residential treatment option.

Increased commitment

When outpatient treatment leaves the addict plenty of time to reach out with people highly involved with addiction, seek for substance, use again, face the triggers and so on, inpatient treatment gives a frame where the patient fully commits to treatment. Daily activities are all therapeutic and makes the patient work from different perspectives on his dependency and co-existing issues. By committing to a daily practice of recovery, the sufferer significantly improves his health and mental state and increases his chances to stick to treatment and recovery over the long term. Commitment, as well as the quality of the therapeutic relationship, is a key component defining the efficiency of treatment, beyond the specific treatment approach itself.

24/7 support

Recovery is not exactly a long, quiet river. There hopefully are moments of stillness and calm, but some periods might be more difficult to handle and to go through, particularly at the beginning of the process around withdrawal. This is when benevolent and containing care and frame are especially needed. Residential treatment offers this support that outpatient option does not. Being able to get direct help at this early stage of recovery avoids a lot of early (re)lapses. It also helps reinforcing every single step forward and every improvement.

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