Many choices available on road to recovery

Those looking for help with a substance abuse problem have several treatment methods to consider. residential treatment program is the therapeutic community, which is centered on resocializing individuals through the involvement of other residents and staff members.

Short-term residential programs usually provide a modified 12-step approach to recovery that can last from three to six weeks, followed by outpatient therapy and participation in self-help groups such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous. Individualized drug counseling focuses on reducing or stopping drug or alcohol use by teaching users to recognize and stop negative patterns of thinking and behavior, and usually includes participation in a 12-step program like NA or AA.

Group counseling is often used in conjunction with individual counseling to provide social reinforcement through peer discussions. Used mostly for opioid abuse disorders, Medicated Assisted Treatment, or MAT, utilizes medications to reduce cravings by blocking the pleasure that comes with using drugs, or causing unpleasant or negative reactions when a substance is taken. Sources: drugabuse.gov, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (samhsa.gov),