Iris Healing® Retreat, Woodland Hills, CA

What Are Addiction Treatment Options?

Learn about the various addiction treatment options, how they compare, and their effectiveness here.

Addiction treatment options

Article Contents

What Are Drug Addiction Treatment Options?

Addiction treatment options are the various approaches used to help people recover from addiction. They include a vast range of methods and techniques and feature a variety of services. Detoxification, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, group therapy, music therapy, yoga, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) are some examples of the many addiction treatment options available.

Choosing Addiction Treatment Options

Each person responds to addiction treatment options differently. As a result, the treatment process consists of trying various methods, monitoring their effects, and altering the treatment plan as needed. This ensures the patient receives the proper care that suits them.

A medical professional assesses the patient’s condition and situation before determining the treatment. The nature of the addiction, the patient’s health, the availability of services, and affordability are essential for developing an effective treatment plan.

Importance of Addiction Treatment

While addiction, or substance use disorder, is a chronic illness, it does not receive the same treatment as other illnesses. Statistics reveal that seven in ten people with chronic diseases, such as arthritis, cancer, and heart disease, receive treatment. However, only one in ten people receive treatment for substance use disorder. With over forty million Americans struggling with substance abuse, the access and availability of treatment are crucial.1

Addiction can cause and contribute to an extensive range of consequences. These include cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, mental health disorders, legal and financial issues, suicide, child neglect, domestic abuse, and unwanted pregnancies.

Does Addiction Treatment Increase Chances of Recovery?

The patient has a greater chance of recovery by utilizing various addiction treatment options. Substance use disorder affects the whole person—mentally and physically. As a result, an effective treatment plan incorporates methods and techniques that help heal the mind and body.

What Is Residential Treatment?

Residential treatment is an addiction treatment option that provides intensive care. It involves staying at a treatment facility and receiving continuous support from medical staff.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient treatment for addiction has a shorter duration than residential care. It aims to provide both medical and therapeutic support. This grants stability to individuals during their early stages of addiction recovery.

Inpatient treatment is an effective addiction treatment option, especially for high-risk cases. It is the most intensive treatment option to help people who require twenty-four-hour monitoring. Patients are generally admitted involuntarily. Suicide attempts, overdoses, and severe medical conditions are common reasons for admission.

Common Features of Residential and Inpatient Treatment

Residential and inpatient programs are both forms of intensive treatment for addiction. Both require the patient to remain at a medical facility during treatment.

How Does Residential Treatment Differ From Inpatient Treatment?

Residential treatment is a less intensive addiction treatment option. It is usually a service provided outside the hospital system. Residential treatment centers are housing-based communities (e.g., group homes, farms, apartments). Patients have the option to attend these programs voluntarily and can stay from one month to a year or longer.

Inpatient treatment is an addiction treatment option that typically occurs in hospital settings. It provides more intensive twenty-four-hour support for a shorter term compared to residential. Patients often enter inpatient care involuntarily. That is, the hospital can decide when inpatient treatment is the best option for their condition.

Long-Term Residential Treatment

Treatment length remains an essential contributor to recovery from addiction. As a chronic disorder that alters the mind and body, recovering from addiction is not a quick process. Thus, long-term residential treatment is an effective solution. It gives people enough time to recover, maintain sobriety, and live healthier lifestyles.

Long-term residential treatment is a form of inpatient treatment. It requires staying at a treatment facility for at least six months. The goal is to help people build coping mechanisms and skills for lasting recovery.

When Is Long-Term Residential Treatment Used?

Long-term residential treatment is used when a patient requires intensive, twenty-four-hour care. However, it is not for those who need medical interventions like detoxification. Patients who seek structure and need help that cannot be provided at home can opt for this option.

Is Long-Term Residential Treatment Effective?

Long-term residential treatment is one of the most effective addiction treatment options. It provides the most intensive care with a long range of monitoring.

Short-Term Residential Treatment

Short-term residential treatment is inpatient treatment that lasts four weeks or less. It is generally the first step in addiction treatment and prepares the individual for the next treatment efforts.

Services Available in Addiction Treatment Options

Addiction treatment facilities provide a range of services. These will be detailed below.

Detox

Detox, short for detoxification, is a medical process involving the body eliminating toxins and unwanted substances.

Individual Therapy

Therapy can go a long way in treating addiction. It contributes to higher chances of continued recovery after treatment. Individual therapy allows the patient to speak with a therapist one-on-one. The therapist helps the patient identify negative behaviors and triggers, develop healthy coping skills, and improve their life.

Group Therapy

Group therapy creates a collaborative environment for individuals to draw support and encouragement. It helps develop a sense of belonging and awareness that they are not alone. Group therapy lets patients gain insight from others with similar experiences.

Family Therapy

Family therapy helps patients appreciate the love and support of their family members. It also helps family members understand their role in their loved one’s recovery. Family therapists teach family members how to heal from the adverse effects of addiction and grow as a family.

Psychosocial Education

Psychosocial education offers patients insight into the psychological and social aspects of addiction. This education includes learning about how addiction occurs, the causes and risks, the symptoms and side effects, addiction statistics, and effective addiction treatment options. The knowledge helps patients hone the skills and strategies needed for long-term recovery.

Life Skills

Life skills guide patients in navigating the processes, demands, and challenges of daily life. Developing life skills can help people maneuver through life and reduce using substances as a coping mechanism.

Support Groups

Support groups consist of members who have either recovered or are currently recovering from addiction. They come together to form a support system, helping each other heal.

Planning to Prevent Relapse

Addiction treatment options also have measures for preventing and preparing against relapse. Some of these measures are:
  • Referring patients to strong support groups
  • Teaching them how to manage triggers and cravings

Addiction Treatment Options for the Elderly

Substance use disorder is not confined to a specific age group. Unfortunately, addiction is common and underdiagnosed among senior citizens. They may not recognize the need for addiction treatment, think it’s too late to seek care, or be too shy to talk about it. Additionally, seniors may not realize when they are abusing prescription medications.

Dangers of Addiction in the Elderly

Data suggests that older adults use prescription drugs three times more than other age groups. Opioid painkillers and anti-anxiety medications are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs to older adults. Consequently, these medications are also some of the most addictive.2

While addiction is a condition that affects people of all ages, it calls for more concern and critical care for the elderly. Many older adults have other medical issues and an increased risk for complications. Further, addiction signs and symptoms may not be as prominent, as they may overlap with other conditions or be overlooked.

Are There Different Addiction Treatment Options for the Elderly?

Addiction treatment options remain relatively identical regardless of the age group. Nonetheless, medical professionals need to consider the reasons for addiction among senior citizens. For instance, loneliness and forgetfulness are common issues older adults face. As a result, addressing these topics may be more beneficial to this age group.

In addition, support groups and group therapy sessions for older adults can be more inclusive of their needs. Members close in age can increase the relatability and willingness to open up.

Inpatient addiction treatment options may be more suitable for the elderly. It eliminates the stress of commuting to the treatment center, provides around-the-clock monitoring, and addresses other health concerns simultaneously.

What Are Opioid Addiction Treatment Options?

Opioids are a class of drugs that act on opioid receptors in the brain. While doctors prescribe them to treat pain, people often use opioids recreationally to generate feelings of euphoria. Opioids have a high potential for dependency, leading to abuse and addiction. Examples of common opioids are morphine, fentanyl, heroin, and codeine.

The Opioid Epidemic

Since the late 1990s, more than twenty-five million people in the United States have begun using opioids recreationally, and the rate of opioid-related emergency department visits has tripled. The drastic increase in prescription and non-prescription opioid abuse and overdose is now referred to as the “opioid epidemic.”3

The opioid epidemic has affected the lives of millions, with opioid overdose deaths quintupling since 1999. The rise of illegally manufactured fentanyl in 2013 led to the third and current wave of opioid overdose deaths. Fentanyl increased synthetic opioid death rates by 56% in just one year, from 2019 to 2020.4

Treatment for Opioid Addiction

Available opioid addiction treatment options typically include detox, medication, and behavioral therapy. Opioid use disorder treatment requires intensive care. This is because the cravings and withdrawal symptoms of opioids can be intense.

Opioid addiction treatment options commonly include the following:

  • Medical detox
  • Medication, such as methadone or buprenorphine
  • Behavioral therapy
  • Inpatient treatment options
addiction treatment options

Learn More About Addiction Treatment Options With Iris Healing®

At Iris Healing®, we follow a patient-first model. We offer a variety of addiction treatment options that heal the individual physically, spiritually, and mentally. Every individual has their own story and situation. Therefore, our team conducts thorough evaluations to develop a treatment plan personalized to each patient’s unique needs.

Inpatient Care Options

Inpatient care options at Iris Healing® include short-term and long-term residential treatment programs. Both options involve living in our safe and supportive care facility.
  • Short-Term Residential Program: Our short-term program is less than three months, making it perfect for patients with less severe cases who are unable to take a longer time off work. For the best results, patients should follow short-term residential treatment with aftercare.
  • Long-Term Residential Program: Our long-term program is six months or more, providing intensive and lasting treatment. Throughout their stay, patients can benefit from a wide variety of therapies. Our qualified team teaches valuable life skills, coping mechanisms, and mindfulness techniques to prepare individuals for a healthy, positive, and substance-free lifestyle.

Outpatient Care Options

Outpatient care offers treatment options without requiring the patient to stay at the facility. We offer numerous outpatient therapies, such as neurofeedback, recovery meetings, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). 

Iris Healing® is dedicated to helping each patient create the right aftercare treatment. Our team helps patients find support groups, counseling sessions, ongoing therapy, educational programs, and more.

Dual Diagnosis

Our team of medical professionals also specializes in dual diagnosis treatment. Dual diagnosis refers to having a mental health and substance use disorder simultaneously. This requires a more complex treatment plan. Without the right tools and knowledge on how to treat a dual diagnosis, the patient’s likelihood of making a full recovery is slim. Thus, we offer treatment from highly qualified doctorate-level therapists experienced in dual diagnoses to ensure the best outcome for all our patients.

Why Choose Us?

At Iris Healing®, we provide a holistic approach to recovery that focuses on more than just the disorder. Our treatment process involves healing all aspects of the individual—mind, body, and spirit. We value empathy, making meaningful connections, and healthier thinking. 

Iris Healing® has been repeatedly recognized as one of Los Angeles’ leading treatment centers. With our doctorate-level therapists, qualified medical staff, evidenced-based techniques, and patient-centered approach, we continue to provide impressive outcomes for our patients. Contact us today to begin your path to a higher quality of life.

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