Of the estimated 24 million Americans who suffer from some form of addiction, only about 10% of them will seek professional addiction recovery help. This means that with all the assistance they could obtain, there are actually many people who either choose to avoid treatment or just simply do not know where to turn to for help. Many of them are also reluctant to sign up for a recovery program fearing that they may not be able to handle the demands or that it may be ineffective.
To eliminate any fears and apprehensions for patients who are considering addiction recovery, it is important for them and their families to fully understand what the process involves.
What happens during addiction recovery?
Recovery, contrary to what most people think, is not something that occurs overnight or over a course of a few weeks or months. It is a process that occurs over a lifetime. It does, however, begin with a first step and that is the decision and willingness to undergo a change.
People who undergo alcohol recovery will usually be enrolled in a program where they will be required to meet with a counselor either on a one-on-one basis or attend meetings with other patients. Alcohol addiction treatment may be outpatient or inpatient, depending on the severity of the addiction. Inpatient addiction recovery is more intensive and will require a patient to stay at a rehabilitation facility while undergoing counseling and medical treatment. An outpatient program, on the other hand, will only require them to attend meetings and have supervised withdrawal, medical treatment and follow ups.
The type of addiction recovery program involved in drug addiction rehab will also vary depending on the patient’s condition. Many patients do well in supervised outpatient programs while others can speed up their recovery with more intensive inpatient programs at addiction treatment centers.
What to expect
Undergoing an addiction recovery process can be the most challenging decision in every patient’s life. However, with the right treatment and solid support from friends and loved ones, there is no reason why recovery cannot be achieved successfully.
