Treatment for drug or alcohol addiction is not just by way of medical treatment only. It is a holistic concept and over a period of many years, there has been a set of established principles and procedures which have formed a part of treatment.

Principles of treatment of drug addiction

Principles of effective treatment act as guidelines and best practices for the treatment of drug addict patients worldwide.

1. Addiction could be quite a complex disease that has its bearing on the functioning of brain and on the behavior of the person but, it is perfectly treatable.
2. The treatment for addiction varies from person to person and, therefore, no one treatment shall be applied to all persons.
3. While the treatment is possible, it has to be made readily available.
4. For treatment to be effective, it is important that a multiple-facet approach is adopted not limited only to treatment of drug addiction.
5. Since addiction is usually a prolonged affair, treatment of the same shall be administered for an adequate period of time.
6. Behavioral therapies such as counseling are most commonly used forms of treatment.
7. Medications have their own importance and play a significant part in the treatment process.
8. There is a need for assessing the continually varying needs of the patients and treatments shall be administered accordingly.
9. It is not uncommon to find that addiction patients also have mental disorders.
10.  Medical treatment is only the first stage of treatment and, by itself it does little in cases of long-term drug abuse.
11. For effectiveness of the treatment, it is not necessary to seek voluntary participation of patient.
12. Continuous monitoring is important to prevent relapses.
13. There is also a need to assess the patient for infectious diseases and to provide risk-reduction consultation to help patients change their behaviors.

Approaches to Treatment

There are three basic components to the treatment approaches: Medication-based, Behavioral and using the criminal justice system. During the course of treatment, there is a need for continuous monitoring so that the varying needs of treatments are assessed on regular basis and any relapses can be suitably prevented.

 Our Christian center remains in regular touch with the patients during and even after the treatment to assist them living with the drug-life life.

Medications form an essential part of the treatment process as these suppress the withdrawal symptoms during the detoxification phase of treatment. These are also helpful in normalizing the functioning of brain, preventing relapses and reducing the cravings. Christian Alcohol and Drug treatment offers right guidance on the treatment for users of more than one drug.

 Behavioral treatments focus on modification of attitudes and behaviors and increase the healthy life style habits among the drug and alcohol addicts. The behavioral approach has many dimensions to it. These include the outpatient and the inpatient methods of treatment.

The former include the following:

1. Cognitive behavioral therapy for helping patients to pre-determine what all factors can lead them to taking drugs again;
2. Multidimensional therapy which involves the support of families as well, especially in cases involving adolescent youth;
3. Motivational interviewing which seeks to build upon readiness of the patient for entering treatment process;
4. Motivational incentives method which seeks to give rewards for patients for abstaining from drug use.

Our center provides advice on the inpatient residential treatments to the people which provide community based treatment to the patients for a period generally ranging from 6-12 months. The patients are required to stay with the other patients and inculcate the behavioral changes in them. It also gives them the moral support for taking rehabilitation process to its successful end.

Criminal Justice system also helps in the treatment process which is mainly suited for those addicts who have offended law and become criminals. By putting them through the judicial process, they are kept away from those factors or influences which can lead them to drug or alcohol addiction again.