Drug addiction is when an individual is dependent on a drug. This can mean the individual is emotionally dependent, physically dependent, or both. Often when a person becomes addicted to a drug they will experience intense cravings for the drug and want to use it again and again. When they stop using the drug they may experience unpleasant physical or psychological discomfort.

Addiction treatment can be for a specific drug or for a broad range of drug addictions. It can also vary depending on the characteristics of the individual. Addiction affects people from all walks of life. Many suffer from problems associated with their mental health, personal health, careers, or even their social abilities. Because of these problems helping an individual recover from drug addiction can be more difficult than just the actual addiction itself. Treatment needs to involve all aspects of their life.

Because every individual is unique there is a wide range of addiction treatment approaches available. Here are some of the top choices in addiction treatment: counseling, inpatient, outpatient, and residential. The primary goal of each of these methods of treatment is to assist the individual in stopping their drug use and return them to their families and communities as productive functioning members of society once again.

The first addiction treatment method mentioned is counseling. This method focuses on the individual’s drug addiction symptoms, the person in their entirety, and the subject matter and structure of their recovery. Counseling provides the individual with coping strategies as well as tools for addiction recovery.

Inpatient is another addiction treatment method that is widely accepted. The ultimate goal of this form of treatment is long-term abstinence from drugs. This is an ideal treatment for people who feel their addiction has affected their family, friends, or work. They will be in a new environment removed from their former drug using surroundings. This will help them adjust to living a drug-free lifestyle. Their days will be very structured as they learn new tools and coping strategies to help them re-enter society drug-free.

Another form of addiction treatment is outpatient care. This type of treatment is designed to provide long-term abstinence from drugs. This form of addiction treatment implements a broad variety of techniques. They may include problem-solving groups, specialized therapies such as insight-oriented psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and 12-step programs. When an individual attends an outpatient program they do not live at the treatment facility and travel to the location on a regular basis. Low-intensity outpatient drug treatment programs may offer little more than drug education and counsel. Other outpatient drug treatment models, such as intensive day treatment, can be comparable to residential programs in services and effectiveness, depending on the individual's characteristics and needs.

The last type of addiction treatment mentioned is residential. This particular type of treatment model has existed for over 40 years and has experienced huge success when it comes to drug addiction recovery. This type of treatment is also known as therapeutic communities. They are often located in residential settings and benefit the individual because they are able to live in a drug-free environment. It is in this environment that they are able to see what life would be like drug-free and experience day to day life without turning to drugs to solve problems that arise. As time progresses they are able to handle more and more responsibility within the residential treatment facility and are expected to be part of the community in which they live. Additionally, they are able to connect with others who share their same goal of addiction recovery 24 hours a day 7 days a week. This availability of individuals and staff at any hour is priceless when a person is going through addiction treatment.

It is important that an educated decision is made when choosing an addiction treatment method. For many individuals addiction recovery has become a revolving door of treatment center after treatment center. This does not have to be the case. Drug addiction recovery is possible with the right addiction treatment model.