5 Steps to Successful Detox and Rehab

Detox and rehab are the processes an addict must go through in order to get off the drug or alcohol and maintain that sobriety for the rest of their lives. It is not an easy process and the addict needs to undergo many different steps in order to become a drug free person.  The addiction can have lasted a few months or many years but, either way, the process of getting and maintaining a drug free status can take several weeks to even months before the person successfully gets off the drug or drugs of choice.  There are many steps to a successful detox and rehab:

1. Make sure the detox is as painless as possible.  Detoxifying off alcohol or drugs can be extremely difficult and it pays to have medical support.  Detox and rehab can be done on an inpatient or outpatient basis but it needs to be done in such a way that the person is medically supported to reduce detox symptoms as much as possible. 
2. Choose the right detox and rehab program.  Sometimes these two parts are done separately at different institutions and sometimes they are done at the same place.  The place you choose must be affordable and must be long enough to successfully meet the needs of the person undergoing addiction recovery. Some programs have fixed programming which limits the needs of those who need to stay longer for meth addiction, for example. 
3. Make sure the program has all the right components of a detox and rehab program.  The rehabilitation needs qualified addiction counselors and therapists.  Some programs offer individual counseling along with group therapy and education.  A good program offers all of these components along with the medical aspects of drug or alcohol detox and rehab addressed along the way. 
4. A good drug detox and rehab program involves the family in the treatment.  The person must face family and friends long after they have left the addiction treatment program and those programs that include family sessions are superior.  If family members become involved, they take an active role in the recovery of the person and can better help them when they get out of rehab. 
5. Have a good aftercare program.  This might involve Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and aftercare programs at the facility.  Some people need to live in a halfway house after treatment in order to gradually reenter society and learn new ways of coping in a supportive environment.  Aftercare can involve many things—all of which are vital to helping the person succeed in the process of getting off drugs or alcohol. 

Detox and rehab programs are not all alike.  Do your research with the above guidelines in mind so that the addicted person has the greatest chance of success.