Saturday, January 12, 2013

With Drug And Alcohol Counseling PA Residents Manage Substance Abuse Problems

By Claire Bolton


Substance abuse is a growing problem in the United States. While it is most prevalent among teens and young adults, a person of any age can fall subject to addiction. With treatment offered by drug and alcohol counseling PA citizens find the help needed to manage their symptoms.

Once an individual becomes an addict, the problem with substance abuse follows him or her for the remainder of life. In other words, an addiction is a chronic condition for which there is no cure. However, with proper treatment, symptoms of addiction can be managed effectively.

There are many different types of programs available. Inpatient programs require the patient to live in a facility free of drugs while undergoing therapy on a daily basis. Outpatient programs allow the individual to live at home and continue to work while attending sessions for six to eight hours each week. The best type of program will depend on the individual and substance of choice.

Reducing one's substance use can be medically dangerous and should be supervised. In many cases, the discomfort due to withdrawal is significant enough that the individual begins using drugs again in order to find relief. For many, detox is the logical first step to treatment. It allows the brain to be cleared of the influence of the foreign substance so the client is able to think clearly when working with the counselor.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is most commonly used during rehab programs. This approach teaches the individual to recognize the triggers that lead to abuse. Once such causes are identified, the person works to learn new behaviors that do not lead to further use of drugs. Clients may take part in individual, group and family therapy. Each of these settings addresses different underlying causes of addiction and help in the process of managing one's symptoms.

When the client is a teen, it is best to select a program designed specifically to meet his or her needs. Teens generally do not do will on scaled down adult programs. The best teen programs use the positive influence of peer pressure to help the youth to learn better ways to deal with problems that have resulted in his or her addiction.

Since the battle against addiction is a lifelong process, it is important to choose a program that offers appropriate aftercare. This program might include enrolling the individual in an appropriate support group based on a 12-step model. Other options include continuing in a reduced number of therapy sessions on a regular basis.

Failures in treatment happen often. Such relapses are dealt with by returning the client to a detox facility or taking a few steps back in the treatment process. The failure is not an indication that a program is not working. Many who now are successful at managing addiction symptoms have failed in the past. Accepting the possibility of several attempts that fail can be the key to sobriety.

With drug and alcohol counseling PA citizens can begin managing the symptoms of an addiction. While managing one's disease is far from easy, many find the effort worthwhile. The program allows the individual to once again take a productive role in society.




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