Drug Abuse Treatment

Effective drug abuse treatment which can halt the debilitating effects of drug and alcohol abuse before full blown addiction sets in is a vital tool in restoring happy productive lives. Unfortunately many do not think about seeking help until addiction is in full bloom. The need for drug abuse treatment is usually best initiated by loved ones of the abuser. The abuser often has lots of reasons and justifications for their abuse and won’t really see it as abuse until it is driven home to them. It is a short drive from drug abuse to drug addiction and the lines are often blurred at best.

A condition characterized by repeated compulsive seeking and using of drugs, alcohol or other similar substances despite adverse social, mental, and physical consequences is a definition that can apply to substance abuse as well as substance addiction. When addiction sets in however it is usually accompanied by psychological and physical dependence where the substance is craved just to feel somewhat normal. Withdrawal symptoms, physical and mental usually appear to a greater or lesser degree when the substance is rapidly decreased or terminated. Substance abuse has moved into addiction when the substance use controls the individual rather than the individual controlling the usage.

Executive Director of Narconon Arrowhead Gary W. Smith reports, ‘Although the number of people coming to us who are abusing pot is a smaller percentage of our total clientele, in the 30 years I have been in the drug rehabilitation field I have not seen these numbers of individuals literally hooked on marijuana and unable to stop on their own. We’ve known for a long time that marijuana use can lead to other drugs but it is shocking to see people whose lives are being destroyed by smoking pot just like others we are treating who are addicted to crack or alcohol. I believe this is happening because the strength of the pot that is being smoked today is probably ten times stronger than the pot of 20 years ago.’

Loved ones often wonder what exactly rehab treatment is. At Narconon Arrowhead the basics of treatment at least can be fairly well understood. There is a drug free withdrawal process where use of all drugs and alcohol finally comes to an end. This is followed by a full detoxification process which actually removes drugs and toxins that have been stored in the fat tissues of the body, often times for years. This results in a marked overall sense of well being for the individual with many reporting drug or alcohol cravings ending during this time. Our rehab treatment also includes a full and comprehensive handling of any further emotional cravings as well as addressing guilt and depression which left unhandled are the major reasons for relapse or continued drug use.

All drug rehab programs are not created equal; there are many different types and formats. There are long term, short term, in-patient, out-patient, traditional 12 step, and non traditional to name but a few. One big difference to be aware of is whether or not the drug rehab programs you may be looking at are drug free or whether the program embraces the use of other or substitute or additional drugs and ‘medications’ in an effort to control or alleviate addiction. Narconon Arrowhead is a long term, non traditional, drug free approach to the problems of abuse and addiction. These points set us apart from many of the other drug rehab programs available. We start with the assumption that the being is basically good and despite any appearances to the contrary actually wants to attain a completely drug free productive life. The Narconon program embraces many, many different factors that stop or inhibit the individual from reaching this goal. The majority of Narconon staff are ex-addicts and alcoholics themselves and know what it takes to get lasting results – we’ve been there! When examining the various drug rehab programs look for one thing – LASTING results and success.