Drug and alcohol abuse is one of the most difficult problems to deal with in that there are so many different types of substance abuse and different levels of dependency that each case has to be assessed for that persons needs. It is also not easy to determine the level of dependency and this will have to be assessed and adapted as that becomes clear during treatment.
The help can come in the form of a 24-hour care and rehabilitation or as an outpatient but that should be discussed with the appropriate bodies. Medical assessment is a good start but there are many specialist bodies and the correct one for the person concerned may well be one that the person is most comfortable with.
Detox
Detox is the first stage in treatment towards recovery from drug and alcohol abuse after assessment and should ideally be carried out with the correct medical and clinical staff providing a safe and supportive help. Ideally for a severe case this will be carried out in a clinic with 24-hour supervision to support the client during the withdrawal period. This will usually last 3 to 7 days and will consist of supplying the appropriate detox medication and a programme of care and education that matches the health of the client. This is the ideal method and there are some exceptionally good clinics but they can be expensive. Talk to as many as possible get an idea of what they offer, their experience and talk to any independent advisor like your own medical practitioner to get recommendations.
Some places do a rapid detox, which is carried out under a general anaesthetic where medication is administered to accelerate the withdrawal over a 4 to 6 hour period.
In cases where the problem is not so severe or cost is prohibitive or facilities not available then there are many outpatient systems. The biggest problem here is that the care has to be managed by family members or friends and this can be extremely arduous and may be impossible. Patience and good advice is critical in these cases.
After Care
The most difficult part of any Drug Rehabilitation programme is to get good advice on after care and make sure that it is followed to the letter. The things, which are learnt in a rapid detox programme, must be put into everyday life so that they become second nature. The programme needs to be monitored and it must be treated as a long-term commitment for both the person concerned and his family and friends and support staff.
The major items are as follows:-
1) Get a proper assessment if possible with as much accuracy as possible. It is essential that the person give the full scope of the problem no matter how painful. It saves a lot of time and trouble but is not always achievable.
2) To detoxify the system of all substances which are affecting the person.
3) To get 24 hour care during the detox period with qualified staff in attendance.
4) To provide a full medical screening to see that the other needs of the patient may be protected.
5) Provision of an education and recovery programme that can work after detox.
6) To provide a monitoring and help system for after detox and through the extended period required in order to complete recovery. This should include introduction to local self-help groups
It is essential to get the best advice but this might not be always possible and is sometimes only achievable with the support of family and friends and not always then. Always try and get the best system as this stands the best chance of a long-term solution and not a stopgap, but the patient often determines the treatment that he or she is comfortable with. Remember that something is better than nothing and once a system is started it may be possible to upgrade it later.
If a person is totally against a medical solution there are a number of very good charitable self -help groups, which offer support and assistance and the local government bodies and your medical practitioner can help direct you to an appropriate one.
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