Treatment Modalities for Addiction Therapy

Treatment modalities for addiction therapy mainly refer to the way in which treatments for addiction are administered. Modalities usually include the treatment setting, the treatment approach and the components of treatment. Importantly, Understanding each of these aspects of treatment is essential for helping you choose the right rehab program for yourself or a loved one.

Always the First Step: Medical Detox

Regardless of the defining modality, high-quality treatment programs specially begin with medical detox, which is a medically supervised detoxification process that allows all traces of a drug to leave the body so that brain function can easily begin to return to normal. So, during medical detox, medications are administered as needed to alleviate the intensity of withdrawal symptoms and shorten the duration of detox.

It’s very important to note that detox only addresses the physical dependence on a drug and does very little to help an individual overcome an addiction, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.(1) This is just because addiction is far more complex than dependence and nearly always has a number of underlying causes that may include trauma, mental illness, family dysfunction or stress.

Treatment Settings: Residential and Outpatient

The top most important initial consideration for choosing a treatment program is matching a client’s needs to the best treatment setting for that individual.(2) The goal is to start by placing a client in the least restrictive environment that will be highly safe and effective and then move the client along a continuum of care as they advance.

Long-Term Residential Treatment

Long-term residential treatment is mainly a six- to 12-month inpatient treatment modality that focuses intently on an individual’s social and psychological issues and works to help clients develop personal responsibility and accountability. Therapeutic communities (TCs) are the most usually common type of long-term residential treatment program. In the TC, the focus is on resocializing clients by creating a successful community in which everybody, including residents and staff, has a role in helping others succeed in treatment.

Short-Term Residential Treatment

Short-term residential rehab programs basically provide relatively brief treatment in an intensive three- to four-week program. These programs are generally designed on a modified 12-step approach and strive to help individuals develop a strong foundation for recovery by beginning to address the complex issues that led to the drug abuse and addiction.

Short-term residential treatment is always followed by a highly individualized aftercare plan that draws on the momentum and motivation gained in treatment to help clients successfully navigate early recovery in the community. Full engagement in the aftercare plan is very essential for success.

A typical plan will also include in ongoing therapy, participation in a 12-step or similar support program and regular meetings with a case manager who evaluates for changing and emerging needs that need to be addressed.

If you’re ever struggling with a substance use disorder, an addiction counselor or other mental health professional can help you choose the right modality for you to help ensure successful treatment and promote long-term recovery.

The author loves helping people who want to overcome from Substance Abuse Addiction.