Drug and Alcohol - Dual Diagnosis - Sobriety

Is Drug Rehab Just for Drugs & Alcohol?

Drug rehab is beneficial for more than just those who need drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Rehab can halt harmful behavior patterns, too.

Is Drug Rehab Just for Drugs & Alcohol?

Table of Contents

Written by

Brian MooreBrian Moore

Content Writer

Reviewed by

Jeremy ArztJeremy Arzt

Chief Clinical Officer

May 25, 2022

The Edge Treatment Center

Many people hold the misconception that drug rehab facilities are just for individuals seeking recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) or addiction.

However, rehab is effective for treating more than just SUDs.

Drug rehab is also effective in treating addictions that are not substance-related. Many rehab facilities can also treat the challenging effects of mental health disorders and comorbid conditions such as behavioral addictions in addition to a primary SUD diagnosis.

Effective Drug Rehab Treats More Than Just Substance Use

First and foremost, effective drug rehab treats more than just chronic substance use. Most people's main motivator for going to drug rehab is to quit drug use, and in doing so, achieve sobriety.

Still, an individual who struggles with addiction is rarely able to stop their substance use cold turkey, and even getting fully detoxed does not guarantee recovery. After all, a diagnosable SUD is characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and drug-using behavior, marked by a loss of self-control over drug use. 

For an individual to effectively achieve sobriety, treatment must identify and confront underlying mental and emotional issues that may have caused the individual to turn to drug use in the first place. Treatment must tend to the multiple unique needs of each individual, and those needs should be continually reassessed and modified as necessary throughout their recovery journey.

Some addiction treatment facilities welcome people who struggle with any kind of addiction, not just alcohol or drug addiction. Some examples of chronic, non-substance-related addictions that may be managed through rehab include gambling addictions, sex or porn addictions, food addictions, and more.

Aside from helping clients achieve and maintain sobriety, rehab is also meant to:

  • Help clients learn about the consequences of drug use and addiction

  • Teach clients to identify harmful habits that keep them from achieving their full potential

  • Encourage clients to build new, healthier habits and practices for their life

  • Motivate clients to establish healthier boundaries within their interpersonal relationships

  • Help clients learn their worth

  • Help clients understand the value of community and social support

  • Teach clients the importance of accountability in their life

Prevalence of Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders

Nearly 7.7 million adults have co-occurring disorders. Co-occurring disorders, also known as a dual diagnosis, are terms that describe the presence of a mental health disorder and substance use disorder that present simultaneously. In 2018, nearly 20.3 million adults had a SUD with a co-occurring mental health disorder, whereas nearly 42.1 million adults with mental health disorders also had a SUD. 

Despite the prevalence of co-occurring conditions, one condition doesn't always cause the other. People who struggle with mental health conditions are more likely to develop a SUD than those not affected by mental health disorders. SUDs and mental health disorders may cause each other, but they may also form separately.

Treatment centers across the United States are becoming more well versed in the connection between mental health disorders and SUDs.

One of the most important factors to understand about co-occurring conditions is that symptoms can exacerbate one another, making treatment challenging. Therefore, effective treatment for co-occurring disorders must treat both conditions at the same time. More and more drug treatment facilities offer dual-diagnosis programs for their clients to make treatment more successful.

What to Expect From Drug Rehab

Those considering addiction treatment may find it helpful to know what to expect from drug & alcohol addiction rehab. Whether one is going to secure sobriety or needs help fighting harmful habits, there are many benefits that rehab can have on one's life.

Every addiction treatment facility is unique. Each facility offers specific therapeutic interventions with programs that vary in duration. Some popular interventions include:

Treatment for addiction may include behavioral therapies, medication, or a combination of several different treatment approaches. Behavioral therapies help clients motivate their personal participation in treatment, find healthier coping mechanisms for dealing with mental or emotional distress, work to prevent relapse and create aftercare plans for those who have graduated from a treatment program.

These types of therapies are also beneficial in helping clients to improve communication, establish healthier interpersonal relationships, and increase their sense of self-worth. 

A Drug Rehab Which Takes A Holistic View Is Ideal

One of the main concerns with rehab is whether or not individuals will stay engaged with treatment. Successful treatment outcomes often depend on an individual's motivation to stay in treatment long enough to experience its full benefits. This is why it may be wise to complete a holistic drug treatment program in a facility that offers multiple mechanisms of engagement, such as group therapy, complementary therapy approaches, and other therapeutic and experiential activities.

Whether or not a person stays in treatment depends just as much on their own will as it does on the unique factors of a given treatment program. 

The Edge Treatment Center is an addiction rehab facility that treats substance use disorders and dual diagnosis conditions. We recognize the prevalence of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders and treat each client's mind, body, and soul for the best treatment outcomes.

Our staff takes a holistic approach to recovery, focusing on all aspects of a person's life to help them recognize what life can be like free from addiction. To learn more about our treatment center, contact us now.

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