Sections:
* Getting them to go: Intervention information
* Drug detox information
* Residential drug rehab
* How to stay clean after leaving drug rehab
Getting them to go: Intervention information
Many people have seen the television show “Intervention,” but they might be leery of attempting to pull one off on their own. In this case you have basically two options: you can organize it yourself, or you can call in a professional to help.
Hiring an interventionist is not generally cheap, and in my direct experience, they are not going to be as effective as what most people hope. Yes, they may be professional, and they may even do an excellent job at what they do, but I believe this has very little bearing on treatment outcomes. As such, my general suggestion would be to save your money and organize your own intervention.
I am sure many would disagree. This is based only on my experience, and my observations of those who seek professional treatment services. Surrender to the disease and genuine willingness to change are about ten times more important than having the right people for the job.
You have to want to get clean and sober….do we really believe that a professional intervention specialist is going to change that?
This does not mean that going through with an intervention is a bad idea. I just don’t think that it warrants outside help. Organize it yourself and do the best you can. There are more detailed alcohol intervention guides that can help you do this yourself.
Drug detox information
Depending on the drug of choice that is being abused, most people will typically spend a few days up to maybe a week at most in detox. This is a medically supervised area where pretty much all that is expected is that the client sleep and get well.
Detox is not the nightmare that some people think it is. In fact it is much like a vacation. Some people will have a very rough time in detox, but these are the exception rather than the rule. In fact, the vast majority if people who go through detox will be kept very comfortable through the use of medical attention and medication. This will, of course, depend on what type of drugs the person is coming off of. Some drugs are more difficult to detox from than others. But on the whole, most detox centers will be able to keep just about everyone reasonably comfortable during the detox process.
If you are afraid of suffering through detox, this is no excuse. Your fear of discomfort has become unreasonably large. Really, it is not that bad. Anyone can get through it without too much trouble.
Residential drug rehab
Thanks to the modern media, pretty much everyone has a clear picture of what a drug rehab center is like: groups, lectures, meetings, and so on…..all in a rather intimate environment with a group of your peers. This is a relatively accurate portrayal and this is what you can expect of pretty much any rehab out there. Yes there are some differences and some treatment centers will even deviate from the 12 step program (they are few and far between though).
Many addicts and alcoholics are afraid of groups, or afraid of being put on the spot in front of other people. Thus they fear residential treatment and are not willing to take the plunge and go to rehab. Really, these fears are unfounded because the atmosphere during these groups sessions is generally light and friendly. In fact, the prevailing attitude in these types of rehab groups is very laid back and no one is really forced to participate in a manner which makes them uncomfortable.
Bottom line: don’t let the fear of groups or your social anxiety hold you back from getting the help you need. Rehab is very easy going, very laid back, and no one is going to force you to stand up and make a speech or put you on the spot. More likely what will happen is that you will bond with the peers you meet there and make some really strong connections, and get much relief from talking with others.
How to stay clean after leaving drug rehab
This is the point of it all: How to stay clean after leaving drug rehab? How does the addict succeed in building a new life in recovery?
We all know that the statistics regarding relapse are grim. Most people do not make it and achieve long term recovery. But this is not to say that there is no hope, or that no one ever succeeds in recovery. Many do. But you have to realize that most do not make it work out in the long run, and those who do are putting forth a tremendous effort, taking action far above and beyond what others are willing to do.
Most people leaving rehab are not willing to put in the work that it takes to stay clean. If you want to embrace a new life in recovery, and start growing and learning new things and really appreciating a sober life, then you have to put in a ton of effort in order to make that a reality. If you just casually wish that things were different, but don’t put forth any extra effort, then nothing will really change in the end.
A good drug rehab will set you up for success when it comes to aftercare. For some people, this might mean attending outpatient therapy groups. For other people, this might mean going to a long term treatment center. And for others, it might mean simply attending 12 step meetings every day and becoming heavily involved in the 12 step fellowship.
Here is a news flash for the uninitiated: not all of these aftercare plans will work for everyone. In fact, most of them will fail. That is why the individual is responsible for finding a path in recovery that works for them. Most likely, you will have a therapist that is working with you directly in rehab. Tell them what works for you and what does not. No one is going to make you get clean and sober on your own. Much of the motivation, inspiration, and actual mechanics of how you stay clean are going to have to come from you. Others can help you, yes. But ultimately, you have to find what works for you. Do not try to push this responsibility onto someone else.
Here are 2 examples of an action plan for individuals leaving treatment:
Bad: “What are you going to do after you leave rehab?” Answer: “Well, you know, I’m going to hit a few meetings, I’m going to stay away from my trigger places, and I’m going to do what I need to do to stay clean and sober.”
Good: “What are you going to do after you leave rehab?” Answer: “I’m going to take the following actions: Every day, I’m going to go to a 12 step meeting. I’m going to call up my previous 12 step sponsor and start getting back into some serious step work with them. I’m going to get involved with service work again and work with others in recovery. I’m also going to attend outpatient group therapy on Monday and Wednesday and Friday.”
Notice that one answer is vague and the other is specific and action oriented. If you want to do well with your aftercare, then you should try to get specific and make everything be action based. If it is not action based, then break it down further until it is a list of stuff that you can actually do. In other words, don’t let your aftercare plan say “avoid old hangouts where I used to use drugs.” Instead, break it down into actionable steps, such as “Spend time with friend X, Y, and Z who are in recovery each week. Go work out or exercise on this day each week” etc. Plan out specific actions that will move you toward healthy living.
Planning out specific actions for your life may seem like overkill, and in the long term, it is. But when you first leave rehab, the chances of a relapse are so incredibly high, that you need to take massive action in order to avoid the possibility. Eventually, as you progress in recovery, life becomes more about balance and healthy living in general….it will not always be about meetings and therapy and groups. But in early recovery, having this laser focus is an asset that you cannot afford to ignore. Throw yourself into action–massive action–and you will stand a better chance of staying clean after you leave rehab. Make the call now to take massive action and get the help you need.
Help for Alcoholism Do you or someone you love need drug or alcohol rehab? Take action and get the help you need right now. Drug Addiction Help What kind of drug rehab is right for you? Give us a call at 1-877-744-3536 Addiction Treatment Real help is available. We can give you the tools to recover. Start your new life today.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I would have to agree with this article in this article. There are people who agree that interventionists are a good thing. The problem is these people are all interventionists. I’ve de never talked to an interventionist yet that have had any new insights on how to get people into treatment besides browbeating them and threatening with a complete cut off of family. That also goes for that charalatan Dr, Drew
Yes I would agree Babagano, there are no new tactics out there under the sun. A specialist is just a person who knows all the catch phrases, from what I could tell from my direct experience. Nevertheless, I applaud their efforts….I just think they are misguided.
As an alternative, what about in-home rehab, where the interventionist brings the treatment right to you? Sort of a bold idea that might actually work if there was not so much darn liability involved…..
You know, that wouldn’t be such a bad idea, and how bad could tghe liablility be with health waivers and things similar. Besides, is an in home rehab really all that different from the various unregulated 1/2 way and 3/4 houses that seem to be popping up evrywhere?
Yeah I agree Babaganoosh….I was talking with some coworkers about it, and they said that it almost exists already for some types of people, but the focus is not generally on substance abuse, more on the mental health side of things.
Would love to have a rehab center where we all show up to work, then draw lots to see what client you would have to go visit that day….talk about an adventure…..
It seems to me that the real benefit of an intervention lies in it’s potential to expediate the arrival of the addicts inevitable consequences, like isolation. By getting loved ones to agree to arrest co-depedency…. the addict is forced to face his consequences sooner rather than later. Manufacturing a “bottom” so to speak.
I suspect that many on that show Intervention who “relapse”… have co-dependants who “relapse” too.