What is the Best Substance Abuse Treatment Plan to Follow?
The best substance abuse treatment plan in the world is the one that works for the individual. Sounds kind of lame but it is the absolute truth. Consider the fact that various people in addiction recovery have overcome their drug addiction or alcoholism through:
* Religious based programs.
* Joining a church.
* Attending group therapy.
* Regular counseling.
* Using online meetings or chat rooms.
* Exercising.
* Meditation.
* Martial arts.
Now you might scoff at the idea that some of the things on this list can be a recovery solution all by themselves, but I know at least one person in each case who has overcome their addiction by doing exactly that: using a single strategy for recovery and doing it well.
This would also suggest that it is the quality of your recovery program rather than anything else that determines your ability to stay clean and sober. For example, take someone who uses meditation as their recovery strategy. What if they only meditate once a week for 20 minutes? Is this really going to produce fantastic results in their recovery? Probably not. You get out of it what you put into it.
Look at Racing for Recovery. These people stay clean and sober through sheer drive and commitment. They push themselves relentlessly to get into ultra good shape. Because they focus on the quality of their experience, it is much more effective in helping them to stay sober.
So it does not so much matter what you are doing to stay sober, rather it is how you are doing it. If you push yourself and commit fully to your recovery solution, the outcome will be positive. If you only put in half of an effort, the result will be eventual relapse.
Now let’s say you are new in substance abuse recovery and you need a concrete plan. I would suggest the following, though this could easily be changed drastically depending on the person and the situation:
* Go to detox and short term residential treatment in order to get physically detoxed from the drugs and alcohol.
* Start attending 12 step meetings and see if they work for you and help to support your recovery efforts. If they do, great. If not, move on to other solutions.
* Explore the idea of counseling as part of your aftercare, especially if you tend to be self motivated and also if you click well with a particular counselor.
* Start exercising on a regular basis. Consistency is three times more important than intensity. Stick to your new exercise plan like your life depends on it. (It does!)
* Explore your spirituality. This might mean different things for different people.
* Push yourself toward better health. Quit smoking. Eat healthier. Exercise. Remove unhealthy relationships from your life. Etc.
* Find a way to help others in recovery. Do so on a regular basis, preferably as part of your everyday life and routine.
You will note that almost all of these principles and ideas can be incorporated by immersing yourself in the 12 step program of AA or NA. Of course this route is not for everyone, so the strategies are laid out here in more general terms for those who do not click with the 12 step program. But you will note that all of these ideas can be found in “traditional recovery programs.”
These ideas presented above are condensed recovery. It is the most direct and streamlined process for getting clean and sober and maintaining recovery in the long run. I am not really aware of people who are successful who deviate greatly from these ideas.
Recommended Reading
Call Today
866-211-5538
24 Hour Treatment
{ 1 trackback }
{ 0 comments… add one now }