Drug and alcohol abuse is a malice that afflicts all sections of the society and spares almost no one. Countless lives have been cut short and many more have been crippled by drugs and liqueur. But in the midst of grim statistics are stories of revival and courageous fightbacks. "Platoon" and "Two and a Half Men" star Charlie Sheen is in the news, for all the wrong reasons and stories of his drug abuse days are doing the rounds. In fact, his father Martin Sheen has gone so far as to attribute his current problems to his addiction. But, in this context, it is worth remembering that Charlie Sheen has fought his probelam and successfully completed a drug abuse rehabilitation program.
Alcohol and drug abuse rehabilitation encompasses varied approachesmedical, spiritual, and holistic. In the medical method, the patient is treated at specialized clinics with trained and licensed physicians and care-givers. The patient is constantly kept under supervision and his withdrawal symptoms and recuperative process are monitored.
The 12-step substance abuse rehabilitation program is a historic method of treatment, originally published in the book Alcoholics Anonymous way back in 1939. This spiritual approach to treating substance abuse has been defined by the American Psychological Association as a process where the patient first admits to having a drug abuse problem, then recognizes that there is a higher power that can help him if he admits to and then amends his past misconduct, and finally adopts a new and improved way of living and tries to help others with the same afflictions. This rehabilitation program also combines group therapy sessions where like-minded individuals can empathize and help each other along the path of recovery. Many alcohol and drug abuse rehabilitation centers follow variations of this 12-step program depending on the specific needs of the patient.
The holistic approach to alcohol and drug abuse rehabilitation may be a combination of both traditional and non-traditional methods of treating drug dependency in an individual. In recent times, some alternative forms of holistic treatment methodologies have come to the forefront, like those where nutritional and dietary supplements are prescribed. There are also some others that involve meditation sessions, listening to relaxation tapes, and going in for bio-feedback. Many physicians believe that physical training sessions are critical to rehabilitation and hence also include yoga and exercise regimes in the program.
Counseling, both of the patient and his family members, is another integral part of a drug or alcohol abuse rehabilitation program. Individual counseling sessions help a patient deal with his stress, improve his self-esteem, and also strengthen his mind so that he can stay away from temptations in the future.
There are many forms of alcohol and drug abuse rehabilitation programs. None is superior, but the implementation of any one or a combination of a few depends on the specifics of the case under consideration.