What is Drug Addiction?

Drug addiction is a complex illness characterised by intense and, at times, uncontrollable drug craving, along with compulsive drug seeking and use that persist even in the face of devastating consequences. While the path to drug addiction begins with the voluntary act of taking drugs, over time a person’s ability to choose not to do so becomes compromised, and seeking and consuming the drug becomes compulsive. This behavior results largely from the effects of prolonged drug exposure on brain functioning. Addiction is a brain disease that affects multiple brain circuits, including those involved in reward and motivation, learning and memory, and inhibitory control over behavior.

Because drug abuse and addiction have so many dimensions and disrupt so many aspects of an individual’s life, treatment is not simple. Effective treatment programs typically incorporate many components, each directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences. Addiction treatment must help the individual stop using drugs, maintain a drug-free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society. Because addiction is typically a chronic disease, people cannot simply stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Most patients require long-term or repeated episodes of care to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained abstinence and recovery of their lives.

Inpatient Rehabilitation or Outpatient?

Unfortunately there aren’t nearly enough residential beds available in Alabama for those who need an effective drug rehab program. Up to 90 percent of addicts who receive some type of treatment each year attend outpatient counseling or meetings. In most cases, a longer-term residential (more than just 30 days) Alabama drug rehab program is going to produce better results. There are some scenarios where outpatient treatment is successful, given the type of program and the circumstances of the individual, but whenever possible a longer-term drug-free program is a better choice, especially if it addresses the biophysical aspects.

The Biophysical Rehabilitation Program

A biophysical drug rehab program recognizes the fact that drug addiction usually has two main components. There is the physical dependency and cravings for the drugs as well as the mental/emotional need for them. This type of drug rehab center is typically the most successful, given that it is a longer-term program (more than 30 days), uses a drug-free approach, and incorporates a unique and effective detoxification method that goes beyond mere withdrawal and actually eliminates the drug residues that have stored in the body. The result is the addict no longer feels the physical effects of the drugs and he now has a sound body and clear head to address the mental/emotional side through a social education method. The recovery rate for a biophysical program is very often three times higher than most other drug addiction