Drug Rehab - Do Family Interventions Work?

Popular television programs that chronicle drug addiction often depict a family intervention during the climax where an ultimatum is given - go to drug rehab, or be cut off. While a short-term update may be given towards the credits, how many of the addicts find enduring success? Is a family intervention and subsequent intense inpatient treatment the only solution? While there is some valuable information that can be gathered from these television programs, each addict is an individual. What works for one person may prove to be a failure for another.

The number of addicts who actively seek help on their own accord is extremely slim. It is estimated that only 5% to 10% of sufferers will enter a drug rehab program or other therapeutic treatment to help control their disease and find some form of success. Many professionals even believe that there is no such thing as recovery from addiction, but rather better management skills. The urge and feelings to use will often haunt a person for a lifetime, but with self-control, a feeling of purpose, and some valuable coping tools, an addict may be able to prevent relapses. However, the process is often rocky and addicts are known to have several periods of relapses that may come in rapid succession, or even decades apart. How likely an addict is to succeed long-term doesn't depend so much on the method of treatment but rather their personal drive.

Family interventions are often staged by frustrated or lost loved ones as a desperate last attempt at pushing the addict into treatment. In many cases, one or several people may be enabling the addict, which not only intensifies the problem, but also creates unnecessary chaos amongst other family members. While interventions may help push some addicts into drug rehab, there are no guarantees. It is recommended to hire a counselor to guide the meeting. Fortunately, there is little chance that a staged intervention will cause any further harm, and it can be cathartic for long-suffering family and friends. Ultimately, the intervention may at the very least help an enabler finally cut off the addict, so that they may live a peaceful and more productive life.

While drug rehab is a viable option for many addicts, each program differs greatly not only in length of time, but location, staff, types of therapy, and intensity. There are some outpatient programs that are government run at minimal costs. Patients may receive low dosages of drugs such as methadone in order to gradually wean them off of harder substances. Counseling sessions or group therapy may also be available, as are Narcotics Anonymous meetings, which are run across the country with costs funded by donations. Inpatient rehabilitation is much more costly and generally runs from one month to several. Some programs are designed specifically to be managed out of remote locations to discourage old habits and reduce triggers. These treatments are intense and thrive on strict rules and high expectations. These programs are often run by professional counselors and psychologists with several years experience in treating addictions.