Treatment
Family Intervention results in a 95% chance in successful acceptance of a treatment for the condition. You have prepared, worried, worked together, followed the advice and guidance of your Family ACT Intervention program. You have stood together and with love, dignity, purpose and method you have succeeded.
The question was asked. “will you accept help?”. The “YES” is said. The bag is packed. The travel arrangements are made. The treatment awaits.
ACTIVE ADDICTION + INTERVENTION + TREATMENT = ACTIVE RECOVERY
What is the treatment?
Treatment. What does that comprise off?
One word that in the context of untreated addiction issues is a doorway to a very professional and varied combination of factors. I guess you could liken it to a question, “what does a hospital comprise of”? A hospital is a collection of very specific interactive skills and departments that specialize in each part of the total healthcare. The hospital is the environment whereby a care plan is in place for a poorly person, such that they progress to wellness. The care plan is multi-disciplinary in nature, flexible and yet has a clear target. Treatment is much the same. Below are listed some of the stages and components of a treatment service used in most care plans.
Detox
Primary Treatment
Secondary Treatment
Sober Home
Recovery Coach
Sober Companion
After Care
12 Step
ACT
SMART
Harm Reduction
Counselling
Who Provides Treatment
Treatment providers provide treatment. We are blessed with a wide range of high quality competing services in the UK and internationally.
A simple care pathyway would be:
Detox moving into Primary Care, moving into Secondary Care moving into Sober living moving into Recovery Coaching support with full aftercare support.
A client can join recovery and move through some or all of these areas. Two ares are difficult to avoid. A very poorly person can not avoid Detox. Very few people can stay stopped with out a meaningful after care program.
Treatment for addiction is considerably more than just a detox. Do not be confused about detox. It stabilises the physical symptoms, but provides no support for preventing rapid and catastrophic relapse.
The criteria for level of in house service, thus also the criteria for cost is what defines and separates the good from the bad as well as the different levels.
In extremis, Accident and Emergency is always the first level of treatment.
Residential detox and primary with hospital services
2 – 6 weeks
This will have a team comprising a psychiatrist, doctor, nurses and all the infrastructure to support a person who is very poorly. Mobility, mental health and of course the availability for full medicated detoxification support pertinent to the drug or alcohol problem. A full medical assessment in ongoing. The detox element is dovetailed to the Primary Addiction Treatment Service, all of which is inhouse. Primary treatment comprises of a comprehensive and intensive program of therapy, education, workshops, holistic therapies, group work and 1:1 work with a key therapist. Primary also looks for planning future on going and aftercare plans.
Residential detox and primary
2 – 6 weeks
The residential programs will all offer detox and primary treatment. The prescribing doctor or nurse will be called in as required. Initial assessment and medical decision are made upon admission, and then the regular staff maintain observations and distribution of medication. These keeps the staffing costs down, and therefore cost of treatment. Most addiction issues for alcohol and drugs are catered for here to good effect. Full primary therapy services are as above. Some residential programs at this level are all on one site. Private or shared rooms. Chef and housekeeping. Others work on a model of shared housing. A mix of self reliance, therapeutic community where all clients share duties in the home. Cooking, shopping etc. However, detox is still part of this program, and full therapy services are located in a central building within walking distance.
Secondary Care
Following on from Detox and Primary care treatment many will leave treatment. However, we know that some lifestyles, drugs and consequences mean that a person leaving to all of full life pressures is likely to relapse. Secondary care is still full treatment supported with group work, therapy, education. Secondary care brings more of the exposure to normal life and is clearly aimed at building resilience, exposure to normal life pressures, whilst maintaining a supportive environment for safe processing. Relapse preventions, fitness, diet, group outings, home visits, legal and financial issues are all directly addressed in secondary care. The process of learning Responsibility in terms of developing Response – Ability is at the heart of this process. Secondary Care always uses a therapeutic environment. Therefore cooking, cleaning, shopping, home management, time keeping, active recovery etc are much more under the house rules and principles. The residents are required to support and challenge each other such that behaviours, values and experiences move and maintain active recovery.
Sober Home
There are many versions of a Sober Home. Some are a home of common interest. Everyone is in active recovery. Agrees attendance at aftercare meetings, therapy etc. The home is self regulating with a clear set of home rules, principles, duties etc. Everyone will be wither working, looking for work, engaged in education, in voluntary work. Everyone will be financially manageable. Sober Homes do not accommodate relapse in any form, always requiring instant discharge to a primary treatment facility. Sober Homes, Sober Living is a purposeful active recovery environment lasting anywhere from a few weeks to months. There is no end point other than an ability to move on safely to a rich and meaningful life when ready.