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Drug abuse is one of the most vicious, life-threatening habits plaguing many communities. It has devastating effects on the drug user, his family, friends, and surrounding neighbors. People initially are hooked on drugs because it makes them feel a false sense of pleasure. Soon, drug use turns into drug abuse. After taking the drug several times, the pleasure wears away. Those people no longer take drugs to feel good. They take the drugs so that they will not feel incredibly sick. This turns into a never-ending cycle of drug intake. The only way to end this cycle is through drug abuse treatment.
There is a serious need for making drug abuse treatment a priority. Studies show that each untreated drug abuser costs taxpayers approximately $3600 per month. It costs about $3300 per month to incarcerate one drug abuser. However, it only costs $290 to fund behavioral therapy for each person on drugs. Clearly, drug abuse therapy benefits citizens on a monetary level. More importantly, therapy helps make families happier and communities healthier. Violence, crime, and sexually transmitted disease increase with drug abuse. Getting drug users the help they need, significantly reduces these factors. Domestic violence drops. Crimes like robbery and homicide fall to lower levels. Sexually transmitted diseases are less common, because people who do not take drugs are much more likely to use condoms.
There are several forms of drug abuse therapy. The type of therapy used depends on the specific drug taken and duration of use. There is short-term and long-term therapy to help all types of drug abusers. No matter which therapy applies, users who have attended therapy for at least three months are more likely to stay abstinent. Short-term therapy lasts up to six months. Patients may receive residential, medication, outpatient therapy, or any combination of the three. Those who receive medication therapy take a synthetic prescription drug that slightly mimics the effects of the addictive drug. This reduces the symptoms of withdrawal, which is enough to make any addict use drugs again. Long-term therapy lasts 6-12 months and occurs in a therapeutic community. This is the best type of treatment for those who have been addicts for a long time, those with criminal tendencies, and those who can no longer function well socially. These addicts live in a facility with other recovering drug addicts. They are secluded from outside influences until they are able to cope successfully in social situations. Addicts learn how to change their old behaviors. They learn how important it is to stay away from any place or person that can influence them to take drugs.
Drug abuse therapy is available in many hospitals and private institutions. To find out more about seeking help for drug abuse, visit www.drugabuse.gov. Also, take the quiz at http://alcoholism.about.com/od/tests/l/blquiz_drug.htm to see if you may potentially be a candidate for drug abuse therapy.
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