What Happens at a Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center?

If you have come to recognize that you need the assistance of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in order to free yourself from the hold an addiction has over your life, congratulations! This is the first step toward regaining control and getting yourself back on the right track. However, you may be wondering what to expect when you commit yourself to such a program.

Every individual has an individual addiction, so there is no “one size fits all” answer. Much depends on the substance you are addicted to, how dependent you are physically, how long you have been addicted, etc. Very often, however, the first step is to physically detox your body. Generally speaking, withdrawal from alcohol or marijuana can be managed without medical intervention. Street drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines, heroin and other opiates, however, often require medical treatment to help you through the process of ridding your body of the drug.

When the detox process is complete, you will be better able to concentrate on treatment to prevent recurrence of the addiction. There are many approaches, but almost all include counseling sessions, whether in a group, individually, or a combination of the two. Physical activity is often included, both to fight the psychological effects of withdrawal and to help return your body to health.

Find a 12-Step Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center

By far the most common approach is the 12-step program developed by Bill W., or some variation thereof. The 12-step program has been found effective in combating not just alcoholism, but drug addictions as well. This approach draws on strength from a Higher Power and on the benefits of being part of a group, getting and giving support for each other. Total abstinence is considered the only means of recovery.

If a 12-step program sounds right for you, you can use our listings to find a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center that focuses on your particular addiction. You can also filter by location, age, gender and other factors.