Day-to-Day: What Happens in Rehab?
In order to provide the most appropriate treatment for patients, drug rehab facilities need to gather as much information about them as possible, which is done through comprehensive medical assessments. During this process, patients undergo an examination that includes checking vital signs, conducting urine and blood tests, and completing a nutritional screening. Through this process, doctors determine each patient’s state of health and make decisions about the best choices for their treatment.
In addition, psychiatric evaluations are conducted on patients as they enter rehab in order to gather information on their mental state. These evaluations can be done by giving patients psychological tests like the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Personality Inventory, Mini-Mental State Examination, or Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. The results of these assessments determine the strategies that will be used during therapy.
Also, rehab workers must find out if patients have co-existing conditions or trauma that should be addressed in treatment. For example, patients who are suffering from PTSD and depression must get rehab for drugs that focuses on their mental health problems. Similarly, patients who have been through traumatic experiences, like physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, need a treatment plan that helps them overcome the feelings associated with these problems.
Drug Detox and Withdrawal
After a drug rehabilitation center facility has assessed patients’ physical and mental condition, and made decisions about the kind of treatment they need, the next step in the process is generally detoxification. This is designed to cleanse the body of all traces of a drug, while helping patients deal with the physical and emotional effects of withdrawal. The method of detoxification and the medications doctors choose depend on several factors, including the type of drugs the patients abused, how long the drugs were used, how severe withdrawal symptoms are, and the co-occurring conditions patients are suffering from. The following table illustrates withdrawal and treatment timelines for different types of drugs.
Benzodiazepine
Withdrawal Symptoms
irritability, panic, insomnia,
heart palpitations, weight loss, muscle pain and stiffness, seizures, blurred vision, mood swings, hallucinations
Detox Length
7 to 14 days
Treatment Recommendation
28 to 90 days
Cocaine
Withdrawal Symptoms
hallucinations, anxiety, restlessness, muscle spasms and aches, nausea, vomiting, aggression, insomnia, nightmares
Detox Length
7 to 10 days
Treatment Recommendation
90 days to 12 months
Heroin
Withdrawal Symptoms
nausea, insomnia, nervousness, vomiting, muscle aches, dilated pupils, abdominal cramping, depression, sweating, agitation
Detox Length
5 to 10 days
Treatment Recommendation
90 days to 12 months
Methamphetamine
Withdrawal Symptoms
anxiety, depression, sleep problems, heart palpitations, seizures, chills, fever, paranoia, increased appetite, dry mouth, itchiness
Detox Length
14 to 20 days
Treatment Recommendation
16 weeks
Opiate
Withdrawal Symptoms
fever, vomiting, runny nose, goosebumps, sweats, agitation, restlessness, eyes tearing up, diarrhea, muscle aches, anxiety
Treatment Recommendation
90 days to 12 months
Drug Treatment
There are several types of treatment methods that may be used when patients enter drug rehabilitation. The following are some examples of common treatment types.
Medication-assisted treatment
Medication-assisted therapy helps patients’ bodily functions and brain chemistry normalize after abusing drugs. Through this treatment, patients no longer feel the euphoria and physical cravings associated with a drug. The types of medication used depend on the drugs that patients are addicted to—some of which are illustrated in the table below.
| Type of Drug |
Treatment Medications |
| Cocaine |
modafinil, propranolol, gamma-vinyl GABA, topiramate, tiagabine, disulfiram |
| Marijuana |
transdermal tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) patch |
| Opioid |
buprenorphine, naltrexone, methadone |
Personal, group, and family counseling
Counseling gives patients the opportunity to work on the issues that may have contributed to their addiction problems, as well as gain skills to handle future life stressors in a way that will to prevent a relapse. Depending on the program, counseling may take place in an individual or group setting. In addition, some counseling may incorporate a patient’s family in order to deal with how addiction has impacted the family unit as a whole. Also, some drug rehabilitation centers offer faith-based counseling for those who want to incorporate their religious practice into their treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Negative thoughts and beliefs are often a big part of why some people turn to drugs. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on these destructive beliefs and thoughts, and replaces them with ones that will help patients increase their self-esteem and cope with life’s problems in a productive way.
Holistic care
Sometime a drug rehab center will combine medication-assisted therapy and counseling with other methods that help patients handle living a productive, sober lifestyle. This may include classes on life skills, nutrition, finances, and employment skills.
