Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is a complex condition characterized by intense and, at times, uncontrollable drug craving, along with the desire to compulsively seek and use drugs that persists even in the face of devastating consequences. While the path to drug addiction begins with the voluntary act of taking drugs, over time, the ability of a person to choose not to do so becomes compromised and seeking and consuming the drug becomes compulsive. This behavior results largely from the effects of prolonged drug exposure on brain functioning. Addiction is a brain disease that affects multiple brain circuits, including those involved in reward and motivation, learning and memory and inhibitory control over behavior. Because drug abuse and addiction have so many dimensions and disrupt so many aspects of the life of an individual, treatment is not simple. Effective treatment programs typically incorporate many components, each directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences. Addiction treatment must help the individual stop using drugs, maintain a lifestyle free of drugs and achieve productive functioning in the family, at work and in society. Because addiction is typically a chronic disease, people cannot simply stop using drugs for a few days and halt addition. Most patients require long-term or repeated episodes of care to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained abstinence and recovery of quality of life.

Ativan Detox

When individuals use Ativan for an extended time, withdrawal symptoms often occur with cessation of use. Over time, Ativan users tend to increase the frequency and level of dosage of the drug, due to building tolerance. Eventually, chronic Ativan users begin to experience withdrawal symptoms and cravings for Ativan when trying to stop using. While some withdrawal symptoms may pass in the a week or two during detoxification, some Ativan cravings can continue for months or years if the root cause of addiction is not properly diagnosed and treated. Ativan withdrawal can include physical symptoms such as tremors, muscle cramps, profuse sweating, deep bone aches, headaches, diarrhea, chills and vomiting. Psychological and neurological symptoms of Ativan withdrawal can include insomnia, panic attacks, heightened anxiety, lowered appetite, fainting, depression, lethargy, delirium, hallucinations and even psychotic breaks. In serious cases of Ativan withdrawal, individuals ceasing use face heart problems such as palpitations and tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), seizures, convulsions or even death.

Legally Mandated Treatment

Often the criminal justice system can apply legal pressure to encourage offenders to participate in drug abuse treatment; or judges can mandate treatment through a drug court or as a condition of pretrial release, probation or parole. A large percentage of individuals admitted to drug abuse treatment cite legal pressure as an important reason for seeking treatment. Most studies suggest that outcomes for those who are legally pressured to enter treatment are as good as or better than outcomes for those who entered treatment without legal pressure. Those under legal pressure also tend to have higher attendance rates and to remain in treatment for longer periods, which can also have a positive impact on treatment outcomes.

Offender Risk Factors

Often, drug abusing offenders have problems in other areas. Examples include family difficulties, limited social skills, educational and employment problems, mental health disorders, infectious diseases and other medical problems. Treatment should take these problems into account, because they can increase the risk of drug relapse and criminal recidivism if left unaddressed.
Stress is often a contributing factor to relapse and offenders who enter society after incarceration face many challenges and stressors, including reuniting with family members, securing housing and complying with criminal justice supervision requirements. The daily decisions that most people face can be stressful for those recently released from a prison environment.
Other threats to recovery include a loss of support from family or friends. Drug abusers returning to the community may also encounter family, friends or associates still involved in drugs or crime. These people may entice the individual to resume a criminal and drug using lifestyle. Returning to environments or activities associated with prior drug use may trigger strong cravings and cause a relapse. A coordinated approach by treatment and criminal justice staff provides the best way to detect and intervene with these and other threats to recovery. In any case, treatment provides the skills necessary to avoid or cope with situations that could lead to relapse.
Treatment staff should identify the unique relapse risk factors of every offender and periodically re-assess and modify treatment plans as needed. Generally, continuing or recurring drug use during treatment requires a clinical response by either increasing the dosage or level of treatment or changing the treatment intervention.