Addiction is a complex disorder which begs understanding in order to properly be assessed and treated. If you approach a loved one struggling with addiction the wrong way, you risk pushing them deeper into their addiction and compromising your efforts to help.
There Is No One Way (Or Cure!) to Treat Addiction
Currently, there is no distinct standard for care in addiction treatment because there is no cure. Evidence based treatment is the term given to clinical, therapeutic, and integrative treatment methods which have consistently helped people in treatment for addiction recovery. Though these aren’t laws of treatment, meaning they aren’t indisputable, they are reputable enough to be tried, tested, and found to be true for most people. Treatment centers like ours at Lakehouse Recovery Center, are open to creating a unique program for each client which pulls together individual treatment components and styles to best fit their needs. Often, addiction is a co-occurring disorder with other disorders like depression, trauma, or anxiety. Each person’s specific diagnosis requires a specific plan for treatment.
There Are Medical Treatments for Addiction
Medication assisted treatment is controversial in the recovery space. Many of the substitute medications used in medication assisted treatment contain a small amount of morphine in the medications. The trace of morphine helps stave off symptoms of withdrawal, which in turn helps to curb cravings which can often lead people to relapse. Since there are no clearly defined standards in recovery, there are varying opinions on what constitutes “sobriety”. Abstinence is the most popular position. However, considering the magnitude and travesty of the current opioid epidemic, many feel that a small amount of morphine which continues to prevent overdose or abuse of other opioids, is harmless in comparison. Addiction and chemical dependency with these drugs is possible but is not always the case.
Supportive, Well-Informed, and Caring Family Is Critical for Recovery
The revolving door of recovery can be compared to the revolving door of the prison system. Unfortunately, traditional treatment methods are not always effective after a series of chronic relapses. Commonly, such individuals do not have the love and support of a well-informed and healthy family. Whether it’s a family of origin or a chosen family, a recovering addict or alcoholic needs to be supported through healthy boundaries and information.
Addiction Needs to Be Understood, Not Persecuted
Sadly, addiction is characterized as a “moral failing” as if an addict is consistently choosing to do something “wrong”. Addicts and alcoholics seeking recovery are not “bad” people in need of getting “good” again. Instead, they are sick people in need of getting well again.