Studies Show Long-Term Drug Rehab Reduces Relapse Rate
“At addiction centers, longer treatment programs are proving key to ending the relapse-rehab cycle” was the headline for a recent Los Angeles Times news article. Relapse is often the bane of rehabilitation. We often hear about celebrities or witness people in our own communities who are released from 30 day rehab programs only to return several months later. While it’s true that relapse is quite often part of the recovery process, studies are showing that the risk of relapsing occurs less often in people who have received long-term treatment.
The article cites two distinct studies conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and one UCLA study focusing on teens. In all of these studies, the research shows relapse rates are higher for people who received short-term treatment. It’s reported that people who received treatment for 90 days or longer were less likely to revert to their previous abusive habits. Some other interesting points:
- “Treatment programs of 28 or 30 days are still common. But this template was never based on medical evidence, says Dr. David Lewis”
- “Brain scans of recovering addicts support the idea that changes are still taking place three months or more after treatment. Chronic drug use damages the brain, such as reducing the number of dopamine receptors, chemical pathways that allow for normal brain functioning. Changes in the brain during recovery correlate to clearer thinking and more honesty on the part of the patient” – Dr. Harry Haroutunian.
The issue of jail was also brought up. After release from imprisonment many addicts return to drugs and/or alcohol. This supports the idea that it isn’t just abstinence that helps people recover. To successfully change a person’s lifestyle, they need time to “learn to handle stress, develop ways to cope with environmental cues that could trigger drug use and improve relationships that are needed to sustain recovery.”
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November 17th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Whether you are a teen or an adult, it is important to get help for drug addiction. Hopefully with this article it will prove that more people should be seeking long term drug rehab help.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
One of the most important recent developments in the management of depression is the recognition of the need for long-term treatment. Treatment of an episode of depression must continue after apparent response in order to consolidate response and prevent relapse. A continuation treatment period of at least four months after response of the acute episode is required in all patients with depression. Most depression is recurrent, and prophylactic treatment with antidepressants reduces the risk of new episodes. This treatment needs to be continued over very long periods, because the risk of new episodes does not appear to diminish with time.
In selecting an antidepressant for long-term treatment efficacy, safety and tolerability in the long term should be taken into account since not all antidepressants have been adequately tested, and some do not appear to be effective. The most thoroughly tested antidepressants are the tricyclic imipramine and the new selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
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jillcatrina
maine drug rehab
July 13th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Being a recovering addict, the only thing I can say is if you don’t want the help and you don’t want to stop, your relapse rate is well over 100%. You have to want it to stop it. I hope anyone who reads this article takes a little away from it as I did.