Confrontational treatment approaches have been used for addiction treatment for decades, despite the fact there is no evidence to show it is effective. Studies show that confrontational treatment actually does more harm than good. This is blog number 13 in the series 20 things you should know about rehabilitative treatment: What works. This list was […]
Dealing with addiction is hard enough on its own, but it is even more difficult when you’re dealing with a co-occurring mental illness such as depression or bipolar disorder. The link between mental illness and addiction goes both ways. About 50% of people with a severe mental illness are also affected by a substance problem. […]
An addict or alcoholic going to treatment is likely to be facing myriad issues, and many of these are issues other than addiction. These issues include medical, social, vocational and legal problems that are associated and contributory factors to their addiction or alcoholism. In order for treatment to be successful, these other issues need to […]
Sobriety is the state of living free from alcohol and drugs. But deciding to get sober is harder than it sounds, and it is not because the path is unclear. It is because myths about sobriety make people second-guess whether recovery is even for them. Could one of these myths be keeping you or someone […]
Although levels of motivation at the start of therapy have no effect on treatment outcomes, improving a person’s motivation to change during treatment improves the likelihood of treatment success, the key lies in them believing change is possible. Improving an individual’s self-efficacy, in other words, a person’s belief in their capacity to succeed in specific […]
Rehab succeeds when treatment fits the human being sitting in front of us. That statement sounds obvious, yet it cuts directly against how addiction treatment has often been delivered in South Africa and across the world. For decades, rehabs have leaned on fixed curriculums, pre-set schedules, identical groups, standardised worksheets, and step-based templates that assume […]
Addicts and alcoholics who come into treatment are often scared about getting clean and sober, they bring with them beliefs and expectations that need to be comprehensively considered and addressed by the therapist. If they are not addressed the entire therapeutic process is at risk of being derailed. In the series 20 things you should […]
A relapse after treatment can feel like the end of the world or a hopeless situation. But it is not. The reality is that many people require multiple treatment attempts before they find long-term recovery. Relapse is often part of the learning process. It is your choice whether to learn and grow after a relapse […]
Many people think that drug and alcohol rehabilitative treatment will only work if a client is willing and enthusiastic about going to rehab and getting sober and this begs the question, does involuntary rehab work? But evidence shows that low motivation, or just not being willing to go to rehab doesn’t determine whether treatment will […]
When it comes to bringing your loved one to treatment, time is of the essence. To save a life, rehab should be easy to access with as few obstacles as possible. You should know about rehabilitative treatment: What works. This list was compiled by the European Association for the Treatment of Addiction, according to the […]