Substance abuse is perhaps one of the most severe threats the modern generation faces. Substance abuse can include alcohol abuse, illegal drugs, and even the excessive use of prescription medicines in the wrong manner. However, addiction and substance abuse are not the same things. To know about alcohol and substance abuse treatments, you must first understand the different kinds of substance abuse that persist in society.

• Legal and illegal recreational drugs (i.e., marijuana, cocaine, etc.) that will drastically change how your mind and body function. These can give you a high, relax your senses, and may be used to dull problems.
• Alcohol has different effects on different people, but when you consume too much of it, you can end up injuring yourself. Heavy drinking can trigger liver disorders and associated health problems.
• Prescription medicines and OTC ( over-the-counter) medications can be equally addictive as alcohol and illegal drugs. Addictions usually happen when you take medicines that have been prescribed for somebody else, or taking excessive doses of medicines prescribed for you. The most common types of prescription drugs involved in abuse are pain relievers, anxiety medicines, medication for treating deficit hyperactivity disorder, among others.

Substance abuse can damage every part of your life (i.e., metally, socially, interpersonally, financially, etc.), causing hurt to the abuser as well as their loved ones. Alcohol and substance abuse can also lead to a domino effect of health issues, which is why it’s imperative to get alcohol and substance abuse treatment before it’s too late. Treatments for alcohol and substance abuse may include:

1. Detox
Detoxification, or detox for short, is a process in which the body removes the drugs or alcohol from your system. Several painful and even dangerous withdrawal symptoms may occur when patients stop using drugs or alcohol, so medical supervision is important. Both inpatient and outpatient detox programs exist under the eye of medical professionals to prevent dangerous or life-threatening complications.

2. Drug and alcohol counselling
To stop the abuse of any kind, whether it is drugs or alcohol, counseling, in group and one-on-one settings is important to help patients understand what triggers their addiction, learn to recognize risk factors for relapse, and learn coping techniques to live a sober life. Counselling may take the form of cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, art therapy, equine or other animal therapy, support groups, etc.

3. Inpatient and outpatient rehab programs
Treatment techniques are customized to suit a patient’s individual abuse patterns. For instance, some treatment centers provide inpatient programs in which patients stay in a residential setting for in depth treatment that can last up to 3-months. Outpatient programs allow patients to attend counselling, therapy, and support groups while working or still attending to daily responsibilities.