Why Professional Help is Needed with Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Are you looking for professional alcohol addiction treatment but don’t know where to begin? For starters, we’ve heard that addiction is a disease but what does that really mean? Well, from a biopsychological standpoint, people who struggle with substance abuse generally have a deficit in the function of their prefrontal cortex - the region of the brain responsible for reward, reasoning, and more. Someone with an addiction thus has a hard time properly responding to stress. Addiction could be classified as more of a learning disorder in which the individual learns to rely on substances rather than other natural coping mechanisms. Whether learning disorder or disease, it requires professional treatment to treat it properly.

What is Professional Drug and Alcohol Treatment?

What it means to receive “professional treatment for addiction” can differ from person to person but all things considered, it should include some type of clinical diagnosis and treatment. Effective treatment plans include a combination of psychiatric diagnosis with a treatment plan, detoxification, and counseling/therapy. Treatment plans should begin with a clinical diagnosis from a board-certified psychiatrist. The psychiatrist will diagnose the patient for their substance abuse disorder and any other co-occurring mental illnesses like anxiety, depression, trauma, etc. As some substances carry high-risk withdrawals, a clinical diagnosis may require inpatient detox. An important aspect of professional treatment is the type of therapy used in treatment. The primary therapies used in group therapies and individualized sessions should be considered evidence-based, meaning psychological therapies proven to be effective in treating substance use disorders. Evidence-based therapies include CBT, DBT, ART, EMDR, etc. Additional therapy philosophies like 12-step and holistic therapies are not destructive to treatment, but they have not proven to be as effective. Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and holistic therapies can make evidence therapy techniques more successful, but it should be noted that they need to be used in tandem with each other to be effective.

The Case for Professional Addiction Treatment Programs

There can be multiple ways to try to break free from addiction. Some may try to endure the process by themselves while others may try to receive help from others like family and friends. Maybe one of the most common approaches is attending group meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous. This can be a more effective approach than asking friends or family because those in AA meetings can give advice from their own personal experience. Though these solutions can be a good start, unfortunately, personal experience is not the same as professional knowledge. If you broke your arm you wouldn’t try to fix it yourself. You’d probably go to a doctor who has years of education and knowledge needed to treat your arm effectively; same goes for addiction. Asking your primary physician can be a great first step in assessing your disorder but addiction is a brain disease and to properly treat mental illnesses you should see a psychiatrist. The combination of a psychiatrist to diagnose and treat any mental illnesses; a psychologist to provide evidence-based talk therapies, and group therapy meetings like AA is the best combination to fight addiction. This is what drug and alcohol treatment centers provide all under one roof. Professional treatment means obtaining a diagnosis and care from psychiatrists, counselors, and psychologists trained and experienced in addiction medicine. They should also practice evidence-based therapies that have a proven track record of being effective in treating substance use disorders. By receiving professional care, you can rest assured you are receiving a sufficient means for lifelong recovery.

If you or a loved one needs help please reach out to one of our representatives. We will be happy to walk you through the process and answer any questions you might have about our professional alcohol treatment. Rest assured you will be receiving the best care available here – our psychiatrist is board-certified in Addiction, General, Forensic & Geriatric Psychiatry and our counselors/psychologists have years of experience in addiction medicine as well. If you want the best chance for success, find professional help.