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Addiction Treatment

Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment in South Delhi

Medically reviewed by Dr. Manish Sarkar Updated

Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive, or uncontrollable, drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences and changes in the brain, which can be long lasting. These changes in the brain can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who use drugs. Drug addiction is also a relapsing disease. Relapse is the return to drug use after an attempt to stop.

The path to drug addiction begins with the voluntary act of taking drugs. But over time, a person’s ability to choose not to do so becomes compromised. Seeking and taking the drug becomes compulsive. This is mostly due to the effects of long-term drug exposure on brain function. Addiction affects parts of the brain involved in reward and motivation, learning and memory and control over behavior.

Treatments for prescription drug abuse tend to be similar to those for illicit drugs that affect the same brain systems. For example, buprenorphine, used to treat heroin addiction, can also be used to treat addiction to opioid pain medications. Addiction to prescription stimulants, which affect the same brain systems as illicit stimulants like cocaine, can be treated with behavioral therapies, as there are not yet medications for treating addiction to these types of drugs.Addiction is a disease that affects both the brain and behavior.

Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment in South Delhi

Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Delhi

Drug treatment is intended to help addicted individuals stop compulsive drug seeking and use. Treatment can occur in a variety of settings, take many different forms, and last for different lengths of time. Because drug addiction is typically a chronic disorder characterized by occasional relapses, a short-term, one-time treatment is usually not sufficient. For many, treatment is a long-term process that involves multiple interventions and regular monitoring. Drug Addiction Treatment Most patients need long-term or repeated care to stop using completely and recover their lives.

There are a variety of evidence-based approaches to treating addiction. Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment in South Delhi can include behavioral therapy (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or contingency management), medications, or their combination. The specific type of treatment or combination of treatments will vary depending on the patient’s individual needs and, often, on the types of drugs they use.

Addiction treatment must help the person do the following:

stop using drugsstay
drug-free
be productive in the family, at work, and in society

Frequently Asked Questions

Is addiction a disease or a lack of willpower?

Addiction is a chronic medical condition. Repeated drug use changes the brain circuits involved in reward, judgement and self-control, and those changes can persist well after use stops. That is why treatment addresses the biology as well as the behaviour.

What does treatment involve?

An assessment comes first. The plan that follows may include medically supervised withdrawal, medication to manage cravings, counselling and relapse-prevention work, and support for the family.

Does treatment always mean being admitted?

Often not. Many people are treated as outpatients with regular review. Admission is considered when withdrawal is likely to be medically risky, or when home is not a safe place to stop.

What if the person does not want help?

Families can come in on their own first. A consultation can set out what the treatment options are, how to raise the subject, and what to do if the situation becomes unsafe.

Is a relapse a failure?

No. Relapse is common in chronic conditions, and it is treated as a sign that the plan needs adjusting rather than as treatment having failed.

What should we do in an emergency?

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, has a seizure, or has talked about ending their life, call 112. Tele-MANAS on 14416 is free, runs 24x7 and is available in several Indian languages.

Dr. Manish Sarkar

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Manish Sarkar , MBBS, DPM (NIMHANS), FIPS, FADP

Consultant Psychiatrist · Last updated

This page is for general information and is not a substitute for a consultation. Treatment is decided individually after assessment.

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