Addiction and Self-Control - Essay Example

Addiction and Self-Control

Introduction

Drug treatment is intended to help addicted patients prevent the development and use of compulsive substances. Treatment can occur under various circumstances, take several different types, and last for different periods. Since drug addiction is usually a chronic disorder characterized by frequent relapses, short-term, one-time treatment is not typically sufficient. Therapy is a long-term process for many, requiring several procedures and regular monitoring. There are a variety of approaches to treat addiction based on facts. Drug treatment can involve behavioral treatments (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or contingency management), medications, or combinations. The basic form of therapy or combination of therapies that vary depending on the patient's circumstances and the type of medicine they use.

Drug use disorder is a psychiatric illness that affects millions of individuals. While drug abuse is weakening, with adequate help, recovery is both feasible and permanent. Half or more people with substance use disorder recover over time. Residential drug use disorder therapy offers a supportive and therapeutic environment for those in need of better level medical treatment than can be delivered by outpatient rehabilitation programs. Although there are benefits to sustained recovery, little is known about the various factors related to or expected to, long-term recovery. Therefore, this research investigates how the duration of stay is correlated to findings after discharge from a care facility for residential drug use disorder.

Length of Stay

The length of time a person spends in residential care is a frequently debated subject for health care providers. The majority of studies assessing the duration of stay at post-residential care abstinence rates showed a strong association between longer stay duration and higher abstinence rates. In a report that only examined women in residential care, abstinence rates were lower for women who had short stays (1-30 days) than women who had longer stays. Similarly, people who have entered into a dual diagnosis long-term residential treatment program, (unlimited length of stay to be released within two years) were found to be more likely to be abstinent at six months post-treatment compared to the dual diagnosis short-term residential treatment program (three to six months). However, other findings have demonstrated that the length of stay in residential care does not impact abstinence following medication. It may be challenging to understand the effect of the length of stay on abstinence since most studies that assess relapse rates after therapy is in outpatient settings.

These trials' treatment goals are also vague, making it difficult to compare outcomes between outpatient and inpatient services. At an outpatient counseling facility, a report measuring the extent of drug use disorder for individuals found that patients with 1-14 days of treatment reported reduced withdrawal rates compared to those who had been in medication for longer than 14 days. Similarly, participants with extended retention in an outpatient program have generally been found to have higher abstinence rates five years after completion of therapy compared to those with shortened duration of care. Considering the inability to incorporate these results in a clinical setting, residential care reduced the risk of relapse compared to outpatient daycare at six months post-treatment. However, the residential treatment affects short-term after-medication abstinence outcomes compared to outpatient therapy when the therapeutic purpose and structure of treatment are the same.

Sample Data

A study was done with 206 respondents from Cedars at Cobble Hill (Cedars) at a group opioid use disorder center located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. With abstinence-based inpatient treatment, Cedars treats both male and female patients with substance use problems and process addictions (such as gambling disease, eating disorders, and sex addiction). Throughout their individualized regimen, patients receive various biopsychosocial interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, multidimensional family therapy, group therapy, and individual therapy, among other therapeutic options. There is no predefined length of stay for enrolled patients since Cedar's treatment is individualized. The completion of the treatment is then defined as the cessation of the patient's residential section based on an agreement between the patient and his / her assigned case management.

Participation in the study was voluntary if patients did not choose to participate without adverse effects or clinical care changes. Six-month follow-up covered only people that could be contacted at intervals. Patients at Cedars also undergo an admission procedure that takes 2 to 3 hours, with each patient undergoing a full medical review from a registered nurse and a physician. Patients undergo a detailed examination of their medical histories with the surgeon. Participants are interviewed for admissions using various assessment methods to assess the extent and magnitude of substance use disorders, such as the World Health Organization's Tobacco, Nicotine and Liquor Involvement Screening Test and Drug Addiction Screening Test (DAST).

The average length of stay of the participants in this study was 47.6 days. Seven participants spent 1-20 days in Cedars, 13 spent 21-30 days, 47 spent 31-45 days, 123 spent 46-60 days, and 16 spent more than 61 days. Participants in the 'more than 61 days' category reported the highest abstinence rate of 81.3 percent. The second highest abstinence rate among patients in the "31-45 days" treatment category was 80.9%, followed by "46-60 days" with an abstinence rate of 72.4%, "21-30 days" with 61.5%, and eventually "1-20 days" with 42.9%. The chi-square fit quality test concluded that there was no substantial impact between duration of stay and abstinence. However, variations in the ratios suggest a curious relationship, with a slightly shorter time of stay (31-45 days), providing a higher abstinence rate than a marginally more extended period of stay (40-60 days).

In the present analysis, the effect between the length of stay and abstinence over six months over post-residential treatment was not significant, consistent with the previous study's findings. However, patients that stayed in therapy for more than 61 days had the highest abstinence rate (81.3 percent), and those who stayed in treatment for 1-20 days had the lowest abstinence rate (73.3 percent) in the sample. This phenomenon, while not crucial in current research, has been found in past studies. Besides, it is essential to remember that, in terms of abstinence, the hospital stay category's second-highest duration was 31-45 days, provided that the length of stay of 46-60 days was the most frequent among patients in the sample. Further study is expected to discover the factors and working points that influence a treatment period's shared outcome since Cedars has no predefined duration of period criteria for its services.

Reasons for a Longer Stay

Inherent cravings for narcotics and alcohol are not taken away by detox clinics. They can also not erase factors from the environment that make it difficult to tempt. In 40-60 percent of overdose events, opioid relapses are included. Addiction is a lifelong, persistent condition. The longer the time of recovery from regression, the better you're going to be able to fight relapse for good. Aftercare seeks to ensure that abusers are in a community of medical and psychological support that reminds them of the methods they have developed to resist their intense appetite for dangerous drugs. The scope of aftercare depends on the individual and the extent of their addiction. Any citizens will only use it for a year. Others will have it for a lifetime. It may take form in peer support services such as Alcoholics Anonymous or apartment buildings where members pay rent and contribute to society. Remote-based support can also be offered, such as via the Internet and mobile networks. While the type and duration of treatment differ, the course of therapy is one of the leading success indicators.

One of the most critical factors regarding success is the amount of time spent on addiction treatment. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to determine how much time one needs. Despite this, longer stay times mean less recurrence and more achievement in re-living a free life. When it comes to resolving this crippling condition, depression is long-lasting and most recovers. As a result, short-term recovery attempts have not been successful. More beneficial outcomes are created by more extended times of stay and involvement in therapy.

Conclusion

Many people combating addiction often go through therapy several times. Relapse should never be seen as a lack of personal or moral integrity. It's a common part of the healing process. Addiction is also a mental condition that lasts a lifetime. This means that the post-abuse war will still last a lifetime, too. More prolonged rehabilitative therapy is widely recommended to have positive outcomes for the addiction. Beating addiction is highly tricky and cannot be accomplished alone. A team of experts and a social support network are required to struggle together for liberation.