Drug abuse doesn’t just affect the abuser; it affects the family of the addict and the whole community. The chance of violent crime is considerably higher to an addict than to the average person, thereby increasing the crime rate of the community. The expenses are felt in the communities of the addict in the form of police coverage and often capital lost by both the community and individual business owners in the area that drug use is more prevalent.
The time, money, and resources used by the family of the addict can destroy a home.
There has been a recent trend away from substituting a street drug for a hospital drug; the addiction is transferred and the behavior and other associated issues aren’t treated. It has been proven that for an addict to stay drug free, the must get free of ALL drugs. Letting one addiction replace another is not recovery, it is substitution without healing.
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Northern California
drug rehab program is using this approach with a 76% success rate. Once the body is physically free of the substance, the work of changing the behavior, beliefs, and habits of the recovering addict so they can remain clean and sober begins.
The addictive behavior was learned, so must self-control and a refocusing on positive, realistic goals also be learned, or relearned. The social structure of the recovering addict is often the most difficult hurdle to overcome. The inner strength of the recovering addict is tried, and they need the psychological tools to re-enter society successfully once the treatment phase of the repossession of their lives is over.
Support of the recovery by groups such as Narconon is imperative. The old social structure of “druggie friends” can be detrimental to rehab, but the rebuilding of a life can be a frightening and overwhelming task trying to go it alone.
Aftercare of treatment center is vital for self-preservation of the recovering addict. Follow up is bolstered by new support group. Common pasts can provide mutual support even in the new drug free environment.
