One of the greatest problems the world is facing today is the problem of addiction. It is “the” dilemma that seems to have no end. People use drugs, abuse it, then they become depended to it. They hurt their loved ones and they hurt their selves. Their lives crave for the drug and become tangled to looking for means of attaining the drugs. Later on, the person then realizes that life has become worthless and meaningless and that he wants to change. He wants to turn away from drugs but the problem is that he couldn’t easily turn away and say good bye to his long time influential friend- the drug.

Then, he seeks for help from hi loved ones. He looks for the aid of an expert to intoxicate him from the drug. Rehabilitation centers offer help to those who have substance use problems. They provide medical help as well as psychological and social aid. However, rehabilitation may not be enough for the full recovery of the person. The patient should be equipped with the right values and skills in facing the real world after rehabilitation.

Different groups that caters to different kinds of people that needs help offers spiritual enhancement and life skills program to people who wish to receive them. Anybody who is determined to modify and turn away from such addictions or someone who merely wants to help victims recover form the darkness they were in is very welcome to join the fellowship. Here, people help each other in recovering from their problems. The fellowship believes that the best people who could understand addicts are those who have been addicts themselves. Empathy is not enough. Someone who has experienced the dark side of drug would really understand the feeling of an addict and thus, would be able to give the right comfort and support.

Moreover, the fellowship uses the twelve-step program in helping the patients recover. This twelve-step program was first made by the alcoholics anonymous. It consists of twelve steps on how to deal with the addiction, emphasizing acceptance, surrender, and self-awareness. The twelve step program tries to impart that there is one very powerful being above us all, and that we should lay down all our weaknesses to Him and al will be well. Of course, man should do his best to become a better person and God will then do the rest.

Here is an example of the famous twelve-step program from Overeaters Anonymous:

1. We admitted we were powerless over our emotions — that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

With the twelve-step program, individuals who have become victims of addiction are given optimism that it is not too late – that life does not end in addiction. In fact, it even opens a new door, a new episode in our lives in which we should live meaningfully.

Addiction may seem simple and easy to treat as long as the right facilities and the right people are available. However, addiction did not develop overnight, in turn, it is also not a one-night process to treat, addiction treatment is something the addict and his loved ones had to live each day until hope comes to reality and the patient recovers.

It is a common knowledge that drug addiction begins with having tolerated the drug in the body until the body develops dependency and addiction symptoms such as, craving, anxious behavior if not having to obtain the drug is experienced. This will be the time to call the individual an addict. For the drug dependent, the drug is his or her only rescue to normally function- normal in the sense that he doesn’t experience any anxiety and he feels relaxed and euphoric once he or she takes in the drug. Unknowingly, the addict’s body sooner or later will be destroyed by the drug by too much dependency that the in the brain is disrupted and would then lead to psychological abnormalities. These psychological effects are manifested in the person’s behavior. Thus, affecting his everyday routine, interaction with other people, and his personal life.

Addiction, as a psychological illness, is treated not only through medication but also through modifying one’s behaviors and thinking process. Cognitive and behavioral therapies are used together with certain medications in order to cure addiction.

Drug rehabilitation centers are institutions that provide opportunities for drug addicts to face their problems and treat these problems. These institutions offer various programs that would fit different types of substance abuse problem. Different substance abuse problems require different treatment programs. In addition, finding drug rehab program is simple, but finding for a drug rehab program that is efficient and can meet your individual needs is not that easy. In a drug rehab program, there are many components.

Drug detoxification program is the very first step in treating drug addiction. It is the process of cleansing the body from the toxins accumulated during the time of addiction. In order to treat the addiction, one should be free from the drug. Thus, taking it out from the patient’s system is one vital stage of the rehab program. Unfortunately, at this stage, the patient goes through physical and psychological pain. Withdrawal symptoms may happen. Detox, on the other hand, recommend 24-hour nursing and medication to help alleviate painful withdrawal symptoms.

Drug rehabilitation programs has a lot to offer. Inpatient treatment is a step in the program after detox where the patient participates in group, individual, and family therapy. Outpatient addiction theraphy often follows inpatient addiction treatment once the patient is well enough to return home and keep his or her recovery. Substance dependency theraphy services are still available, but the patient is not required to stay at the drug rehab facility.

Family addiction treatment is vital to a patient’s success in drug rehab programs. This is to solve underlying issues causing the addiction. With this process, the patient is able to resolve any conflicts with family members which could have possibly triggered or caused the addiction. Also, the partaking of family members bring a comforting significance to the patient that no matter what happens, family will always be there to support whatever one is going through, in good times and in bad times. Also, during this period, the patient is no the only one who’s faults are discussed. Also, the probable mistakes and deficiencies of family members are also discussed and corrected.

More than a serious problem, drug addiction is also a complex disorder. To cure this problem, necessary and efficient rehabilitation program should be used.