Why Is Long-Term Addiction Care More Successful?

Mark Twain once said, "quitting smoking is easy. I’ve done it a hundred times.”

Although many people view this quote as a wiseacre remark, there is a lot of truth in the late writer's words. When someone becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol, it rewires the brain and body to become physically dependent on the substance. A person may choose to get sober hundreds of times before they get clean because drug and alcohol treatment can be challenging.

Why Recovery Can Be Hard

People suffering from substance abuse disorders will face adversity on their road to recovery. This starts with detox. People with severe substance abuse disorders will experience debilitating withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the drug they are addicted to, these symptoms can range from: 

• Nausea 

• Vomiting 

• Pain 

• Seizures

• Hallucinations

• Death 

This is why detox should always be done under the care of a medical professional to ensure symptoms do not become unbearable or life-threatening. 

Detox Is Only the Beginning 

Facing the pain of withdrawal is a courageous act that takes support and patience. The road to recovery will not end there. When someone has gone through an addiction, they have likely made decisions that have negatively impacted their lives. 

These decisions impacted their relationships with friends and family, job, schooling, and overall health. Once someone leaves detox, it is time for them to start rebuilding a new life for themselves, which is not as straightforward as it sounds. 

Why Long-Term Care Is Crucial for Recovery

Due to the struggles someone recovering from drug addiction will face, they will need the support of friends and family when they are facing burnout. They will also need to develop the tools and resources to keep their cravings at bay and rebuild their lives.

Long-term care will ensure that while someone is on their journey to recovery, they will have access to the help they need. 

Long-term treatment facilities can include long-term rehab programs, sober living homes, and other assisted living programs. These programs have some variances in support and treatment, but they all have these five things in common:

#1. Removing Drugs From the Equation

Long-term care facilities will remove drugs and alcohol from a recovering addict's environment. Removing drugs and alcohol will eliminate the temptation to use again. It can help the person on their journey to recovery become used to living a life where they do not have access to these substances. 

More importantly, their substance of choice will be replaced with engaging activities to help the person struggling with addiction rediscover themselves. By doing this, the person in long-term care will be able to start developing a vision of who they want to be when they leave care. 

#2. Rebuilding Relationships

Having a positive and compassionate support system is crucial to the long-term success of an individual in recovery. Friends and family members are an essential source of comfort and encouragement for someone facing the challenges of recovery. 

Unfortunately, many people who have faced addiction have made decisions that have damaged relationships with people who were once a part of a supportive system. Long-term care options will often provide family and group therapy opportunities to allow the individual in recovery to rebuild these damaged relationships.

They can teach all involved parties how to communicate better and support each other. 

#3. Monitoring Cravings

Many long-term care facilities will also provide people on their journey to recovery with medications and therapies to help them deal with their cravings. 

#4. Learning Better Coping Mechanisms

People often develop addictions because they are trying to cope with the negative feelings and aspects of their lives that they are not happy with. Choosing recovery means losing a destructive coping mechanism. Yet, if the addiction is not replaced with positive coping mechanisms, it increases the chances of someone relapsing. 

Long-term care will provide the therapies necessary to help someone recovering from addiction develop positive coping mechanisms that can help them deal with negative feelings and promote self-care and self-love.

#5. Teaching Self-Care 

Addictions usually strip someone of the ability to care for themselves. Long-term treatment facilities help individuals in recovery develop routines based on self-care, so they have the energy and confidence to rebuild their lives. Self-care is crucial when rebuilding finances, going back to work or school and taking on the challenges that come with day-to-day life. 

More importantly, self-care is critical to feeling better about oneself. This will help someone in recovery learn to be themselves again. Practicing self-love is a vital tool for setting boundaries, knowing one's worth, and not needing drugs or alcohol. 

The Forge Recovery Center Can Help You Face Recovery’s Challenges

Here at The Forge Recovery Center, we understand that recovery is not easy. During and after detox, you will face adversity. We have helped hundreds of people through to the other side on their journey to recovery, regardless of how severe their addiction was. People who were once chained down by addiction now live their dreams and are blessed with a life filled with happiness, health, and peace.

If you are unsure what treatment options are available to you and considering long-term care, we can help you understand the best treatments for you. We have held the hands of many that have been in your position.

If you have questions, contact The Forge Recovery Center today.

Written by

Brian Moore

Content Writer

Reviewed by

Jeremy Arzt

Chief Clinical Officer

June 1, 2022