Drug addiction is a very complicated physical and psychological disorder, that incorporates every form of a person’s functioning mechanism: well-being , career, family, friends and the social environment.

Due to an addictive nature of drug abuse and it’s critical consequences, the treatment for addiction has to include many integral elements. Several elements of treatment for addiction center on the individual’s drug abuse problem, involving medical treatment, others entail psychological evaluation and treatment  to focus on underlying reasons for addiction,  and teaching skills to cope with life’s stress by practicing abstinence. Oftentimes, the program may include work on reestablishing individual’s self productivity and self worth through a place of  employment , family and social surrounding.

Treatment for addiction and drug abuse is presented in many viable settings, applying several medical and behavioral methods.  There are  more than 13,000 specialized drug treatment facilities are available in the United States (as per NIDA) , that render medical treatment, mental health evaluation and treatment, behavioral therapy, case management and other services that are developed for specific individual substance abuse treatments.

For those drug users,  who do not have severe drug addiction problems,  the treatment for addiction may be performed by their health care provider, as well as mental health clinics, that offer variety of specialists: physicians, psychologists, counselors, and social workers. The treatment for addiction may be rendered in the in- patient, out -patient and residential sites.

Since drug abuse and addiction had become a national health risks, and a major problem that plagued our society, the local government, State and Federal administration, had allocated a large amount  of funds to sponsor drug treatment  for those in need, and those who cannot afford treatment for addiction.

In the private sector, the employees may be offered  an employer- sponsored health plans,  that may  cover substance abuse and mental health treatment and counseling.  In some states this coverage is enforced by the government regulations, demanding that employers provide and offer this coverage to their employees.

The best treatment for addiction programs are the type of programs that include  medical treatment in conjunction with behavioral cognitive therapies and counseling, followed by relapse prevention programs and support groups.  These programs are tailored to the drug addicts individual needs, and it may be based on a specific age group, sexual orientation,  and identifiable mental health problems.

Depending on the stage of addiction, treatment medication can be utilized to help the addict with his cravings and emotional problems.  Those medications may include, but not limited to methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone,  and they are available for individuals addicted to opiates. In many cases, the addicts are poly drug users, they combine two or more different drugs, using one as primary and the others to compensate for the side effects, and enhance the pleasurable experience. These  patients will require treatment for each individual substance abuse.

For those patients who have co-existing mental health problems and disorders,  administration of psychoactive medications, like antidepressants , anti anxiety and mood stabilizers,  may be necessary  in order to successfully  complete their treatment for addiction. The next step in treatment for addiction, may be followed by behavioral therapies to help addicts with managing cravings, embracing a new way of life and thinking, and obtaining skills for relapse prevention.