Substance abuse is a trap. It starts with a little puff or a drink, but can easily end up in a painful cycle of dependence. While some might think you can just stop at any time, so things return to normal, it’s just not the case. Treatment and rehab is a process — potentially a long process — marked by different stages of recovery.

The good news is those stages are well-defined and tested by the evidence and have produced good outcomes for millions of people. Those people later become advocates in helping others. Recovery programs in GA focus on your individual needs and can help you break the cycle of substance abuse. Call Atlanta Detox Center to discuss the stages of recovery at a residential addiction treatment program.

What is Recovery?

While use disorders, also known as addictions, are incurable, the good news is they are treatable. For most people, it requires enrolling in a treatment or rehab facility where you go through the stages of recovery under the supervision of doctors and/or counselors.

Those stages of recovery may look and feel differently depending on the type of substance being abused and an individual’s characteristics. For instance, the National Institute on Drug Abuse says that the typical initial stage of opioid addiction treatment may involve other medications to reduce the urge to use. That may not be the same case with other drugs.

The goal for recovery is the same for all: To help you stop abusing drugs or alcohol and find your way back to a life of health and promise. Our drug detox center programs in GA and elsewhere help you do just that.

Different Stages of Recovery

The evolution of addiction medicine has resulted in a defined set of stages of recovery. But that’s not to say that treatment is rigid. Recovery programs are built to support individual needs. Here are the stages of recovery you can expect:

  • Assessment: Doctors and counselors will take a comprehensive medical and psychological history to use as a starting point.
  • Planning: Information from that assessment is used to develop a treatment roadmap to guide you through the process.
  • Detox: You must stop using drugs or alcohol before anything else can happen. In detox, doctors help you manage any withdrawal symptoms that may result during the drug detox timeline.
  • Counseling: An individual therapy program and group therapy program will help you understand your motivations and help you build better coping-skills.
  • Aftercare: Resources that aim to reduce the potential for relapse.

What Happens Afterwards?

Aftercare may be the most critical of the stages of recovery. Data suggest that treatment has a high relapse rate in the first year. This is, unfortunately, a measurement of the ferocity of substance abuse. Like the previous stages, aftercare is built around the individual, so it may take on different forms for different people. Generally speaking, though, in aftercare you will attend follow-up counseling sessions.

You will also be able to attend 12-step programs to build relationships with peers who have been down the same road. The idea in 12-step programs is that peer support is a powerful motivation to avoid the temptations of addiction.

Stages of Recovery at Atlanta Detox Center

Going through rehab to address a substance abuse problem is not easy. It requires patience and strength and support from friends and family. It helps if you think about the process in terms of stages of recovery. At Atlanta Detox Center, we understand the challenges and have built protocols to help you get from one stage to the next, safely, within a confidential environment.

Our experienced team has one goal – to help you heal, find strength and stability, and to move forward with life. Let us help you clear the obstacles and isolate the pressures so you can concentrate on the job at hand. Learn more about the stages of recovery by calling Atlanta Detox Center at 470-450-2355 today for an initial appointment.

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