Should Moderation Be a Healthy Part of Discussion in Drug Treatment

People who are in drug addiction recovery as well as those in an alcohol rehab program should not take lightly what they are dealing with.  Drug and alcohol addiction is a disease that is very serious and is a lifelong process even if you are in drug addiction recovery. 

There are 2 dependencies that are associated with drug addiction and drug addiction recovery: physical and psychological dependency.  When a person is in drug treatment, even if they’ve been through an alcohol rehab program, both of these dependencies are addressed.  Physical dependency is just what it says: going through a detoxification process which causes withdrawal symptoms because of regular drug use.  Psychological dependency is also part of drug addiction recovery.  This involves helping the person to understand that they have to learn how to operate in a drug-free environment.  There is a great deal of encouragement to cut any ties with those that are still users in hopes that the new peers will be a support and encouragement to the former addict.

Unfortunately, many people believe that both physical and psychological dependencies can be cured through a program of moderation.  Many believe that this type of thinking creates the perfect climate for a relapse during drug addiction recovery.  If family and friends would realize that addiction is a disease that has to be constantly controlled or a relapse will result, then perhaps there wouldn’t be as many reoccurrences with those that have been through extensive drug treatment. 

Even with alcohol addiction; participating in an alcohol rehab program does not guarantee that there will not be a future relapse.  Moderation with alcohol is just as tempting as with drugs.  Regrettably, alcohol is part of being social whether it’s at a party a wedding or a family gathering.  Because of that fact, it tends to be even more difficult to abstain completely from drinking liquor even for those that have gone through an alcohol rehab program.   Moderation, generally speaking, is the way back to a former addiction and probably should never be considered an option for treatment.  This disease is very serious and needs to be treated exactly for what it is.