Given the extreme social dangers and physical circumstances of drug addiction, it seems reasonable to think that any drug addiction treatments or drug rehabilitation methods would be acceptable. But many sources are now saying that partly because of the attitude that “anything is better than chemical dependency,” certain drug treatment procedures are being rushed into use without proper testing and without proper assessment of the individual’s medical condition.
Among the most controversial drug addiction treatments is rapid heroin detox. This method works by forcing the addicted individual to undergo “cold turkey” in a monitored environment while they are given intravenous support. This procedure is most commonly performed while the patient is under the effect of sleep-inducing medication, so that the extremely painful and psychologically anguishing aspects of withdrawal are lessened. This procedure of “cleansing” the body can be done as quickly as in six hours, which is why this drug rehabilitation procedure is often referred to as “ultra rapid detox.”
Detox treatment is generally followed by administration of a drug maintenance program. While traditional drug rehabilitation for heroin addiction relied on use of methadone, which is an orally-taken liquid medication that helps reduce craving, new detox procedures are relying on a drug known as naltrexone, which blocks the actual effect of heroin and other drugs. One of the traditional difficulties in drug rehab therapy is continuity and willpower of the patient to remain drug-free. Even after detoxification the body retains trace elements of drugs, and during the time in which these remain the patient will experience the most difficulty in controlling his or her urge to return to drug use. In certain cases where the individual is considered unlikely to stick to the proposed course of treatment, pellets of naltrexone have actually been injected under the skin to induce a timed release of the medication into the bloodstream.
Many critics are now pointing out that these drug addiction treatments are being administered with far less reservation and preparation than would be exercised in the case of most other medical routines. Not only has there been proven to be a far less-than-miraculous success rate of rapid heroin detox (some reports mention a relapse rate of over 40%), but there have even been deaths associated with the treatment. Some of these deaths have been directly linked to naltrexone, and others have been due to overdose during heroin relapse.
In fact, certain studies performed in Great Britain and Australia have shown that drug rehabilitation patients who have undergone naltrexone treatment actually have a higher relapse rate than those who undergo traditional methadone treatment, raising serious doubts as to the legitimacy of naltrexone programs. One of the mistaken views, they point out, is that drug rehabilitation clinics, which are often privately run, consider drug addiction to be a uniform condition, when in fact different individuals might have several distinct medical conditions that have developed over years of drug abuse and which present serious variables governing their likelihood of successful response to a detox program.
Patients already taking medication for HIV or other illness can also be at risk for serious drug interaction dangers, and this risk increases when there is not enough communication between a detox clinic and the patient’s other doctors. Furthermore, naltrexone, whether taken orally or injected as pellets, is under the control of the rehab patient himself or herself- they are sent home with a dosage and might never return for observation or counseling again, whereas traditional methadone-based drug addiction treatments are always performed under supervision, and the patient has to return regularly to receive their dosage.
Ultra-rapid drug addiction treatments are expensive and prey on our widespread appeal to have instant solutions, but beating a serious drug addiction is a long-term investment that should not be expected to be won in six hours. Furthermore, despite the ethical obligation to present transparent realities of any medical treatment, rapid detox programs often over-promote their success stories while avoiding mention of failed cases. Be extremely cautious of any offers of a “quick-fix” solution to chemical dependency; if you or someone you know is in need of drug rehabilitation, make sure the facts are clear before instantly agreeing to a rapid detox program. While drug rehab centers are designed to provide beneficial services, it pays to take a careful approach to any treatment. Find out what all the alternatives are, and beware of any drug rehabilitation counselor who attempts to vehemently steer you or any other patient towards rapid detoxification regardless of reservations.
While choosing the drug rehab it has to be made sure that all the aspects of what caused the addiction problem in the first place have to be addressed.
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