Types Of Treatment For Drug Abuse Available In California

California has a well established network of drug rehabilitation centers - state funded organizations, private establishments as well as non profit organizations. Treatments are available for all types of drug addiction and mental and other health problems arising out of addiction. Some of the common types are listed below:

- In-house or residential programs: These are meant for patients who have severe addiction problems. Depending on the level and severity of addiction, the programs can last anywhere between 3 and 12 months during which the patient needs to stay full time in the rehabilitation centers. In-house patients are given medical and therapeutic treatment by the specialized medical teams in these centers. This is ideal for people who have a long history of illicit substance abuse and violent crimes resulting from it.

- Outpatient programs: According to statistics by the Department of Drug Enforcement, 90% of drug addiction patients go for out patient rehabilitation programs. These programs do not need the patient to stay in the rehabilitation center and instead receive the treatment in the form of regular meetings and therapy sessions. This is ideal for people who have a relatively short period of addiction and have a strong family and social network to support them through the rehabilitation program.

- Co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis programs: Addiction to any illicit or controlled drug is often accompanied with many physical and mental disorders. This is seen in light addicts and more severe conditions are apparent in severe addicts. There are numerous drug rehabilitation centers in California which work on detecting the co occurring disorder and then prescribe the due medical treatment through professional certified medics especially experienced in this field.

- Bio- Physical Programs- This is a structured approach to drug rehabilitation which recognizes that there are two aspects of life affected due to drug abuse - one is the physical dependency and constant craving that the body of an addict faces and the withdrawal symptoms as well as the other is the emotional or mental feeling of dependency on the drug. These are relatively shorter programs than the residential programs (mostly 30 days period) and are a combination of inpatient and outpatient programs.

If you or any of your family members or friends are affected by drug addiction, it is strongly recommended that you approach an authorized rehabilitation center for help. The experienced doctors there can determine the level of addiction and prescribe the correct treatment. You can search for a nearby center in California from your local office of the California Drug and Alcohol Program. The Internet is also a great place to begin your search. Alternatively, you can also approach you regular physician for reference to a local rehabilitation center.