Inpatient drug vs alcohol rehab centers – differences and similarities

Updated on November 16, 2020

Rehab centers offer specialized treatment programs for people who have succumbed to substance use addiction. The tailoring of a personalized plan differs for every person, and their stages of development and unique challenges are taken into consideration by medical professionals. Substance use treatment is successful when the treatment customizes to the person’s specific needs.

The process of rehabilitation is life-long and you must work on it continuously to get the best results Residential rehab centers provide programs for drug and alcohol addicts. Moreover, there are also outpatient programs. The functions of the recovery programs have more similarities rather than differences.

Medication Treatment

Making use of medications to treat addiction increases the chances of maintaining sobriety. Medication treatment is similar to both drug and alcohol abuse. However, the intake of the medication is more severe in terms of a drug addict. Alcohol can easily flush out of the body, whereas a drug can take weeks. Moreover, the withdrawal symptoms also differ highly, giving rise to the difference in prescribing medications. Medication-assisted treatment is a fundamental process and is highly effective alongside behavioral and therapy interventions. Several inpatient rehab facilities offer tailor-made programs that help the addict to get rid of the addiction entirely.

Rehab professionals favor certain types of treatment programs are more for alcoholics than drug addicts, and vice versa. The 12-step addiction program is a gold standard for alcohol addiction recovery. The inpatient alcohol rehab in North Dakota uses these programs for their clients and receives many healings. Nevertheless, it is not common for drug addicts to rely on such a program in their initial rehabilitation stages. Drug addicts initially face detrimental effects on their health, and the illegal nature of these addiction results in serious legal consequences. In light of this, a rehab program for a drug addict is highly structured. Also, round the clock supervision is necessary to monitor the wellbeing of the drug addicts.

Detoxification for a Drug Addiction

The process of detoxification is a crucial factor in recovery from any substance misuse. Drug addicts face severe withdrawal symptoms and high levels of allergies. The base procedure for detoxifying alcohol and drug addicts is the same. However, there are specific vital differences that need attention.

In terms of drug detox, medicines, including methadone, are available as substitutes for addictive substances as the patient recovers from a chemical dependency. Drugs like methadone mimic the physical effects of drugs such as heroin without producing a feeling of euphoria. Such a move helps the body to overcome the physical dependency with the least amounts of withdrawal symptoms. By using such recovery medicine, the brain resumes normal functioning so that cravings will not act as a problem when the patient does not have access to the abused and the recovery drug.

Detoxifying from an Alcohol Addiction

A unique symptom of alcohol detoxification is delirium tremens. These symptoms do not occur in drug addicts. Delirium Tremens is a type of hallucination that individuals with severe alcohol withdrawal face. It can also include seizures and convulsions and can even lead to death. The similar withdrawal symptoms in drug and alcohol rehab patients are depression, cramps, chills, pain, and so on. Alcohol detox also involves using a few medications, but they do not work similarly to methadone. These alcohol recovery drugs block the receptors in the brain pathways that are responsible for alcohol cravings.

Psychological Wellbeing

Inpatient alcohol and a drug rehab center offer many activities to boost the psychological well-being of the addict. Activities such as counseling, exercises, and behavior therapies help the patient take control of their psychological well-being. Also, rehab centers’ group therapies are standard for all addicts and foster communication in patients. Substance abuse recovery programs might also involve family sessions in a week or two to participate in their recovery and offer support to the recovering patient.

The Importance of Post-Rehab

Post-rehab programs are essential to severe drug addicts, and rehab centers provide follow-up programs for all recovered patients. Aftercare activities comprise counseling sessions, meetings, testimonial sessions, community meetings, and classes and gatherings for alumni. Such moves offer pillars to the patients, not to relapse and fall back. The rehab centers conduct such activities to ensure the recovered patients are susceptible to the relapses and cravings and support them. Regular post-rehab care is essential to maintain physical and mental wellbeing.

The inpatient alcohol and drug rehab centers work with a sole motive to free the patients from addictions. Addiction can ruin a person’s life entirely, destroy relationships with families and friends, and leave a threatening remark on their records. There are more similarities in rehab centers’ processes for alcohol and drug abuse recovery than differences. The differences mainly lie in the patient’s wellbeing and severity of the addiction and the customized treatment.

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.