Addiction Treatment

Addiction treatment starts with a difficult decision that the family usually makes before the patient themselves, then turns into a plan with steps, appointments and clear responsibilities. On this page we explain what actually happens from the first call to the months after discharge, how long it takes, when follow-up from home is enough, why the road differs between someone who uses tramadol and someone who drinks alcohol, how confidentiality is protected and how to choose the place; then we put in your hands an organized index of the articles for each substance. This includes treating addiction to all types of drugs, alcohol and misused medicines, because the foundations on which drug addiction treatment rests apply to all substances, with differences in the details.

What is meant by treatment for drug addiction?

A mother from Mohandessin or from Tanta calls us and asks one question: "How many days does my son need to clean his body?" The question is understandable, but the body is the easiest part of the matter. The substance leaves the blood within days, but the urgent craving it has left in the brain, and the habits, company and places it has built, need much longer.

That is why serious addiction treatment works on several levels at the same time. The doctor deals with withdrawal and its complications, and treats the insomnia, depression or anxiety that usually appears after stopping, while the psychotherapist works on the thoughts and situations that come before use, and the patient learns how to act when the urgent craving to use intensifies. At the same time, the family repairs the way of dealing with each other at home. And if you want to understand addiction itself as a disease before talking about its treatment, start from the guide Addiction: its definition and stages.

The stages of treatment for drug addiction: from the first contact to follow-up

There is no single plan that suits everyone, and this is one of the clearest principles repeated by the American National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). But good plans usually pass through the following stages, and two of them may overlap:

1. 1AssessmentThe first days

   A medical examination, tests and a detailed psychiatric interview: what the substance is, since when, whether the patient mixes more than one substance, and whether they have suicidal thoughts or chronic illnesses. From here the plan is written.

2. 2Safe detoxDays to weeks

   Stopping the substance or reducing it gradually according to its type, with medicines that ease the symptoms and prevent complications. The details of this stage for each substance are in the guide Drug withdrawal symptoms.

3. 3RehabilitationWeeks to months

   Individual and group sessions, the best known being cognitive behavioral therapy, with medicine that reduces craving for some substances, and treatment of any accompanying psychological disorder.

4. 4Return and follow-upSix months or more

   A gradual return to work or study, regular visits, periodic tests, and a written plan for what the patient and their family do if signs of a return appear.

The most common mistake we see is the family considering the second stage to be the whole treatment. The patient leaves after a week with their body's tolerance for the substance lowered, while the craving remains as it was, so the first dose after discharge becomes more dangerous than any dose before it. We explained this progression from the patient's own point of view in the article The stages of recovery from addiction.

How long does addiction treatment take?

The honest answer is that the duration is measured in months, not days. NIDA's principles indicate that most patients need at least three months of continuous treatment for use to decrease or stop clearly, and that staying in treatment long enough is one of the strongest predictors of the outcome. The distribution of these months, however, varies:

Short programs such as the twenty-eight days have their place in addiction treatment, but they are a beginning, not an end. The breakdown of each stage's duration by substance and case is in the guide The duration of addiction treatment. And you will find a comparison of each program's duration and what happens inside it in the section Addiction treatment programs.

Does an addict recover completely?

Many stop using and live long years without a substance, working, marrying and raising their children. But medicine places addiction in the category of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. NIDA estimates that rates of returning to use fall between forty and sixty percent, close to relapse rates in those diseases. This means that a relapse, if it happens, calls for adjusting the plan, and doesn't mean the treatment failed or that the patient is hopeless.

That is why we prefer the word "recovery": a full life without a substance, with ongoing awareness of risky situations. And if you are asking about personality change after stopping, we answered frankly in the article Does an addict return to normal after treatment, and explained the recurring reasons for stumbling in Why treatment sometimes fails.

Residency in hospital or follow-up from home?

Choosing the form of addiction treatment is a medical decision made after the assessment, but it is useful to know the criteria the doctor relies on:

Between the two options there are intermediate levels such as half residency and the home plan under medical supervision. And a question keeps coming up: Can an addict stop on their own? That may succeed with some substances, but it is an uncalculated gamble with alcohol and sedatives.

Why does treatment differ with the substance?

The general framework is the same, but the danger of withdrawal and the existence of an approved medicine change a lot. This is a rough estimate of withdrawal's need for direct medical supervision:

With opioids there are approved medicines that ease craving and protect against overdose. With alcohol, stopping suddenly may cause seizures or delirium, as we explain in Alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Ice, cocaine and captagon, however, have no approved medicine so far, so treatment relies on behavioral rehabilitation and treating the crash and depression. The names of the medicines and the role of each are explained in the section Addiction treatment medicines, and any of them is used only under a doctor's supervision.

Confidentiality and the law: what worries families?

Fear of "scandal" delays many families from addiction treatment for months, and during these months the amount doubles. Medical information is confidential, and it isn't supposed to reach a workplace, university or relatives without the patient's permission. Ask the place before admission who sees the file and how sick leave is written.

Many also ask about the position of Egyptian law on those who come forward for treatment voluntarily, and we have gathered that in the article The law and addicts in Egypt. Admitting someone who refuses, however, has specific medical and legal conditions that we explained in Treating an addict without their consent.

The family's role during and after treatment

In addiction treatment, the family notices first, persuades second, and protects after discharge. These are practical steps we ask of the family:

If you are still at the persuasion stage, start with the plan to help an addicted person and persuade them to get treatment, then read How to deal with the person in recovery after they return home.

Herbs and home remedies: which of them hold true?

We have detailed what science says about the mixtures in circulation in the article Herbs and drug addiction treatment. And if the addiction is to a behavior such as gambling or games rather than a substance, its separate guide is Behavioral addiction.

The clinic or the hospital? And how to choose the place and the cost

The clinic offers assessment, follow-up visits and sessions, and suits mild cases or the period after discharge. The hospital provides residency and continuous medical and nursing supervision, and is required when withdrawal is dangerous or the accompanying psychological illness is severe. Many plans start in the hospital and then move to the clinic.

Before you choose, ask to see the license, ask who the doctor responsible for the case is, and whether there is a plan for the family and written follow-up. The complete list is in How to choose an addiction hospital. Prices are determined by the length of stay, the type of program and the tests, and we explained their components in The cost of addiction treatment in Egypt. Whoever is thinking of traveling will find comparisons of treatment in Turkey and Jordan, and the most important question there is: who follows up the patient after their return? And beware of any party that promises a guaranteed cure in days or prevents the patient from contacting their family. If you are comparing rehab centers now, we have set out the criteria for choosing an addiction rehab in Egypt and how we apply them to ourselves before others.

Situations that can't wait

Some situations go beyond the planning stage and need immediate action before any talk of programs or places:

The signs of an overdose and how to act until help arrives are explained in the article Drug overdose.

How Riviera Life meets these standards in addiction treatment

• An official license: a hospital licensed by the Egyptian Ministry of Health in Sheikh Zayed, Giza.
• Fourteen years: of experience in psychiatry and treating substance dependence.
• Specialist consultants: in psychiatry and addiction treatment who follow the plan themselves.
• Round-the-clock supervision: medical and nursing care throughout the days of residency.
• Confidentiality, a family program and aftercare: with a free and confidential first consultation.

The addiction treatment article guide: by substance and decision stage

We have arranged the addiction treatment articles into sections so you can go directly to what concerns your case: the decision to start, then the place, then the substance, then what comes after discharge.

When should you seek help?

If use keeps happening despite promises, or withdrawal symptoms appear whenever the substance is absent, or money, work and relationships have started to collapse, the time is right now, not after "rock bottom". One call is enough to assess the case and explain the options without any commitment, and the first consultation is free and confidential. Contact the Riviera Life team on +201507999722.