| What is successful treatment of addiction? To | | | | treatment was not successful? No, it just means the |
| answer this question correctly, it needs to be | | | | person got sick again. |
| understood first that addiction is a chronic, lifelong | | | | Knowing what rehabilitation professionals and |
| condition that requires changes to one's lifestyle and | | | | physicians have learned and implemented in the |
| behaviors. Like diabetes or hypertension, addiction is | | | | practice of recovery, we can define successful |
| a disease and can prove as fatal as a malignant | | | | treatment as thus: |
| cancer is left untreated. Whether the dependence is | | | | Recovery from addiction is the abstinence from all |
| on drugs, alcohol, or behaviors like gambling and | | | | controlled substances and/or unhealthy behaviors, |
| overeating, the fact remains that an obsession with | | | | while embracing a lifestyle focused on well being and |
| anything can prove to be unhealthy. | | | | service to one's family and community. Successful |
| When an addict admits himself into a rehabilitation | | | | treatment is defined by people who are abstinent, |
| center, the goal is recovery - a permanent remission | | | | recovering, and accountable for their actions. In the |
| of this disease. However, chronic addiction is often | | | | unfortunate events of a relapse, treatment can still |
| characterized by periodic relapses into active use of a | | | | be considered successful if that person is better able |
| substance or habit, whether through peer pressure or | | | | to recognize his/her addictive behavior and get back |
| the inability to cope with stress. It would be ignorant | | | | on the proper path toward recovery. |
| of any treatment provider to think that their | | | | For an addict to admit there is a problem and be |
| methods could cure an individual of addiction or | | | | willing to do something about it is already a big step |
| prevent relapse. | | | | toward success. Seeing a program through and living |
| We know that bad things happen to good people. | | | | a productive life after rehabilitation continues the |
| When bad things happen, a recovering addict/alcoholic | | | | achievement. |
| may backslide into old habits. Does this mean the | | | | |