Drug addiction is a complex illness characterized by intense and, at times, uncontrollable drug craving, along with compulsive drug seeking and use that persist even in the face of devastating consequences. Because drug abuse and addiction have so many dimensions and disrupt so many aspects of an individual’s life, drug rehab and alcohol rehab treatment is not simple. Effective drug treatment and alcohol treatment programs typically incorporate many components, each directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences.
Addiction treatment must help the individual stop using drugs, maintain a drug-free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society. Because addiction is typically a chronic disease, people cannot simply stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Most patients require long-term or repeated episodes of care at a alcohol treatment center to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained abstinence and recovery of their lives.