Laxative abuse can lead to dehydration, organ damage, and dependence. Anyone who misuses laxatives should seek medical advice. Learn more here. Addiction and dependence can occur together, but they are two distinct concepts.

Learn the differences between addiction vs. Substance misuse is when a person misuses drugs or alcohol despite them harming themself or others. Substance use disorder is a condition that can…. Drug overdose occurs when a person takes too much of a substance.

Learn more about overdose and how to treat and prevent it here. My podcast changed me Can 'biological race' explain disparities in health? Why Parkinson's research is zooming in on the gut Tools General Health Drugs A-Z Health Hubs Health Tools Find a Doctor BMI Calculators and Charts Blood Pressure Chart: Ranges and Guide Breast Cancer: Self-Examination Guide Sleep Calculator Quizzes RA Myths vs Facts Type 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood Sugar Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction Connect About Medical News Today Who We Are Our Editorial Process Content Integrity Conscious Language Newsletters Sign Up Follow Us.

Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. What are the treatments for addiction? Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — By Adam Felman on November 2, First steps Detoxification Counseling and behavioral therapies Rehabilitation programs Self-help groups Medications Takeaway Addictive disorders are a group of disorders that can cause physical and psychological damage.

First steps. Share on Pinterest The first step to recovery is acknowledging the presence of an addiction and its effects on daily life. Counseling and behavioral therapies. Share on Pinterest Therapy might be one-to-one or a group session. Rehabilitation programs. Self-help groups.

Share on Pinterest Group therapy and long-term rehabilitation can help a person with a substance use disorder feel less isolated. Q: Treatment does not seem to be controlling the urge to use drugs.

What is my next step? A: Talk with your doctor about other treatment options. Timothy J. Legg, PhD, CRNP Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts.

All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice. Was this helpful? How we reviewed this article: Sources. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.

Services may include one-on-one or group counselling, connection to medical treatment such as opioid agonist treatment, and help accessing other community supports such as housing and peer support groups. Residential Treatment: Time-limited, live-in intensive treatment typically days for individuals experiencing substance use-related challenges.

Treatment includes group and one-on-one counselling, medical consultations, as well as life skills training, family support programs and other programs such as art, yoga, music and narrative therapies.

Stabilization and Transitional Services: A temporary residential setting that provides a safe environment with medical and clinical supports for individuals who are experiencing complex substance-use problems and unstable living conditions.

Supportive Recovery Residences: Supportive recovery services can be delivered in different environments, including licensed residences or registered assisted living residences.

Supportive recovery residences provide a safe, communal environment where individuals have the opportunity and the support to focus on their recovery journey and are suitable for people who may have completed a more intensive treatment program or require daily structure and support to prepare them for a more intensive treatment program.

Withdrawal Management — Facility or Residential Based: A short-term service up to 7 days that provides clinical support to people withdrawing from substances.

Withdrawal management takes place in different settings, including community, hospital, or home with clinical team support. Substance-Use Sobering and Assessment Beds: A short-term less than 24 hours , safe place for people under the influence of substances.

When possible, individuals are connected to other health-care services, such as opioid substitution therapy, withdrawal management, group therapy and one-on-one outpatient counselling.

Detox, or withdrawal management, is often seen as a way to "dry out" or "get clean. Detox alone does not address the many underlying factors that can lead to substance use challenges.

If used, withdrawal management should be accompanied by ongoing treatment, such as outpatient treatment services, opioid agonist treatment, or residential treatment. Call the hour BC Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service toll-free from anywhere in B. at or from the lower mainland at Supervised Consumption and Overdose Prevention Services : places where people can use drugs under supervision from a trained healthcare professional to reduce the risk of an overdose.

Support Groups and Social Support : find support in groups of others who have the same challenges, in groups led by professionals, and in your relationships with family and friends. Some options:. Here to Help : Information related to substance use and mental health, including personal stories, self-help resources and information about getting help now.

Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre : A provincial resource centre that provides substance use and mental health information, resources, and peer support to children, youth and their families from across B.

If you suspect an overdose, call right away and follow SAVE ME protocol while waiting for first responders. Consumption and treatment service locations can connect you to addictions treatment and rehabilitation, primary care, mental health, and other health and social services.

You can access many services on site or you can get a referral to access these services somewhere nearby, such as:. Individuals aged 18 years and older can access the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy program to get confidential cognitive behavioural therapy and other services free of charge. Each potential client is assessed by a trained mental health professional.

Depending on the level of need, a person may be matched with:. Clients may be referred to the program by a physician, nurse practitioner or other health care professional. In some areas, clients may self-refer. For more information, including to learn if clients may self-refer, contact a regional lead organization that coordinates the delivery of the program.

Each organization works with health care provider groups in their area to offer services. To have a better experience, you need to: Go to your browser's settings Enable JavaScript. Menu Arts and culture Business and economy COVID Driving and roads Education and training Environment and energy Government Health and wellness Home and community Jobs and employment Law and safety Rural and north Taxes and benefits Travel and recreation.

Home Health and wellness. Find mental health and addiction services in your community Get free, confidential support for depression, anxiety, addiction, gambling and other problems.

If you use drugs every day and notice unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when you're not taking drugs, you shouldn't stop using suddenly. It can cause harmful withdrawal symptoms. Get in touch with your local treatment service to arrange a safe detox.

Joining a recovery group or attending regular meetings is a good option for anyone looking to get help with drugs. Making positive changes in your life is always easier when you have other people to support you.

Groups can be helpful in the time between first seeking help, and getting further treatment such as a prescription or detox.

There are groups for people struggling with an addiction to any drug, and some take different approaches to others. Groups like SMART recovery use therapy that focuses on thoughts and behaviour. Others, like Narcotics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous, are more about peer support from other people with similar experiences.

There are also online groups like Breaking Free Online. You can find more groups and support options further down this page. You can use this medication to help you cut down or stop using.

If you come to one of our services and decide medication is the right option for you, we will work with you to make sure you are on the right dose. A doctor will give you a titration plan.

This is to stop you having unpleasant withdrawal symptoms while you work towards stabilising on the ideal dose. Once you are on the ideal dose, the doctor will work with you to decide how long you should be on the medication for.

Because addiction can affect so many aspects of a person's life, treatment should address the needs of the whole person to be successful. Counselors may select from a menu of services that meet the specific medical, mental, social, occupational, family, and legal needs of their patients to help in their recovery.

For more information on drug treatment , see Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide , and Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide. National Institutes of Health. Research Topics. More Research Topics. Quick Links.

NIDAMED: Clinical Resources. About NIDA. Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction Treatment and Recovery.

Can addiction be treated successfully? Can addiction be cured? Some treatment options include:. Typically, community treatment options will provide and assessment, ongoing counselling, developing skills to manage substance use related issues, and developing treatment goals.

Group Therapy: Typically offered within community based treatment facilities. Case Management: A process where a person has a worker who is assigned to them for support. This can include developing a treatment plan, linking them to services and monitoring their progress.

Residential or Inpatient Treatment: Is a more intensive treatment, where a person stays in a treatment facility 24 hours a day. These programs can last from 21 days to several months. Usually residential programs will offer group counselling, individual counselling, case management support, and family counselling if requested.

These facilities can be either public or privately funded, and wait times for residential treatment vary. Day Treatment: Typically offers the same programming as residential treatment, but clients will go home towards the end of the day instead of staying overnight within the facility.

Pharmacological Treatment: For some addictions, medications such as Methadone may assist in the treatment process.