It is not hard to believe that in a time of immense personal and financial stress, drug abuse is on the rise. However, drug use and abuse is no small matter. Even using drugs such as marijuana, which many people are pushing to legalize, can lead to health problems and abuse of other drugs. There are large numbers of teens and adults using harder drugs such as heroin, cocaine, or meth with painful and sometimes deadly consequences. The fastest growing drug addiction, due in large part to their increased availability, is prescription drugs. A recent study by The National Center for Health Statistics found that prescription painkillers, such as Vicodin and Oxycontin, are responsible for twice as many deaths as cocaine and nearly five times as many deaths as heroin. Every day families and lives are torn apart by painful effects of drug abuse. If you or someone you love is suffering from drug addiction, don’t give up – there is hope.

There are many different drug treatment and rehabilitation programs and centers, as well as detox facilities that can help you or your loved one overcome the addiction that has taken over their life. The key thing to remember, when considering a treatment center or program, is to base your decision on the individual requiring treatment.You will need to choose the right rehabilitation facility to suit your needs.

One of the first factors to take into account is whether or not the facility is residential. Some facilities offer programs that you attend daily or weekly, while others require the addict to live on the campus where they can receive more consistent monitoring and care.

The second factor to think about is the length of the program. Some programs last 3 or 4 months while others extend to a year or more.

Lastly, research the content and programs that the facility offers. Rehab is not just overcoming an addiction; it is retraining the mind and relearning how to live without the drugs or alcohol. Many facilities offer various cognitive and emotional therapies to help deal with psychological aspects of recovery, as well as programs to help patients finish high school or begin college.

The most important thing to remember when choosing a drug treatment center is that the success of the individual is largely based on their perception of the program. If they are in an environment where they feel comfortable and can participate and get involved in activities they enjoy, the probability that they will succeed is greatly increased. With the abundance of programs available, finding a program that fits won’t be hard to locate. If you or someone you love is suffering from drug addiction, don’t wait any longer to get the help they need and deserve. The time to act is now.