Effective treatment addresses multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her alcohol or drug usage. To be effective, treatment must also consider any associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, or legal problems. It is also important that treatment be appropriate to the individual's age, gender, ethnicity, and culture.
According to drugabuse.gov, 40 to 60 percent of individuals who seek treatment for their substance addiction are no longer dependent within a year. After treatment, however, there are steps that should be taken to make sure an individual doesn’t relapse. It’s important that recovering addicts have a support system of people who are aware of their strengths and weakness and can be there to steer them away from temptation. Financial difficulties, health problems, relationship issues, and stress in general are typical causes of relapse, so making sure these areas are kept in check can keep recovering addicts on the right path. Each individual should also check in with his or her treatment counselor periodically to discuss his or her new lifestyle and identify any changes that need to be made in order to sustain sobriety.
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