ADDICTION AND ITS TREATMENT

As the city awakens to the challenges of addiction, numerous families are typing best treatment for addiction in Kolkata into the search engine. The good news is that the awareness regarding need for proper treatment is increasing. The bad news is people still harbour many misconceptions regarding addiction and its treatment process.

At the outset it is important to understand that addiction is not simply a bad habit but a recognised disorder that needs medical attention. Common addictions among the dwellers of Kolkata are tobacco, ganja, alcohol, sleeping pills, pain medications and heroin. In many cases the patient himself/herself realises the problem and seeks treatment. But in a majority of cases it is the family members who insist the patient take treatment. A general myth that most people harbour is that addiction can be overcome by taking over the counter magic pills that can be administered without the patient’s knowledge. Not only are they ineffective in the long run, it is important to note that it is a dangerous method. These medications may have life threatening effects. And it is impossible to treat addiction completely if the patient is not willing.



How then is addiction treated? It is treated by a psychiatrist, either as inpatient or on an outpatient basis according to the doctor’s discretion. The initial phase is detoxification, where the focus is to prevent ‘withdrawal symptoms’. These are symptoms that occur when the patient suddenly stops taking the addictive substance. The body had got habituated to the presence of the substance, and its sudden withdrawal produces unpleasant and often life-threatening symptoms like seizures and disorientation. The next phase focuses on improving the patient’s motivation to quit and maintain abstinence. It involves rigorous psychotherapy with or without medicines to reduce craving. Some of the therapy sessions require the presence of a caregiver.

The problems with addiction treatment are many. The first one is the stigma associated with addiction and psychiatric treatment. This is the first barrier that delays help seeking. The second is the caregiver’s expectation of overnight miracles. Addiction therapy is a time consuming process that requires a lot of patience on part of the doctor, patient and caregivers. There is simply no alternative to this. Also, often there are many associated psychiatric disorders that need longer and more rigorous treatment. Medical complications that arise due to long term addictions also need to be addressed separately. And there are always chances of relapse. A few relapses are common in most patients, but that does not mean that the condition is untreatable. Accepting the fact that it is a difficult condition that requires patience, care and determination to overcome, will get the patient through, even if there are a few relapses along the way.

This article is a general overview of addiction treatment. For specifics, please consult your psychiatrist.

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