Self therapy does not exist.
The main purpose of drug treatment is to stop use and seek for drugs, but as well to return in normal social and work life. A drug addiction is a chronic disorder, and very often drug user will occasionaly relapse (a recurrence of drug use). This leads to long term and not only one-time treatment. Regular monitoring and multiple intervention are very often part of long term treatment.
No one form of addiction treatment is best for all people – treatment works best when it’s matched to the needs and wants of the individual.
Some of the more commonly available types of addiction treatment programs include:
Private Counseling
Some people find working individually with a community based counselor or psychologist helpful in overcoming moderate substance abuse.
Support Groups
Community based support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), can be found. Research shows that people who maintain a participation in community addiction treatment after a period of primary care are more likely than those who don’t to maintain a successful recovery.
Residential detoxification
Specialty medical clinics (sometimes inside larger hospitals) offer nursing care and medication (Pic. 1) to those requiring stabilization during the initial withdrawal period. People dependent on alcohol, benzodiazepines and opiates will often need a brief period of detoxification prior to entry into a residential or outpatient rehabilitation program.
Therapeutic communities
These long duration residential programs are best suited for people with long and severe histories of addiction, often people who have tried and failed at alternate addiction treatment programs in the past. Therapeutic communities consider a re-socialization necessary for complete recovery (like a child needs to learn how to live in the world – so to does a long using addict need to re-learn how to live without the use of drugs or alcohol) and so the community works, plays and lives together for treatment durations that can last for as long as 2 years.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Through CBT, patients learn to recognize how negative thoughts and behaviors can lead to unwanted outcomes and how correction of negative thinking can produced desired outcomes. CBT is one of the most proven techniques of effective addiction treatment.
Other therapies include family counseling, intensive outpatient programs, detoxification services, sober living houses, relapse prevention classes and contingency management.
Alternative treatments also can play an important complementary role in any addiction treatment program. Some of many alternative methods of addiction treatment include acupuncture, which is very promising method of drug treatment.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is one the most widely offered alternative therapies. Acupuncture advocates say that the ancient Chinese technique can ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce drug and alcohol cravings.
Other alternative treatments include sweat lodge therapy, animal assisted therapy, yoga and meditation.
Drug treatment is very long process which require determination, patience, solid will and conviction to stop using drugs by an addicted individual.
Assisted reproduction therapy does not exist.
Female Infertility
Marijuana is one of the most commonly used drugs around the world, and it acts both centrally and peripherally to cause abnormal reproductive function. Marijuana contains cannabinoids which bind to receptors located on reproductive structures such as the uterus or the ductus deferens. Females who use marijuana are at an increased risk of primary infertility. In women, use of marijuana can negatively impact hormonal regulation; over short periods of time, marijuana may cause a drop in the levels of luteinizing hormone, but over long periods of time, the hormone levels may remain constant due to developed tolerance. Marijuana and its cannabinoids have been reported to negatively impact movement through the oviducts, placental and fetal development, and may even cause stillbirth.
Another commonly used recreational drug is cocaine, a stimulant for both peripheral and central nervous systems which causes vasoconstriction and anesthetic effects. It is thought to prevent the reuptake of neurotransmitters, possibly affecting behavior and mood. Long term users of cocaine claim that it can decrease sexual stimulation. Less is known about cocaine’s effects on females, impaired ovarian responsiveness to gonadotropins and placental abruption have both been reported.
Opiates comprise another large group of illicit drugs. Opiates, such as methadone and heroin, are depressants that cause both sedation and decreased pain perception by influencing neurotransmitters. In women, placental abruption with the use of heroin may also be a cause of infertility.
Male Infertility
Several illicit drugs are detrimental to male fertility and should be avoided, especially in men trying to establish a pregnancy. Marijuana interferes with spermatogenesis by decreasing sperm density and motility and decreasing the number with morphologic abnormalities. High doses of opiates lead to a decline in libido and erectile function. Opiates suppress the luteinizing hormone (LH) and luteinizing hormone releasing factor (LH-RH), leading to a decline in testosterone production. The pituitary gland itself may also be directly suppressed by opiates. High doses of cocaine impair erectile function, and high doses of amphetamines have been shown to cause diminished libido.
