Although addiction treatment is always a good thing, in some cases, patients seeking treatment for a drug addiction develop a secondary addiction, either during or after treatment. To understand how drug treatment can sometimes lead to further substance abuse, one must look at the underlying conditions that lead to the original addiction. Acknowledging the possibility of secondary addictions will help both therapists and patients learn to manage addictive behaviors more effectively.
Some patients seem genetically predispositioned to alcohol and drug abuse. Family history, socio-economic factors, and the patient’s own personality may be clues as to whether secondary addictions may be a side effect of drug treatment. For example, if the patient is being treated for an opiate abuse issue with prescription drugs, it is possible that they may sell some pills to take care of financial problems. If they have a friend or family member with a drug addiction problem, it’s also likely that some medications may be stolen. Daily dispensing of medications may prevent selling and drug theft, as will regular blood tests to determine if the patient is taking their medication as prescribed.
Many patients will attempt to cover up drug thefts and sales by taking a drug that is close to their prescription. Unfortunately, this often leads to a new addiction, on top of the current one. In addition, some addicts turn to alcohol to ease their way through an extended, home-based rehab, which ends up trading alcohol addiction for drugs addiction.
Finally, patients who unwillingly enter rehab programs are more likely to relapse upon exiting the program. Follow-up care is essential to ensure a positive outcome for these patients. Ongoing counseling, in the form of private meetings and group therapy sessions, may help these patients avoid returning to their former lifestyle. Not all patients respond to traditional drug rehab programs, so an individualized approach is often required for long-term addicts and those dealing with more than one addiction. A comprehensive program of therapy, medication, nutritional and behavioral counseling, and family therapy may be needed for one patient, while another may do fine on talk therapy alone.
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