Drug Treatment
It is important when you are researching drug treatment programs for you or a loved one that you find one that will use a comprehensive approach of drug treatment that includes counseling, group therapy, detox, and an emphasis on good nutrition during the entire drug treatment program. The most important issue in drug treatment is treating the individual rather than just the disease state. Each person is different so we all respond to drug treatment in different ways. That is why a drug treatment program that takes a comprehensive approach to treating the spirit, mind, and body will have more success in the long run because different aspects of the drug treatment program can be varied to suit each individual’s needs.
For someone going into a drug treatment program for addiction to opiates, meth, prescription drug abuse, or even alcohol abuse it is important that they understand the type of nutritional regimen that the drug treatment program provides-especially when going through detox. The standard medical establishment has very little knowledge about withdrawals from drugs or alcohol and in fact quite a few doctors believe that drug treatment consists of transitioning the alcoholics or addicts from their usual drug of choice to some other narcotic like methadone or suboxone. So instead of applying a comprehensive approach to getting people on the road to recovery, many medical practitioners fall back on the easy approach and just throw more drugs at the problem. Proper drug treatment programs, conversely, will focus on a comprehensive approach to getting the addict or alcoholic off of substances and on the road to recovery.
Long term substance abuse more than likely resulted in changes to the addict or alcoholic’s body chemistry and more than likely resulted in a loss of muscle mass. Good nutrition is certainly a way to make a positive impact on these changes and is definitely something to address on an individual basis in a good drug treatment program. Everyone's tastes are different. So meeting the nutritional needs of everyone with limited choices will be a recipe for failure.
One critical item that needs to be addressed during the detox phase of drug treatment is restoring the body’s electrolytes to a more normal state. This can readily be done with the use of powdered electrolyte drinks like Pedialyte, Emergen-C, and even Gatorade. There is a wide selection available. So it should be a snap to meet everyone's taste going through drug treatment.
Another important factor to consider during drug treatment is restoration of vital nutrients. Poor diet is commonplace for an alcoholic or addict deep into their disease. So giving them important minerals and vitamins during the early phases of drug treatment is critical. While providing protein, carbohydrates, and fats that the body needs with regular meals is crucial, it is also critical to restore the usual amount of minerals and vitamins within a person’s body during drug treatment. Lacking these, the outcome will not be optimal. It would be similar to building a house with lumber, drywall, and shingles without having the nails, nuts, and bolts to hold it all together.
Additionally, oral nutrition is often very difficult for most people in their first week of drug treatment because the withdrawals from drugs and alcohol usually lead to an upset stomach or intestinal problems or both. So vitamin and mineral supplements provided with proper fluids during the early stages of drug treatment are an excellent option. Protein powders provided through smoothies or shakes during the early phases of drug treatment are also a good solution to help the addict’s body regain strength and muscle mass without the need for solid foods.
Going into a drug treatment program is a big step in an addict’s road to recovery. So it is vital that you make an educated choice when choosing a drug treatment program for a loved one or yourself. Do your homework to ensure that the drug treatment program you choose takes a comprehensive approach and provides treatment for body, spirit, and mind.
For someone going into a drug treatment program for addiction to opiates, meth, prescription drug abuse, or even alcohol abuse it is important that they understand the type of nutritional regimen that the drug treatment program provides-especially when going through detox. The standard medical establishment has very little knowledge about withdrawals from drugs or alcohol and in fact quite a few doctors believe that drug treatment consists of transitioning the alcoholics or addicts from their usual drug of choice to some other narcotic like methadone or suboxone. So instead of applying a comprehensive approach to getting people on the road to recovery, many medical practitioners fall back on the easy approach and just throw more drugs at the problem. Proper drug treatment programs, conversely, will focus on a comprehensive approach to getting the addict or alcoholic off of substances and on the road to recovery.
Long term substance abuse more than likely resulted in changes to the addict or alcoholic’s body chemistry and more than likely resulted in a loss of muscle mass. Good nutrition is certainly a way to make a positive impact on these changes and is definitely something to address on an individual basis in a good drug treatment program. Everyone's tastes are different. So meeting the nutritional needs of everyone with limited choices will be a recipe for failure.
One critical item that needs to be addressed during the detox phase of drug treatment is restoring the body’s electrolytes to a more normal state. This can readily be done with the use of powdered electrolyte drinks like Pedialyte, Emergen-C, and even Gatorade. There is a wide selection available. So it should be a snap to meet everyone's taste going through drug treatment.
Another important factor to consider during drug treatment is restoration of vital nutrients. Poor diet is commonplace for an alcoholic or addict deep into their disease. So giving them important minerals and vitamins during the early phases of drug treatment is critical. While providing protein, carbohydrates, and fats that the body needs with regular meals is crucial, it is also critical to restore the usual amount of minerals and vitamins within a person’s body during drug treatment. Lacking these, the outcome will not be optimal. It would be similar to building a house with lumber, drywall, and shingles without having the nails, nuts, and bolts to hold it all together.
Additionally, oral nutrition is often very difficult for most people in their first week of drug treatment because the withdrawals from drugs and alcohol usually lead to an upset stomach or intestinal problems or both. So vitamin and mineral supplements provided with proper fluids during the early stages of drug treatment are an excellent option. Protein powders provided through smoothies or shakes during the early phases of drug treatment are also a good solution to help the addict’s body regain strength and muscle mass without the need for solid foods.
Going into a drug treatment program is a big step in an addict’s road to recovery. So it is vital that you make an educated choice when choosing a drug treatment program for a loved one or yourself. Do your homework to ensure that the drug treatment program you choose takes a comprehensive approach and provides treatment for body, spirit, and mind.