Even as millions of Americans struggle with substance abuse each year, very few of them seek treatment for their problem, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found. According to SAMHSA’s 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), while 21 million people 12 years and older needed treatment in the past year, only about 3.8 million sought it. In the 12 to 17-year-old age group, 1.1 million required substance abuse treatment, but only 0.7 percent received it.
Most long-time drug users are reluctant to enter rehab. They fear having to abstain entirely during their stay. Even those who are interested in losing their habits have a hard time adjusting to the “no substance abuse policy” from day one. Total abstinence involves avoiding not only drugs, but also the people and places that remind users of bygone eras.
Shift towards moderation
In recent times, the new way to deal with the opioid crisis is moderation. In a radical policy change, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been encouraging the use of alternative medications, such as methadone and buprenorphine, against the common belief of complete abstinence. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb recently proposed a proposal that would facilitate lifelong opioid substitute treatment, if needed, for all those who experience a non-fatal overdose. In fact, in Massachusetts, a more than 50 percent decrease in the risk of death from overdose was seen among patients treated with methadone or buprenorphine after a non-fatal overdose. Gottlieb cited the data to support his point.
Not only opioids, but also other means of substance abuse, such as alcohol, show better results when practiced in moderation rather than total abstinence. A 2012 article on problem drinkers favored moderation management in “cognitive restructuring and improved behavioral self-control.”
Some of the advantages of following a moderation policy are as follows:
Attract more people to the door: The policy encourages more people to attend a rehabilitation program. Many patients believe that the purpose of a treatment should be to rectify problem behaviors rather than to force abstinence.
Helps distinguish between chronic and experimental use: Most college students experiment with drugs and alcohol for different reasons. Although it is a risky practice and carries the risk of gradually becoming addicted, not all adolescents who experiment with a drug or cocktail develop a substance use disorder. Warning a teenager about abstinence arouses more curiosity and, in all likelihood, they will be more pleased.
Close caregivers are more likely to seek help: Those with a neutral opinion about whether to opt for treatment are more likely to seek help if moderation is advised. However, over time, they may realize the benefits of staying sober and voluntarily choosing a life of sobriety rather than being forced to adopt one.
Being able to use a less potent drug brings comfort: Methadone and buprenorphine are used to treat opioid addiction in some cases. They suppress withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings by working on the same reward centers in the brain affected by other drugs. Whether drug seekers are aware of this or not, they can be relieved to learn that their drug habit has not been completely curtailed.
Greater likelihood that a person will continue with treatment: A person who is given the option of moderation is more likely to continue treatment than a person who is not.
The road to recovery
Addiction to any addictive substance like prescription drugs, illicit drugs, or alcohol can be treated and detoxification is the first step. It is important to help a patient respond positively to medications and therapies by cleansing their body of toxins. Detox can only be successful when done under the supervision of a mental health expert. Self-detoxification can be dangerous or even fatal.