How To Choose Your Most Effective Drug Or Alcohol Treatment Program By Melanie Solomon

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR MOST EFFECTIVE DRUG OR ALCOHOL TREATMENT PROGRAM (A Chapter from "AA Not the Only Way"

By Melanie Solomon

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Copyright 2009 Melanie Solomon

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR MOST EFFECTIVE DRUG OR ALCOHOL TREATMENT PROGRAM (A Chapter from "AA Not the Only Way"

By Melanie Solomon

How do you know what you are getting when you choose a rehab program? There are basically four types of programs:

"Moral

"Disease

"Behavioral

"Holistic

It is important to compare the different types of programs before making your decision. Many of them, especially in the U.S., are based on old ways of viewing the addicted person, and therefore their approach is often outdated.

In short, the moral model says that a person is bad if they make bad choices. (This was the main view before the disease model came into play in the 1930's.) The disease model views addiction like having a disease, akin to diabetes; the addicted person is completely powerless over their disease. The two models taken together offer a very bleak outlook. Addicts are bad people who have no control over their own lives. 12-step programs lean more toward the disease model. After these models, the behavioral model, or cognitive-behavioral model was developed. It says that each person has the power to change him or herself by changing the way they think. The newest model to emerge is the holistic model, which builds upon the good points of the older models. This approach uses the cognitive-behavioral model as a core component of its approach, and accounts for the many different contributing factors of the individual's unique addiction problem. This approach addresses the health of mind, body and spirit, helping the individual to both prevent and respond to their problems. It teaches self-management skills and techniques to prevent relapse and advocates a multi-faceted approach to support the individual. Most importantly, the holistic approach views individuals as competent to help themselves when given the right education, tools and support.