Nicotine Addiction Treatment –
three levels for recovery
Basics for addiction treatment.
How comlex disease my addiction is?
Physicians and counselors from addiction treatment centers say that there's no special treatment screenplay that would be appropriate for everyone addicted. Addiction is a complex disease, hence planning and fulfilling of treatment and rehab for a given patient should be taken individually (factors like gender or age are not the only ones important). This complexity – which is an inherent feature of abuse and addiction – give rise to need of taking wide variety of factors into consideration. If you're going to cure addicted person by using universal step by step recipe you fall into trap. Those general statements are could probably describe appropriately any of substance abuses and addictions.
Addiction treatment is usually composed of three different aspects – social, pharmacological and psychical. I mean that in many cases pharmacological treatment must be carried out with simultaneous psychological help to make treatment successful and recovery permanent. However, generally speaking typical tobacco smoking addiction treatment (nicotine addiction treatment) is composed of three levels: level 1 – engagement, level 2 – quitting, level 3 – prevention. I will describe all of this elements in a moment but what I want to underline now is that people who try to beat tobacco smoking addiction with help of specialists very often get only pharmacological treatment (medication treatments, there are six medications approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration and used). But practice shows that where psychologists help is introduced into treatment the results are much more better – combination of medical and psychological help improves outcomes by 50%.
Self–help
However, before I start to talk about professional nicotine addiction treatment I want to underline that many of people are able to quit smoking on their own. We call it self–help and statistics show that 50% of addicts can stop smoking if they really want to. Most of people who make their own attempts to get rid of addiction do not need nor professionals help (physician, counselor, psychologist) nor medical (pharmacological) help. Obviously your ability to successful self–help not only depends on your character and persistence but also on severity of your addiction (for example how long do you smoke and how much).
Level of Engagement —
the 'day zero' selection and treatment planning
At first counselor / physician makes an interview with you to get to know how big your will to overcome addiction is and to investigate how strong your addiction is. This interview is a base for further addiction treatment and rehab planning. Some health procedures are also carried out to check you physical (and sometimes also psychical) condition. You will be also told about methods that are available and effective and asked which of them do you like and would like to use in your case (you will be informed about pharmacological treatment advantages, psychosocial treatment, therapies within group, self-help etc.).
Counselor will analyze your smoking behavior and describe it so that you can get better understanding of your dependency and use patterns. You both will find cues and triggers for usage and increase knowledge and awareness on health effects of addiction, risks of abuse and benefits from quitting.
When all investigations are made and if you both are sure that what is needed is a real and honest addict's will to overcome the tobacco smoking addiction, then together with physician / counselor, the 'day zero' is selected. This is a fixed date from which you as a patient are obliged and (I strongly believe) honestly want to not to smoke any more. Of course you know that it will be hard so you can inform your family and friends few days before. Their support and watching eyes will soften negative thoughts. However, you should be well prepared by your counselor also.
Level of Quitting —
smoking cessation and introducing medical help
Since 'day zero' side effects of withdrawal are arising and medical monitoring during this initial period of time would be helpful. It's very important because more than 50% of people surrender during first 7 days. Withdrawal symptoms are most vexatious during first 3 days, then they are suppressed. However, withdrawal symptoms may lasts for 3–4 weeks and sometimes up to 6 monthis of abstinence or longer. Your role is to continue your will to quit and strength it.
This period of time is a test. When patient cannot pass it because of strong, adverse withdrawal effects and returns to addiction, then pharmacotherapy is used. As I mentioned before physicians have six medications approved by FDA to their disposal. What is the most popular (and not require prescriptions) are prodacts that contain some amounts in nicotine, like patches and gums. These are called NRT, i.e. nicotine replacement therapies. On the other hand special medicaments available only via prescription may be incorporated into nicotine addiction treatment to improve recovery. Medically supported treatment lasts for months or even more than 1 year.
However, medication treatment is introduced usually from the day zero. I mean in most cases. Nicotine replacement therapies are not harmful and provide many benefits so there's no need to avoid them. At the level of quitting you will be also taught how to recognize and fight withdrawal symptoms and triggers, how to say 'no' when somebody asks you for smoke, how to get advantage from family and friends social help. You will be trying, at your own, to harden in your decisions, conviction and beliefs. It is possible that also some sport activities will be proposed to introduce.
Level of Prevention
This level purpose is to obtain long-term abstinence from tobacco smoking. Quitting the addiction requires from patient to understand that many aspects of life are going to change. And you must be conscious of this changes, well-prepared and ready to stand up to it.
You will possess some new skills important during prevention time. You will learn how to harness the smoking need, which will be still present in your life for a long time. You will get to know how to manage your mood and cravings, how to put an attention on things other than cigarettes. You will have to remember to avoid circumstances likely to contribute to relapse. Frustration, nervousness and anxiety – typical withdrawal syndromes – will have to be suppressed knowingly and smartly.
This is a time when patient should be encouraged and compliment for his/her success in quitting addiction. Tell it to your family and friends before you start treatment. Many of us need encourage from their surroundings to be sure that what they do is good and worth of a huge effort. Encouragement and contentment of people you're close to is the best reward apart from your own health, psychological and social benefits.
During prevention level you should still be monitored by physician or your counselor what assures all of you that treatment is going well. If needed medications may be still supplied.
Role of psychological help – one more time
As I mentioned before treatments with psychological help introduced have been shown to improve outcomes by 50% comparing to treatments with medical / pharmacological support only. Psychological help is important during all addiction treatment cases. I advise you to check out what organizations like American Cancer Socity, American Lung Association, American Heart.
