{"id":89154,"date":"2024-05-31T20:25:14","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T19:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tratamientodelasadicciones.org\/?page_id=89154"},"modified":"2026-10-20T12:07:25","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T11:07:25","slug":"how-addiction-is-treated","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tratamientodelasadicciones.org\/en\/types-of-addictions\/how-addiction-is-treated\/","title":{"rendered":"How addiction is treated"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Knowing how to overcome an addiction<\/strong> starts with understanding that it is not a matter of willpower but a health problem that can be treated. Treatment combines medical care, which sometimes includes medication, and psychological care, and it is adapted to the substance or behaviour, how long the person has been using and their individual situation. With the right support, many people regain control of their lives.<\/p>\n

How to overcome an addiction: where to start<\/h2>\n

The first step is usually the hardest: recognising that your use has become a problem. After that, these pointers can help you get going:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Get a professional assessment.<\/strong> A specialist team will review your history of use, your physical and mental health and your circumstances in order to recommend the most suitable treatment.<\/li>\n
  2. Do not stop suddenly if there is physical dependence.<\/strong> With alcohol or tranquillisers such as benzodiazepines, stopping abruptly without medical supervision can be dangerous.<\/li>\n
  3. Set a realistic goal.<\/strong> The usual aim is abstinence, but the plan is tailored to each case and reviewed over time.<\/li>\n
  4. Lean on someone.<\/strong> Having family, friends or a therapy group reduces isolation and relapse.<\/li>\n
  5. Change your surroundings.<\/strong> Keeping away from the places, people and routines linked to using makes the first few months much easier.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What addiction treatment involves<\/h2>\n

    Medical care and medication<\/h3>\n

    Not everyone needs medication, but in many cases it is a great help. During withdrawal from the substance it allows the body to adjust safely and with less discomfort. Later on it can help to reduce intense urges to use (craving), stabilise mood and address other mental health conditions that accompany the addiction, known as dual diagnosis<\/a>. It is especially advisable when use has been long and heavy.<\/p>\n

    Psychological treatment<\/h3>\n

    This is the core of the process. Therapy helps to answer a key question: what was I using for? The substance often served to calm anxiety, escape problems or feel confident socially. Understanding that function makes it possible to learn other ways of facing the same situations. It can be individual, group-based or with the family, and ideally several formats are combined.<\/p>\n

    Outpatient or residential<\/h3>\n

    In outpatient treatment<\/a> the person stays at home and attends regular sessions that fit around work or studies. Residential treatment, with admission to a therapeutic community, is reserved for situations in which the person\u2019s surroundings make abstinence very difficult or the dependence is severe. The choice is made after the initial assessment.<\/p>\n

    Stages of addiction treatment<\/h2>\n

    Every process is different, but most treatments go through these stages:<\/p>\n

    1. Detoxification<\/h3>\n

    Its aim is for the body to stop depending on the substance safely. It is not always necessary: a doctor decides based on what is being used, how much and the person\u2019s state of health. It can be done at home, with medical follow-up and a family member as the point of reference, or with hospital admission if closer monitoring is needed. At this stage the main weight falls on medical care. More information about detoxification<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    2. Breaking the habit<\/h3>\n

    This is the central stage of psychological work. Here the dependence is acknowledged, the person learns how addiction works and identifies the situations, emotions and habits that push them to use. Specific skills are practised: solving problems, managing anxiety, curbing impulses and anticipating high-risk moments. Temporary protective measures are often agreed at this stage, such as someone else managing money or having lab tests.<\/p>\n

    3. Rehabilitation<\/h3>\n

    What has been learned is put to the test in daily life. Relationships are repaired, routines and responsibilities are taken back and, little by little, the control measures are withdrawn to check that the person stays abstinent with greater independence.<\/p>\n

    4. Reintegration<\/h3>\n

    The final stretch focuses on taking a full part again in work, training, family and social life. The team checks that the strategies have become established and prepares a plan in case difficulties arise later on.<\/p>\n

    Withdrawal syndrome: what it is and how it is managed<\/h2>\n

    Withdrawal syndrome is the set of physical and psychological symptoms that appear when a person reduces or stops a substance their body depends on. It varies greatly depending on the drug: it can range from irritability, insomnia and anxiety to shaking, sweating, vomiting or, in severe cases, seizures.<\/p>\n

    With alcohol and benzodiazepines, withdrawal can be dangerous, so stopping must always be done under medical supervision. With other substances the physical risk is lower, but the discomfort is one of the main reasons people go back to using. In the event of seizures, severe confusion or loss of consciousness, call 112, the European emergency number.<\/p>\n

    How to overcome an addiction and prevent relapse<\/h2>\n

    Overcoming an addiction is a long, non-linear process. A relapse, that is, returning to the previous pattern of use after a period of abstinence, is common and does not mean all is lost. It is worth distinguishing it from a one-off lapse, which, if handled well, can be a learning opportunity.<\/p>\n

    Warning signs<\/h3>\n