Addiction counseling is a type of treatment that is used to address the underlying causes of a person’s drug and alcohol dependency. The practice of addiction counseling started in the early nineteen eighties. In that time, the United States has seen a significant rise in the number of people diagnosed with addictions like alcoholism, gambling, and drug abuse. This study provided data that supported the proposition that the percentage of addicts in the United States has decreased over the past couple of decades.

Every addict is susceptible to drug and alcohol abuse and is constantly dependent on these substances for their energy, motivation, and sense of happiness. People with addictions will eventually find that the use of these substances is not necessarily good for them. The harmful effects of abusing substances like alcohol and drugs are the main reason why people seek help from an addiction counselor.

Addiction counseling comes in many forms. Counseling is commonly performed in an outpatient setting, meaning that the patient will take an initial intake of medication, go through therapy sessions and follow-up therapy sessions to be administered in the outpatient setting. Many individuals or their families will request a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center to help facilitate their recovery. These types of centers exist to help addicts to return to a drug and alcohol free life.

Each of these rehab centers, like all medical treatments and medications, have their own set of risks and side effects. The unique risks of undergoing treatment for addictions are dependent on each patient’s age, personal symptoms, previous medical history, and past medical conditions. The effectiveness of these types of treatment varies from one patient to another, and each person’s body chemistry and habits may vary from what is recommended by a drug and alcohol rehabilitation counselor.

Addiction counseling will address the underlying causes of an individual’s addiction and the reasons why a person uses drugs and alcohol. This helps the patient to develop the proper coping skills and to explore the causes of the addiction. Medication is typically given to the patient to achieve sobriety and to help with withdrawal symptoms, which may cause the relapse of the patient.

Patients who complete these types of sessions often report improvements in their attitudes, behaviors, outlook, and level of motivation. However, these patients may still have some residual problems in their life that require additional assistance. These types of treatments can take time, since they are not an overnight fix.

Addiction counseling is a long term solution to the condition of addictions. Patients can be placed in individual and group therapy, along with short term drug detoxification maintenance, while they continue to deal with the disease of addiction.