Helpful and Optional Resources of Addiction Recovery

When addressing a substance addiction, there are conventional methods of recovery that are usually applied. For example, someone addicted to alcohol may attend group sessions to discuss their problem; they may detox from alcohol; they may go to therapy sessions; or they may go to a Toronto rehab. 

These conventional treatments are customary because they have a strong track-record of helping people recover from addiction. But there is no singular roadmap for recovery. Different methods can be used in combination with one another to form a rehabilitation program that may work for one individual but not another.

In this article, we look at some of the central pillars of substance addiction treatment and determine whether they are mandatory, recommended or optional. 

But before we begin, it’s worth reiterating that different people respond to different treatments. Even this article, which in some sense, attempts to objectively weigh the relative value of different treatment types, should not be taken as dogma. 

Is detoxing an essential part of substance addiction recovery?

It can be awfully difficult to go through addiction therapy, or participate in recreational activities, when going through withdrawal. That’s why detoxing is often a prerequisite for rehab. But it isn’t always a prerequisite.

If a client has not consumed an addictive substance within 72 hours of checking into a treatment centre, they are not advised to undergo a detox. This is because they have already detoxed themselves, and their time can more productively be spent participating in other elements of the program. 

Technically, medical detoxing in Toronto is a standalone program that is separate from rehab treatment. No one must undergo a detox, but for most clients – those who have consumed the substance they’re addicted to within the last three days – it is highly recommended. 

Is attending a rehab centre essential to addiction recovery?

Technically, not everyone needs help shirking an addiction. But most people who are truly addicted to something do need help. Attending a rehab treatment program is the most effective way to attain that help. But it’s not the only option. 

Support groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous, work for some people. Attending private therapy sessions will work for others. A rehab treatment centre tends to centralize the most helpful resources and give clients the best chance of recovery, but it is not impossible to recover without attending such a program. 

That said, people with the highest level of dependencies are more likely to overcome their addiction by attending a rehab centre.

Is living on site at a rehab centre necessary to recover from addiction? 

The word ‘rehab’ is usually associated with a physical location, at least within the context of addiction. But that’s not always accurate. Some addiction rehab programs are known as outpatient programs in Toronto, in which clients are allowed to live at home, continue working, and otherwise carrying on as usual. 

Rather than living on site, the client will attend regularly scheduled therapy sessions, as anyone else would. This arrangement is ideal for those who cannot afford a residential program, or who are able to function normally during their rehabilitation. 

Outpatient programs cannot typically provide the same level of attention and care that residential programs do, so in most cases, residential programs are preferable. But for some, outpatient programs work better because they cause less disruption to daily life. As with so many other elements of rehab, what’s ‘best’ relies on the individual being treated. 

Is seclusion from the outside world the best type of rehab?

Different rehab centres offer varying levels of seclusion from the outside world. Even among Trafalgar’s centres this is the case. Our addiction rehab treatment centre in Guelph, for example, is completed cloistered. Clients receive treatment in the same place they are staying, so there is no need to go off-site. Our rehab treatment centre in Peterborough, on the other hand, is divided into two locations – where residents stay and where they receive treatment, in Port Hope. 

There is no definitively better setup. Complete seclusion permits deeper focus and introspection, while partial seclusion lends experience to real-world interaction. There are pros and cons to either scenario, and many times it just comes down to the person and their level of dependence. Complete isolation is not a must when it comes to addiction treatment. 

Is therapy the only way to overcome addiction?

Therapy isn’t a component of all addiction treatments. That may come as a surprise, but it’s important to note what we mean when we say ‘therapy.’

‘Counselling’ is almost always part of addiction treatment – like in an AA meeting. But therapy is provided by a licenced therapist, who has the educational training and professional experience to help clients understand the underlying issues that cause or trigger their addiction. 

Both counselling and therapy are useful tools in the fight against substance addiction, but therapy is a more in depth process that leads to meaningful self discovery. While it isn’t a mandatory component of all rehab treatments, we highly recommend it, and have made it a component of all of the programs we offer. 

Are ongoing meetings and treatments necessary to avoid relapse? 

Recovery is more a journey than a destination you reach at the end of a 30-day program. That’s why rehab treatment providers will offer aftercare addiction programs in Toronto, which enables graduated clients to meet in group sessions for continued support, practicing social skills and identifying triggers.

Aftercare isn’t mandatory, nor does everyone need it. But it can be useful. To analogize to the physical rehabilitation of an injury, imagine you tear your ACL and have surgery to fix it. After eight months your ACL is once again fully functional. But you know there’s still a risk of reaggravating the injury. In this scenario, Aftercare would be akin to continued rehabilitation you do on your own. Maybe that means wearing a brace when you play sports, or continuing with recommended exercises to further strengthen the supporting muscles. 

In the case of either physical or addiction rehab, continuing to treat the condition may not always be necessary, but it can help prevent relapse or a second injury, and is therefore a worthwhile element of rehabilitation.