14 DAY TRIAL // Experts recognize that getting rid of addictions of any sort is indeed possible, given the right condition. They say that doing is however not as easy as everyone thinks, and that a lot of time is needed.
For example, many believe that spending only 30 days in a rehabilitation clinic or program doesn't mean anything in the long run. Changing a habit is hard enough in years as it is.
According to PhD student in psychology Adi Jaffe, addiction issues are a lot more complex that people make them out to be when talking about them.
As a former drug addict, with more than a year of treatment under his belt, Jaffe is extremely well qualified to talk about addiction, its effects, and its consequences.
And people need to hear what he has to say, given the vast number of people that are addicted to various substances. In the United States alone, 2 million enter addiction treatment programs.
There are about 12,000 addiction treatment programs in the country at this point, and researchers estimate that the number of those who are addicted is in fact significantly higher than statistics show.
Jaffe, who will serve as a postdoctoral fellow in the Integrated Substance Abuse Programs at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), says that treating people is a lengthy process.
Assuming that you can do so both quickly and easily is however an unfounded assumption, and one that could have severe repercussions on the future health of patients enlisted in rehabilitation clinics.
“Treating addicts with 30-day programs is a horrendous idea. Almost nobody changes a habit in 30 days,” the PhD student reveals.
“The National Institute on Drug Abuse has long recommended a minimum of 90 days residential treatment. Most people don't get that, and rehab for a month is just not enough,” he adds.
“The longer the addiction and the more entrenched, the longer you need to be away from it. You need to give yourself time for all the physical aspects of the addiction, the cravings and triggers to wane,” Jaffe explains further.
“After your mind has quieted down, you can start adapting new routines. Otherwise, you will jump right back into your old routines – that's all you know how to do.” he explains.
One of the main points the researcher is trying to make is that people should not feel discouraged if one of their attempts at rehabilitation has failed.
Generally speaking, only 25 percent of those enlisted in clinics or programs are able to get rid of their addiction, but this goal can be achieved. Patience and determination are strong allies in this fight.