<unk>  (often<unk>  rehab or just rehab) is an umbrella term for the processes of medical and/or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription<unk> s, and so-called street<unk> s such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines. The general intent is to enable the patient to cease substance abuse, in order to avoid the psychological, legal, financial, social, and physical consequences that can be caused, especially by extreme abuse.<unk>  tends to address a stated twofold nature of<unk>  dependency: physical and psychological dependency. Physical dependency involves a detoxification process to cope with withdrawal symptoms from regular use of a<unk> . With regular use of many<unk> s, legal or otherwise, the brain gradually adapts to the presence of the<unk>  so that the desired effect is minimal. Apparently normal functioning of the user may be observed, despite being under the influence of the<unk> . This is how physical tolerance develops to<unk> s such as heroin, amphetamines, cocaine, nicotine or alcohol. It also explains why more of the<unk>  is needed to get the same effect with regular use. The abrupt cessation of taking a<unk>  can lead to withdrawal symptoms where the body may take weeks or months (depending on the<unk>  involved) to return to normal.
Psychological dependency is addressed in many<unk>  programs by attempting to teach the patient new methods of interacting in a<unk> -free environment. In particular, patients are generally encouraged or required not to associate with friends who still use the addictive substance. Twelve-step programs encourage addicts not only to stop using alcohol or other<unk> s, but to examine and change habits related to their addictions. Many programs emphasize that recovery is a permanent process without culmination. For legal<unk> s such as alcohol, complete abstention—rather than attempts at moderation, which may lead to relapse—is also emphasized ("One drink is too many; one hundred drinks is not enough.") Whether moderation is achievable by those with a history of abuse remains a controversial point but is generally considered unsustainable.
Various types of programs offer help in<unk> , including: residential treatment (in-patient), out-patient, local support groups, extended care centres, and sober houses.
Pharmacotherapies to a greater or lesser extent have come to play a part in<unk> . Certain opioid medications such as methadone and more recently buprenorphine are widely used and show significant efficacy in the treatment of dependence on other opioids such as heroin, morphine or oxycodone. Methadone and buprenorphine are maintenance therapies used with an intent of stabilizing an abnormal opioid system and used for long durations of time though both may be used to withdraw patients from narcotics over short term periods as well. Ibogaine is an experimental medication proposed to interrupt both physical dependence and psychological craving to a broad range or<unk> s including narcotics, stimulants, alcohol and nicotine. Some antidepressants also show use in moderating<unk>  use, particularly to nicotine, and it has become common for researchers to re-examine already approved<unk> s for new uses in<unk> .<unk>  is sometimes part of the criminal justice system. People convicted of minor<unk>  offences may be sentenced to<unk>  instead of prison, and those convicted of driving while intoxicated are sometimes required to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. There have been lawsuits filed, and won, regarding the requirement of attending Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step meetings as being inconsistent with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution, mandating separation of church and state.
Some psychotherapists question the validity of the "diseased person" model used within the<unk>  environment. Instead, they state that the individual person is entirely capable of rejecting previous behaviours. Further, they contend that the use of the disease model of addiction simply perpetuates the addicts' feelings of worthlessness, powerlessness, and inevitably causes inner conflicts that would be easily resolved if the addict were to approach addiction as simply behaviour that is no longer productive, the same as childhood tantrums.<unk>  does not utilize any of these ideas, inasmuch as they intrinsically contradict the assumption that the addict is a sick person in need of help.
Traditional addiction treatment is based primarily on counselling. However, recent discoveries have shown that those suffering from addiction often have chemical imbalances that make the recovery process more difficult. Often, these imbalances may be corrected through improved diet, nutritional supplements and leading a healthy lifestyle. Some of the more innovative treatment centres are now offering a "Biochemical Restoration" process to supplement the counselling portion of treatment.
For patients that are uninsured, there are a few options for low-cost<unk>  rehab programs.  For instance, Cuba has long been known for its excellent<unk>  rehab programs that address not only the<unk> 's impact on the individual, but the cause behind the addiction. A Canadian firm, Choice Medical Services, arranges Cuban<unk>  rehab stays.
Drug rehabilitation
Suicide medical therapy
Suicide Pharmacotherapy
Antipsychiatry
Personality disorder interventions
Dementia medical therapy
Anhedonia medical therapy
Anxiety medical therapy