Best Affordable Drug Addiction Treatment Center in Boston MA

Drug Addiction Treatment Center in Boston MA

Drug addiction is described as a prolonged, and often relapsing, disorder where the patient compulsively seeks drugs in disregard for their harmful consequences.

Addiction often leads to long-lasting physical and mental changes. If the patient is restrained from taking drug, he or she will experience adverse effects, also known as withdrawal symptoms. These include headaches, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, convulsions, tremors, breathlessness, et cetera.

Diagnosis of Drug Addiction 

Drug addiction, also known as substance use disorder can be diagnosed clinically via a thorough evaluation process which often includes an assessment by a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. Various laboratory tests are done like:

• Blood test 
• Urine test
• Liver function tests (LFTs)

These tests are however just for monitoring and screening, and should not be used as a sole basis for diagnosis of an addiction. The criteria according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, is followed by most mental health professionals when diagnosing an addiction.

We can diagnose addiction, however, there is no cure for this condition. Under clinical conditions, the patient can only overcome the addiction and reach abstinence. Relapses can occur throughout life. Relapses can be prevented by life-long follow up sessions.

Treatment of Drug Addiction

Treatment of drug addiction can be quite tricky as every patient requires different types of help. Some people perform well under intense scrutiny in isolation, whereas other patients need support from friends and family to overcome barriers.

Drug addiction treatment is tailored according to the patient’s needs. The patient is provided with medical, psychological and medication-assisted treatment. It is decided on individual basis if patient requires inpatient, outpatient or residential therapy.

The first step of treatment is detoxification. Detoxification involves expulsion of all toxins and traces of drug from the body. Think of it as a cleanse. This can be done by abstinence from the drug, where the patient avoids taking the drug but will suffer from a flurry of withdrawal symptoms that will negatively affect his mental and physical health.

The abused drug can be lowered in doses so as to avoid very severe withdrawal symptoms. The patient can also take a medication-assisted treatment plan where the patient is given a non-addictive drug, such as methadone, buprenorphine, or a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone in place of abused drug. This drug does not cause any withdrawal symptoms.

Drug Addiction Treatment at Lowell, MA

Our drug addiction treatment center in Lowell, Massachusetts is equipped with a team of board-certified physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors who coordinate the treatment plan according to the patient’s needs and handle them with utmost care and compassion. Patients are provided with medical, physiological and medication-assisted treatment.