Designer Drugs - Treatment for Habitual Users

Treatment for Habitual Users

Drug addiction is curable. Common forms of treatment include individual therapy, group therapy, day-long outpatient programs, and short-term inpatient programs. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) confirms that the most successful drug rehabilitation programs are those that tailor treatment to the user. Connelly pointed out that "individual therapy may uncover issues of poor self-esteem, depression, severe family problems, and/or preexisting psychological disorders" that are at the root of an individual's drug use. The primary goals of therapy include helping the patient to quit drugs, improving the patient's coping abilities and outlook on life, and reducing the risk of relapse.

Dosage Confusion

The effects of many designer drugs can be tripled or quadrupled in intensity with only minor increases in dosage. A 150-milligram dose of ecstasy, for example, can produce double the effects of a 120-milligram dose. Because most designer drugs are manufactured in illegal laboratories and are usually cooked up by inexperienced drug makers, the concentration of active ingredients in each batch can vary significantly.