what might you want to get out of treatment?
In the treatment industry, the agreed list of the goals of drug treatment are to:
- Reduce or cease drug use.
- Improve physical health.
- Improve psychological health.
- Improve social and occupational functioning.
- Prevent death.
- Reduce criminal activity.
It is important to think about what your goals might be. You don't have to have all six goals - you might be interested in getting help solely with cutting down drug use, or you may want to improve your physical health without making other changes, or you might want some timeout from drug use for a period (a 'grease and oil change'), or you might want the full gig (a new engine), i.e. no drug use and improved physical, emotional and social well-being. It helps if you have thought about your goals when you are looking at your treatment options. Of course, goals change and what you think you want at the start may well end up being different at the end. Treatment providers expect this and should be able to help you sort through changing goals during your treatment experience.