Like treatment for hypertension, diabetes, and asthma, then, successful addiction treatment must have long-term components. Recovery is a process that needs to address body, mind and spirit, say many treatment professionals, as well as work, social, legal, family, and vocational issues. Mere detoxification, or getting the alcohol or other drugs out of the addict's system and stabilizing him or her medically, is only the first step in a long process of recovery. Detoxification is the first stage of the treatment process, a process designed to stabilize a heavy drug user until he or she is free of illicit drugs. If the treatment field measured its success by the proportion of people who start detoxification and finish it, adds McLellan, it would be viewed as highly effective.
Behavioral change is necessary, and behavioral change needs to be practiced and supported.
He notes that a recovering heroin addict, for example, would initially find it very difficult to walk through the neighborhood associated with his drug use without feeling a craving. Addictions counselor Mimi Bazuin discusses coping strategies with recovering women. We try to help identify their own behavioral cues. . . . Since there is no cure for addiction, oftentimes the treatment and recovery process uses spirituality to encourage hope, reduce feelings of isolation, and promote a sense of community with other recovering people.