Posted by Mike Reis
All over the globe, the problem of drug use is one of the biggest public health challenges of our time. Coupled with the emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS), this issue has only gotten more pronounced.
To detail, in a 2020 review published in the Journal of Global Drug Policy and Practice, the frequent use of NPS was evident in a worldwide context. 730 NPS had been reported to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) by the end of 2018; and, through the UNODC Early Warning System alone, 119 countries were already in the process of monitoring 892 individual NPS. Although this was notably less from its peak in 2015 when NPS were being detected once a week, this matters greatly because the market has decidedly changed to producing more opioids and benzodiazepines rather than the usual stimulants and synthetic cannabinoids.
These numbers happen to be quite concerning; NPS has been notoriously linked with addictive properties, and some are even designed to mimic the effects of controlled illicit drugs.
In Thailand, many institutions and rehabilitation centers are acutely aware of this issue and have resolved to meet high-quality care standards to fight off growing addictions. Unfortunately, because of uncertainty and doubt, whether or not a person gets treated is difficult to say. Even with a helping hand reaching out, people are hesitant to seek help simply because they don’t know about what happens in rehab.
Therefore, to serve as a guide about the rehabilitation process, this article focuses on detailing activities within rehab centers, broken down from the moment a person walks through its doors to the structured addiction treatment experience, the holistic healing activities to be conducted, and other relevant details. This includes the rehab daily routine that is crucial for assisting the long-term recovery of rehab patients, because, in the end, rehab isn’t just about quitting—it’s about rebuilding.
Why People Enter Rehab—and Why Many Delay It
Entering rehabilitation often comes with one key personal aspect: a desire to change. Regardless of the patient’s reasons for entering, this aspect remains prevalent amongst individuals fighting their addiction of substance abuse, alcohol dependence, or illicit drug misuse, whether it is rooted internally from their autonomy or externally from their immediate environment.
The problem with these addictions is that they tend to spiral from short-term gratification into extensive unrest. They take the form of bodily problems in physical and mental health issues, social problems in family conflict, and economic difficulties in financial status. For some, facing any of these problems is enough to seek help. For others, the realization comes much more slowly—often after years of struggle.
This lack of proactivity to invest in daily rehab routines often lasts from years to even decades before even receiving proper addiction treatment experience.
Overall, it simply leads to less and less rehab enrollment turnouts. Across the world, the World Health Organization notes that there exists multiple barriers that play the role of delaying treatment. For one, there is a lack of recognition toward the need to enter rehab. Secondly, cultural factors exist in that partaking in rehab programs in rehab centers can lower social standing and create a stigma. And finally, some simply can’t access those services. Combined, these barriers effectively trap people in harmful cycles—in addiction to the point that their personal and social burdens start mounting.
Rehabilitation centers, however, work toward breaking those harmful cycles. Rehab is a delicate situation; it requires more than just willpower to break free from addiction—it requires support, structure, and professional care, too. So, what happens in rehab once they walk through those front doors?
What Happens at First Arrival
Taking the initial step into a rehabilitation center is one of the most crucial parts of the recovery journey. This is primarily where the patients undergo multiple comprehensive assessments to check for their physical health, mental well-being, and substance use history. Its purpose here is to ensure that the treatment applied is deeply personalized to fit the individual contexts of each patient.
Tailored treatment is a very important part of recovery. What works for others may not work for another. Hence, the aforementioned evaluations are an important and necessary process to undergo. At Sahwan Rehab, we proudly follow the internationally recognized bio-psycho-social approach, which not only takes care of the addiction but also addresses its root causes, these evaluations ensure that each treatment is not just personalized—it’s also holistic.
The World Health Organization emphasizes that rehabilitation services should be integrated into health systems to reduce the impacts of disease and injury to improve health outcomes, resulting in reduced long-term costs—and this principle is greatly seen in Thai institutions for their focus on early interventions that make significant impacts.
After the evaluations and with a proper treatment plan being utilized, the next step coincides with the other parts of the process—the introduction of the rehab daily routine itself. While each facility may differ, a structured daily schedule is often used to encourage stability and discipline.
A typical day might involve:
-
Adequate physical training to work the muscles, typically done in the mornings.
-
Complete sets of meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
-
Recreational activities to introduce healthy habits.
-
Education and counseling to improve general knowledge.
-
Excursions such as outdoor trips.
With all these considerations, a structured environment tailored specifically to meet the patient’s needs will be effective in laying down a strong foundation for sustained recovery and a return to a fulfilling life.
Therapy is More Than Just Talking
After being able to understand generally what happens in rehab, it’s time to figure out the key forms of treatment themselves—and it’s mostly centered on therapy.
Since rehabilitation isn’t just about detoxification or breaking free from excessive physical dependence, a large portion of “healing,” or more specifically, the addiction treatment experience inside rehab institutions, comes from within. Patients are faced with the challenge to unpack whatever reasons they considered to serve as the gateway toward substance use, all the while figuring out the best strategies to maintain the process of recovery in light of those reasons. This is where therapy comes in.
While it is easy to imagine rehabilitation centers obsolete for the idea that therapy sessions are simply sitting and talking, it’s a good idea to note that rehab centers take things to the professional level to ensure that help and recovery are properly delivered, and that therapy is definitely not just sitting and talking. Listed next are two strong examples:
- The first key type of therapy to scrutinize is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which stands as a cornerstone in addiction treatments. With a focal point in identifying and modifying detrimental thought patterns and behaviors associated with substance use, this method has a clean success rate of 60% for individuals sustaining their recovery a year after CBT application.
- To complement CBT, there’s also Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), which now focuses on resolving ambivalence in patients while fostering their motivation for change. One of MET’s strengths is that it works on the autonomy of the patient, often encouraging self-efficacious approaches. A research study with 40 alcohol-dependent individuals offered powerful insights on this, as the self-efficacy scores went from 56.30 ± 2.99 to 60.75 ± 2.65 after MET, suggesting its efficacy in boosting confidence and motivation to resist possible relapses.
Together, they serve as powerful tools to complement the addiction treatment experience they usually undertake.
Holistic and Recreational Healing Activities
But, to truly give life to how rehab patients can recover, the use of holistic and recreational activities is very paramount. While mind-related therapies are effective in tackling the mental aspect of rehabilitation processes, in which most are considered to be the focal point when applying treatments, somatic activities, such as yoga, fitness classes, and even golf, still perfectly complement the usual mental interventions.
After all, what happens in rehab can never be holistic if counseling periods are the only core feature, right? Hence, physical therapies more than just provide diversion, they also help in reducing overall stress, encouraging the patients to express emotions, and developing healthy rehab daily routines that last even beyond the scope of their stay—all of which are vital components of any addiction treatment experiences.
Delving into the specifics of how that may be…
-
Yoga is effective in enhancing mindfulness and emotional regulation.
-
Fitness classes help embody maintaining proper physical health.
-
Golf helps in diverting focus to something fun while healthy, like most other activities.
In fact, empirical evidence even supports the implementation of these interventions, as a meta-analysis held over 22 studies revealed that incorporating physical exercise into treatment programs provides significant boosts to abstinence rates with an odds ratio of 1.69, all while reducing the possible symptoms of depression and anxiety amongst individuals with substance use disorders.
Of course, these activities don’t have to be physical. Healing recreations also serve to be quite effective. So, activities such as drama therapy, Thai massage, spa, meditation classes, and cooking classes also serve to diversify the holistic nature of treatments. Interestingly enough, Thailand’s natural and reputed beauty make it the perfect environment for these therapies. In totality, this basically adds to the diversity that can be expected in addiction treatment experiences within rehab facilities.
Stable Support Systems and Peer Connection
With both mental and physical aspects covered, the other key component of a rehab is to broaden the patient’s social circle. Healing in isolation is difficult, especially in the context of recovery of addiction. Peer support offers a level of empathy that clinical staff simply cannot grasp, and seeing peers working toward their recovery can instill hope and motivation for a patient.
That is why stable support systems and peer connections serve as another cornerstone in addiction recovery. Not only can peer-led discussions foster a sense of community, but it can also reduce feelings of loneliness to simulate an environment where relatability is a core focus, and shared experiences can amplify the healing process.
These ideas are not mere ideas. In fact, peer connections are more than just comforting, they’re clinically effective. Studies indicate that the efficacy of peer support in addiction recovery is massive. Participants in peer support programs had an astonishing 45% higher likelihood of maintaining sobriety compared to those who don’t participate in these programs.
In other words, simply by fostering a sense of community, rehabilitation programs remain effective in not just addressing the clinical aspects of addiction but also in nurturing the social and emotional dimensions of the patient that are necessary for holistic recovery. Hence, for the rehab daily routine of the patients, it will be natural to expect the presence of multiple group counseling and other peer-related activities as part of the addiction treatment experience.
Rehabilitation as Part of the Recovery Journey
With all things considered, it’s time to stop and glance at the entirety of rehabilitation in what it offers.
While many view rehabilitation as the final stop in recovery, the truth is different in that it’s only the beginning of a lifelong journey toward wellness. What happens in rehab can be expected by patients simply by thinking of a structured environment that provides individuals not only a way to deal with their unhealthy addictions but also the foundational tools needed to take a firm grasp of their lives and control it.
This is precisely why one of the biggest parts of rehabilitation is the introduction of multiple relapse prevention strategies aimed at equipping each patient with the methods to recognize, anticipate, and manage triggers that could lead to any setback. In addition to these are the training of coping skills in helping individuals handle stress and build emotional resilience. This helps empower each patient to stop themselves from reverting to the usual harmful behaviors.
Day in and day out, patients are expected to undergo these sessions—after all, the overall goal of rehab facilities isn’t just sobriety; it’s sustainable, meaningful recovery.
Take the Initiative Toward Recovery Today
In light of all this, there’s no better time than to start the recovery period today. At Sahwan Rehab, healing isn’t just possible—it's personal. With our team of Western-trained licensed professionals, we’re sure to deliver evidence-based addiction treatment experiences with holistic high-quality care within a safe, luxury, and private environment to ensure that you or your loved one is equipped with the defenses needed to prevent relapses.
Whether it be seeking a fresh start or simply seeking to combat substance dependence, we’re here to guide with respect and confidentiality. Don’t wait for rock bottom—help yourself or your loved one choose a life of clarity, connection, and control. The journey begins with one single decision, and we’re ready whenever you are.
Don’t forget to reach out to us should our professional help be needed. We’re just one call or message away, ready to help and ready to take the first step toward lasting recovery.
Comments