If Opiate Addiction Treatment Doesn’t Provide a True Cure, Why Do People Go?

Many people want to measure the success of an opiate abuse treatment program by the number of people it effectively cures. However, there is no opiate abuse cure, which is why rehab centers measure their success with evidence based markers, like length of abstinence and level of functioning. There can be no standardized measure of success.

This proves difficult for a number of people who, expecting an opiate abuse cure, find themselves questioning the need for treatment that doesn’t meet their definition of victory. Unfortunately, a persistent belief that addiction can be cured leads to opiate addiction treatment disappointments and a lack of engagement in the treatment process. To better retain and engage people in rehab, it the goal must be better defined as treatment and management, not cure.

Addiction Can Be Treated

If we accept the goal of rehab to be effective treatment that allows patients to manage their addiction, the usefulness of opiate addiction treatment is reframed. People attend to achieve this goal, rather than in search of a permanent end to addiction.

Addiction is literally a chronic disease. This means it is a progressive, long-term illness that has a high probability of relapse. Other chronic diseases include diabetes, lung disease, hypertension, and asthma. All of these can be treated, but there are no known cures. That doesn’t stop people from seeking treatment.

Managing Addiction

People attend opiate addiction treatment to gain the skills needed to manage the symptoms of their addiction. They often receive medication that control cravings and therapy that allows them to adjust their attitudes and behavior. This is the value of professional care.

Making Excuses

A lot of people question the point of rehab in the absence of a cure because they want to avoid treating their addiction or postpone it. It is important to think about the efficacy of actual treatment and to acknowledge that though it does not provide an opiate abuse cure, it changes lives for the better. There should be no excuses not to go.