La Paloma Article Archives

For those who haven’t battled a substance abuse problem or other addiction, just getting the hang of the language can be a difficult undertaking at first. Even the basics aren’t always clear. Take the terms “treatment” and “recovery” for instance. If you’re in treatment, aren’t you going through recovery? What’s the difference?

Treatment is a more formal period, often taking place in a residential or live-in setting. It may start with a period of detoxification or detox (but that’s a term for another article), and there are meetings as well as group and one-on-one counseling. Everything from nutrition and exercise to family dynamics and self-image are covered.

Once someone has completed a treatment program, whether it’s outpatient, residential, short-term or long-term, they move on to the recovery phase. Some move to a transitional house — a location with more freedom and less structure — that serves as a stepping stone back into the “real” world. Others return home and begin the task of finding a new “normal” routine. No matter where someone goes after treatment, group or one-on-one meetings are recommended to help them stay on track. They provide ongoing support and accountability as well as a resource for the unique issues that can arise post-treatment.

It’s not possible to understand what a loved one or family member goes though when battling an addiction, but by learning a little about the process you can be more prepared for what lies ahead.