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Is rehab more effective than AA?

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  3. Is rehab more effective than AA?
Asked: 2018-11-12 21:32:18
My son is on drugs, and we want to get him help. My Husband and I are trying to determine if we should put up the money for rehab, or send him to AA. Does anyone know if rehab is more effective for getting off of drugs than going to programs like AA?
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Answered: 2018-11-14 19:32:33

Hi Sarah. I agree with Walter. Detox and rehab treat addiction through intense individual and group therapy sessions that aim to revert the chemical malfunction in brains back to normal functioning like it was before the addiction. AA helps to maintain sobriety after treatment, which keeps the brain healthy. I think of AA as sobriety maintenance not sobriety treatment. Good luck with your son. With a supportive parent like you he's more likely to have success in treatment and recovery!

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Answered: 2018-11-13 14:36:03

Depending on the drugs, rehab may be your best choice. In my personal experience, rehab is best at getting a person to stop doing drugs and a 12-step program like AA or NA is good at keeping a person from starting again. It's not that one is more effective than the other, it's that they both serve slightly different goals. Rehab and a 12-step program together will be far more effective than either option would be on its own.

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Answered: 2019-01-31 17:52:38

Hi Sarah. First of all I am sorry for the situation your family is in, drug addiction weighs so heavy on a family. I think we should talk about how rehab and 12-steps can benefit your son's life. Let's start with rehab. Right now your son's brain is becoming or is dependent on his drug of choice. At this point AA can not help your son detox, properly evaluate him, have a therapist work with him on relapse prevention, CBT, and monitor his vitals in case their is complications with withdrawals. A rehab treatment center can do all those things and more. Rehab is generally a place where it is safe to purge your son's drug of choice from his body without having his dealer prey on his vulnerability during the withdrawal process. This is also the place where the 12 steps are introduced. The 12 step program is actually a non profit organization that is free to anyone who wants to remain sober and drug or alcohol free. They provide crisis support, there are sponsorship programs there, and of course relapse prevention. My recommendation for you and your son is to find an out of state rehab to prevent relapse and effective treatment. There he will safely get clean from his drug of choice and then when he graduates support him in finding a 12 program/meeting near you or his home. Encourage him to get involved in the sober community. Sober friends can set a good example of what a HAPPY and FULFILLING life looks like in recovery. Sarah, I hope this helped you and I wish the best for you and your family on this journey.

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