The Role of Healthcare Professionals in Tackling Substance Abuse Problem

Substance abuse is a serious issue requiring medical intervention in many cases. Self- treatment fails for severe cases and it is important for a qualified professional to make a proper diagnosis.

Medical professionals play a vital role in helping patients tackle addiction. They are responsible for prescribing the right treatment options which build them up both physically and mentally.

Let us take a look at the role of healthcare professionals in beating substance abuse.

Proper Diagnosis

Only a proper and licensed healthcare professional can diagnose the severity of substance abuse problems accurately.

Along with urine or blood tests, the professional can evaluate the medical history and drug habits of a person to come up with a suitable diagnosis.

A physician or pathologist can analyze lab results to draw conclusions about the patient’s condition.

Depending upon this, they will establish if a person has a mild, moderate or severe abuse problem. They also clinically analyze the symptoms to corroborate the findings and check for any other related medical conditions.

Some common symptoms of substance abuse include red eyes, high blood pressure, high heart rate, breathing problems, dizziness and brain fog.

Giving Treatment Options

Depending upon the severity of the problem, a healthcare professional can suggest the best treatment options.

Many people who go through addiction try self-treatment. This often ends up failing because they tried the wrong method or didn’t do it properly.

Along with appropriate medication, healthcare professionals also prescribe the options for therapy – both group and personal. They can help patients enroll with rehabilitation program providers who meet the required certifications and hold appropriate licenses.

When a person is going through substance use disorder, navigating through different kinds of treatment can be hard to do on their own or even for the family. It is always better to have a team of dedicated healthcare professionals at a reputable center like WhiteSands Rehab Tampa to guide through the whole process.

Help With Daily Routine

In rehab, an addict will be required to transition to a new routine which might turn out to be very difficult for him or her. This includes following a proper schedule, eating healthy meals, attending therapy sessions and engaging in other activities.

A qualified dietician will be there to assist an addict with their meal plans. Along with dieticians, other doctors  are trained to help such patients transition more easily by gaining their confidence and cooperation.

Rehab physicians take care of those who may have gone through serious injuries because of abuse and aid in physical therapy as required.

Tracking Your Progress

In rehab, the goal is to get better with time. This means lesser withdrawal symptoms, better health and a higher resistance power.

A healthcare professional monitors patient progress to see how well they are doing in the treatment program. Depending upon this, they will alter schedule, prescribe different medication or allow patients to engage in even more activities.

Making slow progress can often be a huge discouragement for many addicts. If someone isn’t making sufficient progress, the professional will perform a more detailed investigation and come up with new solutions.

Encouragement

Many addicts get frustrated in their journey to recovery. They get angry, disappointed, withdrawn and feel like their path to recovery has a dead end.

Healthcare professionals play a vital role in encouraging such patients to keep up the fight and by stressing on the positive effects of therapy and medication.

Rehab therapists and counselors are such professionals who play a huge role in this situation.

Conclusion

If you deal with substance abuse and can’t fight it on your own, take the help of an experienced healthcare professional to help you.

The fight is definitely going to be difficult but there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel.