People who are struggling with drug or alcohol abuse might not know how to get started on the road to recovery or think it will be too hard to accomplish. That’s why it’s critical to understand that doctors who treat drug addiction are available to help, working hand in hand with other experts to offer treatment for drug addiction that is compassionate and effective.
In Los Angeles, Muse Treatment is a trusted drug and alcohol rehab center that offers a full range of addiction treatment programs, therapy, and aftercare support services to help people from all walks of life break the chains of addiction and achieve long-lasting recovery. Our board-certified doctors specialize in Addiction Medicine, keeping up to date with the latest research and treatment options to help you or your loved one achieve the brighter future you deserve. Let’s explore how doctors who specialize in addiction medicine can treat drug or alcohol addiction and offer the help that people need to get better.
What Is a Doctor Who Specializes in Drugs Called?
The American Board of Medical Specialties now recognizes Addiction Medicine (ADM) as a physician subspecialty, with credentialed subspecialists working as clinical experts, faculty members, and researchers. There are two main titles for doctors who treat drug addiction with this credential:
- Addiction Medicine Physicians: Doctors who are trained to diagnose and treat drug or alcohol addiction and other health conditions related to substance use disorder. In addition, they can work to assist family members who are affected by someone else’s addiction.
- Addiction Psychiatrists: Doctors with an addiction psychiatry subspecialty board certification offered by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse says this field of medicine is vitally important because substance abuse and addiction are America’s biggest preventable health problems. Still, only 10% of patients actually get treatment for addiction. By pushing this new subspecialty of medicine, the NIDA says these experts can help break the stigma of addiction and give patients the treatment options they need to get better.
What Kinds of Doctors Are Also Good for Addiction?
When considering doctors who treat drug addiction, it’s important to keep in mind that there are several different pathways to becoming a board-certified Addiction Medicine Physician or Addiction Psychiatrist. For example, professionals trained and experienced in family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, or psychiatry, among other fields, can specialize in Addiction Medicine. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says there are more than 5,000 medical doctors who are board-certified addiction specialists in the United States.
Do Neurologists Treat Addiction?
In addition to figuring out if your health insurance will cover the costs of drug rehab, you or a loved one who needs help to defeat addiction will need to do your research and make some critical choices. This includes where to seek help if an inpatient or outpatient treatment program is the best option for you, and what kinds of doctors who treat drug addiction would be the most beneficial in your case. But do neurologists treat addiction? In some cases, yes, neurologists could be a part of a treatment team of experts to help someone who is suffering from drug or alcohol addiction.
There are a couple of reasons why this can be the case. First, most drugs and substances of abuse can have a neurological impact on the person’s brain and how it functions. A neurologist might discover signs of neurological disorder caused by addiction, in which case they’d make referrals to Addiction Medicine specialists or other support networks and work closely with other experts to ensure proper treatment takes place. Another reason is that medications frequently used to treat neurological problems have the potential for abuse. A neurologist might realize that one of their patients has begun abusing or misusing their medications, and at that point, addiction treatment becomes necessary.
How Do Doctors Treat Drug Addicts?
Doctors who treat drug addiction most often use a variety of methods and treatment options as they work with patients who have a substance use disorder. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says addiction is a chronic disease, which means addiction treatment isn’t a cure; instead, it’s a way to manage this chronic condition. However, it’s important to keep in mind that addiction is treatable, and some evidence-based practices and options are even to be effective in doing so.
So, how do doctors treat addiction? Most often with a variety of treatment programs, including:
- Medication: Medication can serve multiple purposes in addiction treatment. Often, people who are beginning drug or alcohol rehab will first start with a short period of medical detoxification, and medications can help them get through withdrawal symptoms and cravings in a safer and more comfortable manner. In addition, medications are available for longer-term use for people who are dealing with an opioid or alcohol addiction.
- Therapy: Addiction is a mental and physical disease, and that’s why a treatment program needs to address both sides of the problem with therapy programs. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a standard treatment option to help patients identify and change flawed or unhealthy ways of thinking about or responding to the world. Other treatment options can include motivational enhancement therapy, family therapy, contingency management, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and much more, in addition to group therapy sessions.
Get Help From Doctors Who Treat Drug Addiction at Muse Treatment
If you’re looking for doctors who treat drug addiction to help yourself or someone you love, Muse Treatment can help. Our drug and alcohol rehab facility in Los Angeles is staffed by experts who know how to offer compassionate, effective treatment delivered by addiction specialists, experienced therapists, and doctors who are board-certified in Addiction Medicine. Our team can help you understand when to seek medical drug detox, how to verify insurance coverage for treatment, and whether an inpatient or outpatient drug or alcohol rehab program is best for you. Don’t wait – a better future without addiction can start today. Get started by calling us at 800-426-1818 today.
External Sources
- National Institute on Drug Abuse – About the Addiction Medicine Subspecialty
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism – How to Find Quality Alcohol Treatment
- Springer Nature Link – Substance Use Disorders and Neurologic Illness
- National Institute on Drug Abuse – Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction
