Finding The Best Drug Rehab in Switzerland
Are you searching for an addiction treament center in Switzerland? Switzerland is one of the happiest countries in the world, the 5th happiest country as of 2018. With about 8.5 million citizens in the nation, there is a 2.6% unemployment rate and an average income of $54,031 per person. Even with all of the happiness and prosperity the average person in Switzerland is experiencing, citizens are still experiencing the drug crisis that is sweeping across the world. If you or somebody that you know is struggling with addiction or substance abuse, you are not alone. It is estimated that 240 million people are addicted to alcohol and 15 million people are reliant on drugs that you inject, like heroin. Finding a drug rehab in Switzerland may be easier than ever before.
Drug Use in Switzerland
Among the drug epidemic that is taking place across the world, Switzerland is taking the most action to solve the problem for their citizens. In 1997, drug use in the country was at its highest, and the government decided it was time to do something about it. The nation implemented a drug-replacement therapy in which patients would go to a medical facility and receive an injection of diacetylmorphine, a heroin manufactured legally. The idea behind this was to get users off the streets and help them recover the financial and social aspects of their life while improving their health and safety. While this program is still in its trial, there have been mixed reviews from those who have tried it. While some say that it has helped them to rebuild their lives and provided them structure, others have said the side effects have been worse than the treatment and later turned to traditional drug rehab clinics in Switzerland.
How to Tell If I Need Treatment
Deciding whether or not you need to seek treatment can be a difficult decision. Often times we are unable to see the addiction or substance abuse in ourselves. In many cases, people who are experiencing addiction are in denial that they are addicted to the substance and believe that they could stop anytime that they want to. Chances are that if you are questioning whether or not you need to receive treatment, you probably do. If you are unsure whether you have a problem, here are some signs that you should talk to somebody or seek help.
- Your family or friends have asked you to stop. Loved ones are usually the first to notice when something isn’t right or if a person is acting in an unusual way. If someone speaks up to you about your use, consider it a warning sign.
- You have blacked out and don’t remember events or entire nights or days. If you have had a night that seems spotty or don’t remember events that you attended, that is a sign that your use is out of your control.
- Your doctor has told you that you have health problems related to the substance abuse. If you are putting your health at risk to continue your habit, that is a sign that you are abusing the substance and should seek help.
- You cannot control how much of the substance you consume. If you set out to have one drink and end up drunk every time you go out, you should reconsider the other ways that drinking, or using any substance, is impacting your life.
- You have lied about using the substance. If you have to hide what you are doing, there is a good chance it probably shouldn’t be done.
- You have tried to quit but cannot despite your best efforts. If there has been a time where you wanted to quit but just always go back to the substance, you are dependent on it and probably won’t be able to recover from it on your own.
- You have done harm to yourself or somebody else as a result of substance use. If there is any situation where you have caused physical harm, whether that be driving under the influence, overdose, or getting physically aggressive while on the substance, you have a problem with the substance.
If one of more of these symptoms sounds familiar to you, you may be struggling with addiction. Luckily, finding a treatment center in Switzerland can be made easy. For a person that is suffering from substance abuse and addiction, treatment becomes a multi-step process that must be committed to for life. While each treatment facility can be different, here is the basic blueprint that most treatment facilities will follow.
Assessment
Once a person who is struggling with substance abuse commits to a facility, they will receive an assessment by a team of professionals. This is important because it gives the faculty at the facility a clear picture of where the patient is and what kind of treatment that thy will need. During this time, the patient may be asked questions about their past medical history, their past substance abuse, and any treatment they had received before. These questions may make the patient feel embarrassed and vulnerable, which may lead them to downplay the severity of the issue. It is important during this time that the patient is extremely honest when answering these questions to ensure that they get the best, most comprehensive level of treatment that fits them the best.
Intake
After the assessment portion is completed, the patient will then meet with the intake team at the facility of their choice. During this process, the patient and their family, if applicable, will meet with the specialist to discuss the details of their treatment. During this time, the patient has the opportunity to ask questions and talk about any concerns that they might have. It is also during this time that the specialist will share the plan for treatment. Of course, this could be subject to change depending on the success of the plan, but it will provide an idea of what the treatment will look like for the patient.
Detox
When a person abuses a substance for an extended period of time, their body gets used to receiving that substance and becomes reliant on in. Before they are able to begin their stay at an inpatient treatment facility, a person must remove that substance from their body. This is done during a step called detox, which can last anywhere from 3 to 7 days depending on the length and severity of the substance abuse. During this time, patients stay in a controlled setting with trained medical staff to assist them in the withdrawal process. During this time, patients will experience both physical and psychological symptoms that may make this process uncomfortable. Some of the physical symptoms they may experience can be nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, sweating, dizziness, and constipation among others. Some of the psychological symptoms that they may experience include anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and suicidal thoughts. These symptoms will improve as the body continues to detox and with time, the patient will begin to feel “normal” again. After completing the detox process, patients are able to move to their inpatient treatment location.
Inpatient
Inpatient treatment is a residential treatment where patients are required to remain at the facility for the duration of their program. Typically, contact with people on the outside is limited or even prohibited and patients are encouraged to focus on themselves and their treatment. Inpatient treatment can last anywhere from 30 days to 12 weeks depending on the specific facility and the individual needs of the patient. While receiving this level of care, patients take part in daily therapy and support groups as well as therapeutic and mindfulness activities such as creative writing and art. The purpose of inpatient treatment is to focus on their goal of sobriety, treat underlying issues that lead to substance abuse, and show patients that there other coping mechanisms that exist that they can turn to when they are thinking about using the substance.
In most cases the best drug rehab in Switzerland use the 12-Step Program for addiction recovery. This is a program developed by Alcoholics Anonymous and provides a course of action for people who are struggling with substance abuse to follow to reach sobriety and improve their relationships with themselves and others. The 12 steps can be outlined as follows:
- 1: The person admits that the substance has control over them.
- 2: The person comes to believe that a higher power exists and can help them.
- 3: The person makes the decision to let the higher power help them during their recovery.
- 4: The person takes an honest look at who they are and what they have done.
- 5: The person admits to a higher power, themselves, and another person of the things they have done wrong.
- 6: The person becomes entirely ready to let the higher power remove their character defects.
- 7: The person asks the higher power to help them remove their shortcomings and character defects.
- 8: The person makes a list of the people that they have harmed as a result of their substance abuse.
- 9: The person makes amends with the people on the list that they have harmed, unless if attempting to make amends with that person would cause more harm to either person involved.
- 10: The person continues to look at themselves and admit when they are wrong or have made a mistake.
- 11: The person seeks out meditation or prayer to improve their relationship with the higher power.
- 12: The person has a spiritual awakening as a result of completing the steps and continues to share the message with others.
Typically when a person is working through the 12-Step Program, they have a sponsor, such as a professional or a person who has already completed the program, to keep them accountable and provide them with support during this time.
Outpatient
After completing the residential portion of their treatment, patients move on to outpatient care. There are different types of outpatient options that a person can choose from or may be recommended to by their inpatient facility.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) – A PHP is a type of outpatient treatment in which the patient arrives for treatment from roughly 5 days a week for a large portion of the day, but then returns home for the evening. This type of treatment is a transitional “step down” from the continuous level of care that people were used to receiving in their inpatient treatment. Different therapeutic methods are also used in this type of program and may vary depending on the patients individual needs. While in a PHP, patients are able to transition back into their old lives while still receiving an intensive level of care and support from trained professionals and others who are in the same position as them.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) – An IOP is another outpatient treatment plan that is even more of a transitional “step down” from a PHP or inpatient facility. In this type of treatment, patients typically attend for 3 hours in the evenings 3 days a week. This level of care still provides a strong level of care and support as they transition back to their old lives, but allows people to take on responsibilities such as a job or even going to school. Patients in IOPs also take part in different types of therapies in both individual and group settings.
After Care
Along with outpatient treatments like PHPs and IOPs, there are other types of aftercare that recovering addicts are able to take part in. Some of the most popular programs are Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Both are founded by the same core group and are support groups for people working towards staying sober. Both groups encourage a full sobriety mindset to prevent people from relapsing and falling back into old habits. These groups are free to attend and are facilitated by trained professionals, but take a more relaxed tone to allow patients to share their concerns and struggles at that point in their lives. AA and NA both created and follow the 12-Step Treatment Plan that most inpatient and outpatient facilities also follow.
Treatment Centers In Switzerland
Finding drug rehab centers in Switzerland can be an intimidating step for someone who is looking to start their recovery process, but the amount of quality facilities that exist make taking the first step simpler. With all the different treatment methods and amenities that each one has to offer, anyone is bound to find the right fit for them. Here is a look at some of the more popular addiction treatment facilities that Switzerland has to offer.
Clinic Les Alpes
Located in Montreux, Switzerland, Clinic Les Alpes is a treatment facility that focuses on substance and behavioral addictions, like gambling or food addiction. Patients who receive treatment in this facility will receive detox and then spend 30 days in the inpatient center before receiving outpatient care. Clinic Les Alpes takes a holistic approach to treat the individual person, not just the addictive behaviors. They also recognize that addiction affects everybody, not just the person struggling with the addictive behavioral, therefore they offer family therapy to help improve relationships and heal together. Treatment at this facility is primarily given in English, but they also offer French, Spanish, Russian, Italian, and Portuguese to those who my require it.
The Kusnacht Practice
The Kusnacht Practice is another popular residential treatment facility that can be found in Zurich, Switzerland. This is another facility that provides mental health services, addiction treatment, and eating disorders. When people attend this facility, they are offered one-on-one care with a licensed professional to help them develop and follow through a treatment plan. The Kusnacht Practice uses a wide range of treatment methods depending on the needs of the patient and their treatment plan. While staying in drug centers Switzerland
, patients may take part in programs that are offered for up to 8 hours each day. The typical length of stay is from 1 to 3 months, and after they are provided with after care and support in the form of outpatient therapy and support groups.
Paracelsus Recovery
Zurich, Switzerland is home to another treatment facility, Paracelsus Recovery. Faculty and staff at this facility work together to treat substance addiction, eating disorders, and other mental illnesses that usually occur in people who are struggling with addiction. This facility implements many different types of therapeutic methods in treatment like one-on-one counseling, functional medicine, and spiritual care. The type and amount of the method that is used in treatment is dependent on the individual, as all needs are different. They also work with the families of the clients to help all the individuals impacted by the addiction or illness. The typical length of stay at the Paracelsus Recovery Center is 30 days, however that is flexible depending on the level of care that is needed for the patient. Once a patient is discharged from the inpatient treatment facility, they are offered extensive aftercare and support groups to provide them support through the rest of their recovery.
