Addicts 'can be treated effectively, but not quickly'

Washington, Sep 09 (ANI): A UCLA psychologist has said that people can overcome severe addictions which ruins their lives and are extremely difficult to control, but not quickly or easily.

Nearly 2 million Americans enter roughly 12,000 addiction treatment programs in the U.S. each year.

Adi Jaffe, a former drug addict who spent almost a year in treatment, holds strong views about addictions of all types and the process of rehabilitation.

He believes addicts can be treated successfully - but not quickly or easily.

"Treating addicts with 30-day programs is a horrendous idea," Jaffe says.

"Almost nobody changes a habit in 30 days. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has long recommended a minimum of 90 days residential treatment. Most people don't get that, and rehab for a month is just not enough.

"The longer the addiction and the more entrenched, the longer you need to be away from it. You need to give yourself time for all the physical aspects of the addiction, the cravings and triggers to wane. After your mind has quieted down, you can start adapting new routines. Otherwise, you will jump right back into your old routines - that's all you know how to do," Jaffe added. (ANI)