ing and service to one's family and community. Successful treatment is defined by people who are abstinent, recovering, and accountable for their actions. In the unfortunate events of a relapse, treatment can still be considered successful if that person is better able to recognize his/her addictive behavior and get back on the proper path toward recovery.

For an

What is successful treatment of addiction? To answer this question correctly, it needs to be understood first that addiction is a chronic, lifelong condition that requires changes to one's lifestyle and behaviors. Like diabetes or hypertension, addiction is a disease and can prove as fatal as a malignant cancer is left untreated. Whether the dependence is on drugs, alcohol, or behaviors like gambling and overeating, the fact remains that an obsession with anything can prove to be unhealthy.

When an addict admits himself into a rehabilitation center, the goal is recovery - a permanent remission of this disease. However, chronic addiction is often characterized by periodic relapses into active use of a substance or habit, whether through peer pressure or the inability to cope with stress. It would be ignorant of any treatment provider to think that their methods could cure an individual of addiction or prevent relapse.

We know that bad things happen to good people. When bad things happen, a recovering addict/alcoholic may backslide into old habits. Does this mean the treatment was not successful? No, it just means the person got sick again.

Knowing what rehabilitation professionals and physicians have learned and implemented in the practice of recovery, we can define successful treatment as thus:

Recovery from addiction is the abstinence from all controlled substances and/or unhealthy behaviors, while embracing a lifestyle focused on well being and service to one's family and community. Successful treatment is defined by people who are abstinent, recovering, and accountable for their actions. In the unfortunate events of a relapse, treatment can still be considered successful if that person is better able to recognize his/her addictive behavior and get back on the proper path toward recovery.

For an

ohol, or behaviors like gambling and overeating, the fact remains that an obsession with anything can prove to be unhealthy.

When an addict admits himself into a rehabilitation center, the goal is recovery - a permanent remission of this disease. However, chronic addiction is often characterized by periodic relapses into active use of a substance or habit, whether through peer pressure or the inability to cope with stress. It would be ignorant of any treatment provider to think that their methods could cure an individual of addiction or prevent relapse.

We know that bad things happen to good people. When bad things happen, a recovering addict/alcoholic may backslide into old habits. Does this mean the treatment was not successful? No, it just means the person got sick again.

Knowing what rehabilitation professionals and physicians have learned and implemented in the practice of recovery, we can define successful treatment as thus:

Recovery from addiction is the abstinence from all controlled substances and/or unhealthy behaviors, while embracing a lifestyle focused on well being and service to one's family and community. Successful treatment is defined by people who are abstinent, recovering, and accountable for their actions. In the unfortunate events of a relapse, treatment can still be considered successful if that person is better able to recognize his/her addictive behavior and get back on the proper path toward recovery.

For an

through peer pressure or the inability to cope with stress. It would be ignorant of any treatment provider to think that their methods could cure an individual of addiction or prevent relapse.

We know that bad things happen to good people. When bad things happen, a recovering addict/alcoholic may backslide into old habits. Does this mean the treatment was not successful? No, it just means the person got sick again.

Knowing what rehabilitation professionals and physicians have learned and implemented in the practice of recovery, we can define successful treatment as thus:

Recovery from addiction is the abstinence from all controlled substances and/or unhealthy behaviors, while embracing a lifestyle focused on well being and service to one's family and community. Successful treatment is defined by people who are abstinent, recovering, and accountable for their actions. In the unfortunate events of a relapse, treatment can still be considered successful if that person is better able to recognize his/her addictive behavior and get back on the proper path toward recovery.

For an

cessful? No, it just means the person got sick again.

Knowing what rehabilitation professionals and physicians have learned and implemented in the practice of recovery, we can define successful treatment as thus:

Recovery from addiction is the abstinence from all controlled substances and/or unhealthy behaviors, while embracing a lifestyle focused on well being and service to one's family and community. Successful treatment is defined by people who are abstinent, recovering, and accountable for their actions. In the unfortunate events of a relapse, treatment can still be considered successful if that person is better able to recognize his/her addictive behavior and get back on the proper path toward recovery.

For an

ing and service to one's family and community. Successful treatment is defined by people who are abstinent, recovering, and accountable for their actions. In the unfortunate events of a relapse, treatment can still be considered successful if that person is better able to recognize his/her addictive behavior and get back on the proper path toward recovery.

For an addict to admit there is a problem and be willing to do something about it is already a big step toward success. Seeing a program through and living a productive life after rehabilitation continues the achievement.