With Chicago as a hub, Illinois is a major crossroads for drug smuggling into the United States, with the attendant spillover of illegal drugs of every sort. Methamphetamine abuse is growing at an alarming rate in Illinois. This relatively cheap and easy to obtain drug is a special danger to the young people who encounter it at illegal raves, clubs and parties where high school and college students congregate. Families who believe they would never have a need for drug or alcohol rehabilitation should think again; the problem is spreading, and parents should educate themselves on the signs and symptoms of drug abuse.

Drug and alcohol treatment in Illinois is not yet mandated by its drug courts for low-level drug offenders. Families need to be proactive in seeking treatment. Since the range of drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in Illinois runs the gamut from simple detox centers and drug awareness programs to residential living centers and halfway houses, ask questions and educate yourself on the type and level of services offered by each. Programs for drug rehabilitation are not all the same, nor should they be. Treatment for a meth addiction requires a different approach than treatment for alcohol abuse or a marijuana addiction. A center that does not differentiate is not for you.

While it is always best to seek help for an addiction as early as possible, it is never too late. Studies show that with proper treatment, even hardened drug abusers can kick the habit and move on to normal, productive lives. Any drug or alcohol rehab facility, in Illinois or anywhere else, should have a “clean for life” goal rather than a short-term focus on just detoxification. The process of clearing the addict’s body of drug toxins is vital to recovery, but it is not sufficient to permanently break a drug habit, as it does not address the emotional dependency nor the difficulties faced by long-term abusers in rebuilding their lives and altering their behavior.

There are many inpatient and outpatient rehab programs in Illinois. A comprehensive program of drug treatment often involves inpatient care to manage the serious symptoms of withdrawal from any drug. Extended inpatient care is often the best way to help a recovering alcoholic or drug addict make the transition from the drug-driven lifestyle to the new, desired lifestyle free of drugs. Sometimes this is simply not possible while living at home, surrounded by the stress and distractions of work and family.

Make sure the drug and alcohol treatment program you choose offers long-term counseling and behavior modification in conjunction with detoxification. An addict debilitated by long-term abuse will also need to learn to live a healthy lifestyle, so fitness and nutrition should be offered by the rehab center. Family outreach is also important, to help the whole family heal from the devastation caused by substance abuse.

For citizens of Illinois, drug and alcohol rehabilitation is so readily available that there really is no excuse to go on suffering from drug or alcohol addiction.