Fortunately, there are many treatments for addiction. Medications are available to treat withdrawal, decrease drug cravings, or reduce enjoyment of the substance. Psy-chosocial treatments include a wide variety of therapies designed to help the addicted individual choose to stop using the drug, combat cravings, and handle the emotional and interpersonal challenges of daily life without resorting to substances.

Treatments vary from the least to the most restrictive. Depending on the severity of the addiction, including the motivation to stop the drug, the level of functioning in the community, the presence of co-existing psychiatric or medical problems, and the level of family support, the addicted individual may need more or less structure in their treatment. Higher functioning individuals with less debilitating addictions may be successfully treated in an outpatient setting or a twelve-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

People whose addiction has more thoroughly taken over their lives may need greater structure, such as inpatient detoxification (where they are helped through the withdrawal process), inpatient rehab (where their addiction is addressed in a shortterm residential setting), or longer term therapeutic communities, where the patient may stay for up to one to two years.