Addiction doesn’t always mean alcohol or illicit drugs.

Addiction may come in the form of something that you can buy in stores everywhere—cigarettes. In each cigarette is a highly addictive substance called nicotine. It’s the substance of choice for millions of Americans and the primary reason why millions die from cigarette-related causes such as emphysema and lung cancer every year. Without question, the need for nicotine drug rehab treatment is enormous. Don’t take an addiction to cigarettes lightly. You are literally gambling with your health and your life with every puff.

Many people don’t realize that nicotine is one of the most widely abused substances in history. Addiction to the nicotine in tobacco has plagued citizens for generations. Yet, cigarette-related deaths are the leading preventable cause of death. Nicotine drug rehab can quite literally save lives. If you or something you love can’t beat a cigarette habit, nicotine drug rehab may be the perfect solution for you.

Although there have been innovations like nicotine patches, etc., one thing must be remembered… addictions play by their own set of rules. Remember also that nicotine addiction shares many characteristics of other types of addiction. Unfortunately, people don’t commonly think of nicotine drug rehab treatment to deal with their nicotine addiction. But given how many people try and fail to quit cigarettes every year, they definitely should.

Is Nicotine Drug Rehab for Nicotine Addiction Necessary?

Are you really addicted to nicotine? To know for sure, consider the following four questions:

1. Do you try to quit repeatedly, only to fail each time?

2. When you try to quit smoking, do any or all of these symptoms present themselves?

Increased heart rate

Shakiness

Sweating

Noticeable irritability

3. Has your doctor told you to quit smoking to prevent further damage to your health? Did your doctor say you were at risk for lung cancer or emphysema?

4. Do you always smoke when you’re stressed? Do you smoke to feel normal?

If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, nicotine drug rehab treatment may be a good idea.

It’s easy to not take nicotine addiction as seriously as other drug addictions. After all, there aren’t glossy ads in magazines or billboards promoting the use of heroin like there are for cigarettes. But make no mistake… the above symptoms of nicotine are surprisingly similar to symptoms of various drug addictions. As a result, the need for nicotine drug rehab is very real.

What You Should Know About Nicotine Drug Rehab Treatment

Trying to quit drugs or alcohol by yourself is extremely difficult. Obviously, giving up nicotine is just as challenging. But instead of trying to quit over and over and over, it’s a good idea to consider professional nicotine drug rehab. Professional rehab is your best chance to successfully overcome your addiction once and for all.

Effective Nicotine Drug Rehab Treatment

In the same way that other types of addictions are successfully treated, nicotine drug rehab treatment involves:

Evidenced-based behavioral therapy

Detox medication, as appropriate

Breaking free from the hold of nicotine is obviously challenging. To make this process easier, medications and nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) can be utilized. NRTs are an important component of addiction therapy that work in conjunction with therapy to help you get to the psychological roots of your addiction. An addiction specialist at a nicotine drug rehab center can work with you to customize a treatment plan to your unique needs.

Understanding Nicotine Drug Rehab Addiction Treatment

So, how does addiction treatment work? The following is a typical representation:

Assessment for admission: Expert addiction treatment specialists will give you a complete physical and psychological assessment. It takes into account your medical history, your family’s medical history, how long you’ve been smoking, how much you smoke, etc. This assessment is the basis of the treatment plan that will be developed.

A treatment plan: If applicable, an addiction specialist will ascertain what NRTs or medications will be the most beneficial. NRTs may include nicotine patches, inhalers, nasal sprays, etc. For some people, however, that may not be enough. The addiction specialist may also consider medications like Chantix and Zyban, if appropriate.

Rehab treatment: When people try to quit on their own, they are focused completely on the physical act of quitting smoking. However, like many addictions, there is a huge psychological element that must be addressed. Counseling is a valuable aspect of nicotine drug rehab treatment because it helps delve into why you were susceptible to addiction in the first place. Rehab treatment helps build effective coping strategies to overcome the urge to smoke. One-on-one counseling will cover topics like stress management, identification of habit triggers and relapse prevention.

Involvement of family members: If you have a supportive family unit, it will be helpful if the treatment facility helps them gain a better understanding of addiction. This training can enable them to understand that you didn’t intentionally become addicted and that addiction is a difficult thing to overcome.

How Long Will Nicotine Drug Rehab Treatment Take?

Nicotine addiction treatment can be either as an outpatient or, in more chronic cases, as an inpatient. Inpatients should expect to stay an average of seven to 15 days. However, as with other forms of addiction, there are often complicating psychological or physical factors that can slow down the process, making the process take longer.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has indicated that the longer people comply with treatment, the better their recovery rates will be. As anyone who has ever tried to quit smoking can attest, quitting can be extraordinarily difficult. Nicotine drug rehab treatment drives home the message that successfully quitting your addiction requires significant behavior modification. Trying to quit on your own means you can’t benefit from the advice and training of addiction professionals.

How to Choose the Right Nicotine Drug Rehab Center For You

Whether it’s nicotine, alcohol or any other drug addiction, finding the right addiction treatment center can be a difficult task. Why? Because there are so many to choose from. Although many centers will fairly offer similar treatment, there are many options available. It’s important to find the nicotine drug rehab center that best fits your unique needs.

Nicotine Addiction Recovery Never Really Ends

Some people imagine that quitting cigarettes is as simple as just giving them up. However, that’s not the case. If it was, more people would be able to quit successfully. Never forget that famous quote from author Mark Twain, “Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.” In a nutshell, that’s the challenge of nicotine addiction. Giving up smoking is easy. Not returning to smoking is the truly hard part.

Remember that nicotine drug rehab treatment cannot “cure” you. With addiction, there are no cures. You can, however, enjoy life-long abstinence if you commit yourself totally to reputable rehab treatment.

Effective treatment can strengthen your willpower so that you can resist the urge to smoke, which ruins so many people’s attempts to quit. You will leave rehab armed with coping strategies to help you resist familiar triggers and temptations, whether it’s particular places, people or even music.

Varieties of Nicotine Drug Rehab Treatment

Professional nicotine drug rehab treatment generally takes the following two forms:

Outpatient treatment: This type of therapy allows you to continue with your work, school or family obligations as you receive effective treatment. You will visit the facility but continue to live at home. Individuals who have no coexisting addictions or physical/mental health problems are generally ideal candidates for outpatient nicotine drug rehab treatment.

Inpatient treatment: Some people require a more intense experience. For those heavy smokers who are aggressively jeopardizing their health through smoking, this can be the most appropriate option. In addition, people with pre-existing medical problems or mental health issues are usually better served by inpatient nicotine drug rehab treatment.

What is Standard Residential Treatment?

A standard residential nicotine drug rehab facility has doctors and trained staff members who are able to monitor you continually during your stay. These facilities are the most cost effective. In addition, health insurance providers are likely to cover a greater portion of the fees than if you select a luxury facility.

What is Luxury Residential Treatment?

Luxury rehab centers have increased in popularity among those who appreciate high-end amenities like:

Private rooms with upgraded amenities

Exotic or vacation setting (beach, mountain, lakeside, etc.)

Gourmet cuisine

Extensive exercise facilities

Wide range of leisure activities (golf, surfing, horseback riding, etc.) 

What is Executive Residential Treatment

A step beyond luxury rehab, executive rehab is appropriate for business executives or CEOs who need absolute privacy. Executives need daily access to their companies so facilities can give executives greater internet access for video conferencing, etc. as needed.

How Treatment Programs May be Specialized

Facilities may cater to specific demographic groups, such as:

Gender-specific treatment

LGBT

Age-specific

EMT/First Responders

Substance-specific

How Can I Pay for Nicotine Drug Rehab Treatment?

Wondering how to pay for nicotine addiction treatment is the biggest obstacle most people face. Yet few people stop to think how much money they will save once the habit is gone. It’s estimated that if you smoke a pack a day, you will spend more than $2,000 a year on cigarettes. In New York, the cost would be closer to $5,000. That means a New Yorker who quits smoking for 10 years can buy a BMW with the savings. Obviously, addiction treatment can offer a rather good return on investment!

If you’re concerned about the cost of addiction treatment, consider the following:

Health insurance should cover at least a portion of the cost: Review your policy and talk to a reputable nicotine drug rehab center about coverage. Determine what, if any, out-of-pocket expenses you will have. You may be pleasantly surprised how much will be covered.

Third-party financing/Personal loans: A third-party financing company can often offer flexible payment options. Personal loans are another possibility. Some families will be only too happy to help you overcome your addiction with nicotine drug rehab treatment.

What Happens After I Leave Nicotine Drug Rehab?

A long-term recovery doesn’t happen without effort and commitment. With smoking out of the picture, you must be open to changing your behavior. For example, you will probably want to think about the following:

Exercise: this is probably something that suffered while you were smoking. Recovery is the perfect time to get your body in a healthier state.

Making social changes: If you spent a lot of time taking smoke breaks with your “smoking friends” in the past, that obviously can’t happen anymore. Perhaps you also smoked when you drank alcohol. If so, drinking may have to end as well.

Aftercare: When you have completed nicotine drug rehab treatment, you will still want to reinforce the things you learned so that you don’t relapse and begin smoking again. Groups like Nicotine Anonymous help many people stay on the straight and narrow when cravings become intense. Giving up smoking is no simple task, so giving help and support from others is always an excellent idea.

Selecting a Nicotine Drug Rehab Treatment Center

Rather than trying to quit on your own and probably failing (again!), you have at your disposal the expertise of doctors and trained staff members who understand the true nature of addiction in all of its various forms.

An addiction specialist can help you through all of your concerns about addiction and treatment, such as:

Will you just fail again?

Will you gain weight if you quit?

How do complicating factors like a mental health condition affect your chance of successfully quitting tobacco?

When you look at a potential nicotine drug rehab center for treatment, it’s important to know the following:

What’s their success rate?

Are their staff members trained or certified in the treatment they provide?

What’s their treatment philosophy?

Is the facility accredited by an organization such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)?

Take the Next Step Toward a Nicotine-Free Future

Cigarettes don’t have to run your day, dictate how you spend your time or destroy your health through emphysema or lung cancer. Break free from nicotine addiction with effective treatment.