Jakarta, ThedailyID — Drug rehabilitation can help people regain control of their lives, but experts say it does not permanently cure addiction. Instead, treatment focuses on managing the condition and reducing the risk of relapse over time.
Hari Nugroho, a researcher at the Institute of Mental Health Addiction and Neuroscience (IMAN), said people generally use drugs for two main reasons. Some seek pleasure, while others turn to drugs to relieve physical or emotional distress.
“The most common reason is to feel better,” Hari said. “Many people self-medicate to cope with physical pain or psychological conditions.”
People may use drugs to ease stress, depression, anxiety or chronic pain. However, repeated drug use changes the brain’s reward system and reinforces the cycle of addiction.
According to Hari, the brain gradually adapts to repeated drug use. As tolerance increases, users need higher doses to experience the same effects.
Eventually, the brain becomes fixated on obtaining that feeling of comfort. At that stage, addiction begins to take hold.
Hari said many people still view rehabilitation mainly as a form of punishment or moral correction. However, he stressed that addiction should be treated as a chronic medical condition.
Doctors diagnose addiction using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The manual lists 11 diagnostic criteria that help determine the severity of addiction.
People who meet two or three criteria fall into the mild category. Four or five indicate moderate addiction, while six or more point to severe addiction.
Treatment varies depending on the severity of each case. People with mild addiction may only need brief counseling about drug use and its effects.
Meanwhile, moderate cases often require more intensive counseling. Therapists also work with patients to identify underlying problems such as family conflict, trauma or social challenges.
People with severe addiction may require inpatient rehabilitation. According to Hari, many also need medication, depending on the type of drug they previously used.
Even after completing rehabilitation, relapse remains possible. Hari said addiction resembles other chronic illnesses because patients can manage it but cannot always eliminate it completely.
Some people replace one addictive substance with another in an attempt to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Others shift from substance use to behavioral addictions, including online gambling.
“For example, some former methamphetamine users become more involved in online gambling,” Hari said.
Researchers continue exploring new treatment options. Hari said scientists are studying brain stimulation, neuromodulation, brain surgery and even anti-addiction vaccines, although no therapy has yet proven capable of completely curing addiction.
Family and community support also play a critical role in recovery. Hari warned that stigma and negative labeling often increase the risk of relapse.
He said some families continue to accuse recovering patients of using drugs whenever they return home late. Such reactions can discourage recovery and push people back toward substance use.
Employment also influences long-term recovery. Hari noted that some former users return to physically demanding jobs that originally led them to misuse pain medication, including tramadol.
He said rehabilitation should include education on safer pain management and, when possible, support for alternative employment.
Finally, Hari urged the public to stop labeling former drug users as untrustworthy or beyond recovery. He said many people successfully maintain long-term recovery when they receive support, opportunities and understanding from those around them.
