Treatments for drug addiction and alcoholism vary according to the drugs involved, amount of drugs taken, length of the drug addiction, medical issues and the personal needs of the individual. Determining the type of program needed for an addicted person depends on many factors, including: personality, drug(s) of addiction, concept of spirituality or religion, mental or physical illness, and local availability and affordability of programs. Many different ideas circulate regarding what is considered a "successful" outcome in the recovery from addiction. It has widely been established that abstinence from addictive substances is generally accepted as a "successful" outcome, however differences of opinion exist as to the extent of abstinence required.
