Quitting is the first step for most addicts but staying off the addiction is the tougher - and more important - act.

Associate Professor Munidasa Winslow, a consultant psychiatrist at Raffles Hospital, said: 'There needs to be real behavioural change.

'That's why groups like Alcoholics Anonymous work. It's a well-structured programme with regular meetings and opportunities to cultivate new friendships.'

Ms Lim Hui Khim, the deputy head of counselling services at National Addictions Management Service in the Institute of Mental Health, said that the key to recovery is motivation and readiness to change.

Psychiatrists Mind Your Body spoke to advised those dependant on substances like alcohol or sleeping pills to commence withdrawal in a hospital.

Dr Winslow explained: 'Alcohol and sleeping pills are depressive drugs. If you've used them every day and then suddenly stop, your brain will go into overdrive.

'You may start to hallucinate and even go into epileptic fits.'

There is also medication available to treat withdrawal symptoms.

For example, nicotine replacement therapy like patches or gums and prescription medicine like buproprion and varenicline can help smokers relieve nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Treatment should also address the social and emotional fall-out of a patient kicking his addiction.

The recovering addict's family and friends may be encouraged to learn how to cope with the addict's withdrawal symptoms and to repair emotional rifts that may have been caused or compounded by the addiction.

Meanwhile, the patient should work with psychiatric professionals to determine what brought on and perpetuated the addiction and ways to avoid these factors.

Professor Kua Ee Heok, a senior consultant at the department of psychological medicine at National University Hospital, said: 'Treatment is not just giving out medicine and counselling. You've also got to teach recovering addicts skills in coping with life and its stresses.'

Asked if the 90-day window is the optimal treatment time for addictions, DrWinslow said: 'Ninety days is the time you need to allow your brain to re-set and to deal with the withdrawal effects and behavioural change patterns.'

HELP FOR ADDICTS

For help in quitting addictions, you can contact the following groups:

All addictions: All Addiction Helpline, 6732-6837

Alcohol: Alcoholics Anonymous, 6475-0890 or e-mail aa_singapore@yahoo.com.sg

Drugs: Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, 1800-733-4444

Gambling: Gambling Helpline, 1800-6-668-668

Smoking: QuitLine, 1800-438-2000

Sex: We Care Community Services, 6471-5346

This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times.