When someone’s addicted, they will seek out the substance regardless of any negative consequences it will have on their life. It becomes the center of their life; inflicting mental, emotional, and spiritual wounds. It not only affects the person, but also those around them who are worried about them.
Though it can seem difficult, perhaps nearly even impossible to make a change, it’s not too late for you or a loved one to seek help amid addiction. There are a variety of treatment plans offered for those who struggle with substance abuse. Regardless of what stage someone’s at in addiction, there are various options available that tackle substance abuse and its often underlying issues.
Outlined below are some treatment plans that are offered at the best recovery and rehab centers. Programs like these are great and supportive starting points for those who are ready to take the first step toward recovery.
Table of Contents
Inpatient Programs
Upon admission into an inpatient program, the patient will usually undergo a detox program. This ensures that all drugs and alcohol are safely flushed from their system. It’s important to detox under the care of medical professionals to avoid complications that can accompany withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the drug or drugs the person is addicted to, detoxification can last anywhere from three to seven days.
After detox, the patient will remain in the recovery program at the center for an extended time. Some inpatient programs are structured more like a hospital setting, while others are like luxurious resorts. All good inpatient programs will focus not only on the physical treatment of addiction but also on potentially co-occurring disorders.
While intensive and highly beneficial, an inpatient program is often more costly than other treatment plans. It’s also frequently advised to continue treatment upon completion of an inpatient program because patients will need to adjust to the stressors of daily living in addition to maintaining sobriety afterward.
Intensive Outpatient Programs
Intensive outpatient programs are often a second step for those who have undergone inpatient care but are still at risk of relapse. Once someone puts their mind to it, changing is easy. Maintaining that change is where the real challenge lies. When it comes to addiction, intensive outpatient treatment can keep you on the right track to recovery.
With outpatient programs, there are fewer restrictions than inpatient programs. Intensive outpatient programs typically happen 3-5 days a week and have about 3 hours per session. Apart from that, patients are free to live their lives as usual; with a focus on sobriety of course.
Apart from those who have already completed an inpatient program, outpatient care can work for those who are struggling with addiction but at a less severe rate than those who require the 24/7 monitoring that comes with inpatient care. They may still have withdrawal symptoms, but at a lower level than those in inpatient programs. Someone who only recently began struggling with an addiction may fit this, as well as those who have strong and sober support systems at home.
Partial Care
The intensity at which treatment services are provided with partial hospitalization care is comparable to that of an inpatient program. This treatment is best for individuals who require a higher amount of support than intensive outpatient but aren’t at the point where they need the 24-hour supervision of inpatient programs.
Partial care meetings are typically 5 to 6 days a week and last from 4 to 6 hours. Like intensive outpatient services, partial care incorporates both treatment for substance abuse and therapy for a holistic approach to rehabilitation. It is simply more rigorous.
Detoxification
Detox is often incorporated into other treatment plans such as inpatient care. This is the very first step towards sobriety when someone who’s addicted to substances. Detox is the process of eliminating all traces of drugs or alcohol in the body.
It’s imperative to do this under the supervision of a medical professional, as they can ensure that withdrawal symptoms aren’t too severe and that there won’t be a dangerous relapse. Withdrawal symptoms for both drugs and alcohol can be extremely uncomfortable, and medical professionals that work in detoxification know best how to navigate this territory.
Medication Assisted Treatment
There are some instances where medication-assisted treatment is the best option for someone dealing with substance abuse. It depends on the severity of the addiction as well as the substance or substances used. Some substances that MAT is beneficial for include:
- Opioids
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamines
- Benzodiazepines
MAT is often first used in detoxification when the person’s body is still reliant on the drug or alcohol. This process helps relieve some withdrawal symptoms in the initial stages. These symptoms include nausea, fatigue, anxiety, and others. MAT treatment can last for a few months or even years depending on the level of dependence the individual has on the drug.
Though MAT helps immensely by reducing the potential for relapse and managing withdrawal symptoms, it is still important that medication-assisted treatment is used in conjunction with other methods. Co-occurring disorders are not going to be addressed with medication-assisted treatment alone, and issues such as PTSD and depression often accompany substance abuse.
There Are Options to Choose from Regarding Treatment
The important thing to keep in mind regarding the path to recovery is that it’s a lifelong commitment. Perhaps the best starting choice for someone is inpatient care and transitioning later into outpatient care. Another person may require MAT treatment in addition to one or both of these if their addiction is particularly high level.
In general, the best recovery and rehab centers will offer treatment plans that look at addiction from a holistic perspective of the person. The therapies provided both in inpatient and outpatient care can help with co-occurring disorders that often accompany substance abuse issues.
If you or a loved one needs medical help to recover from addiction, visit Achieve Wellness and Recovery to further explore your options to start on this path.
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