written by Leon Donoyan – Water Gap Wellness
Drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs vary in scope and form, from nightly meetings held by organizations such as 12-Step Programs, SMART Recovery Programs and Refuge Recovery Programs, to more remote inpatient Detox and Residential programs.
Most people seeking recovery enter into programs most suited for their physical health. For individuals with life-threating habits, inpatient treatment is highly recommended because going “cold turkey” off of alcohol, heroin, painkillers, tranquilizers and sedatives could be fatal without medical supervision.
If not admitting oneself to a hospital, public and privately-run detox facilities can provide the proper medical supervision for a safe detox and withdrawal. This care is designed to last for the minimal amount of time required to stabilize withdrawal symptoms and new medication to begin to kick in. This can take as little as one day or up to two weeks.
After detox there are a variety of options. The highest level of care is a residential program at a rehab facility. These programs can last 30 days or more and are designed so that the individuals can remove themselves from society as they continue their medication as well as start therapeutic work.
The therapy is typically conducted by counselors trained in various subfields aimed at tackling mental health and addiction. Currently it is understood that most people with substance use disorders have co-occurring mental health disorders that play a significant role in the way people cope with recovery.
Various methods are used to help individuals cope with recovery, but typically these programs are based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which is designed to address the thoughts, feelings and thought processes that urge users to harmful substances.
After residential treatment ends, some individuals attend rehab on a local level so that the patient can return home to schedule around their work/life schedule. Programs such as Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) fall into this category. Medication and therapy are still readily available at PHPs and IOPs, but the patient is required to go to and from that facility in order to receive them.
After PHP and IOP end, Sober houses offer the next step. Sober houses are living facilities which are essentially homes designed to monitor potential substance use and to support individuals looking to integrate back into society. Often people in Sober Living arrangements seek counseling on their own, whether that be through private practice or support groups such as the 12 Step Program, SMART Recovery or Refuge Recovery. Additionally, Sober Living individuals attend their jobs or they receive assistance looking for a job.
Though there is no single way to recover from addiction, oftentimes individuals start with detox programs and move through each step until they feel confident that they have the tools and experience to move on and have a functioning life. Relapses do occur, and when they do more concise levels of care are sought out. Overall, the differences in each level of care adequately breaks down the needs required for each level of recovery, and though it is a life-long process, rehab facilities offer the time, space and support for those who seek it.
Water Gap Wellness offers expert care for individuals seeking Mental Health or Substance Use Treatment. With an on-site Psychiatrist, 2 private counseling sessions weekly and group sessions daily, individuals are offered the utmost in clinical care. Call us today and let us help you find the level of treatment right for you and your family.
