A Complete Guide to Recognizing Substance Abuse Treatment


Millions of people and families all throughout the United States are impacted by the prevalent issue of substance misuse. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimates that 19.3 million adults (18 and older) will need substance misuse treatment in 2020, but that only 4.2 million would actually obtain it. Although finding the correct programme and navigating the complex healthcare system can be difficult, substance misuse treatment is a crucial step on the road to recovery. A thorough explanation of substance abuse therapy will be provided in this article, which will also assist readers in making defensible choices regarding their road to recovery.

What is drug and alcohol treatment?

Many interventions are referred to as part of substance addiction therapy since they are meant to assist people get over their substance use problem (SUD). Despite the negative effects, compulsive drug seeking and use is a symptom of SUD, a chronic disease that affects the brain and behaviour. Behavioral therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and support services are frequently used in substance abuse treatment to address the physical, emotional, and psychological elements of addiction.

Substance Abuse Treatment Options

Many models of substance detox in Massachusetts programmes exist, including:

Living at a treatment facility for a predetermined amount of time—typically 30, 60, or 90 days—is referred to as inpatient or residential treatment. Those who have a serious addiction, co-occurring mental health conditions, or who have tried and failed at outpatient therapy should seek inpatient treatment.

Outpatient Therapy: In outpatient therapy, patients live at home while attending therapy sessions at a facility for mental health. For people with a mild to moderate addiction, a supportive home situation, and no co-occurring mental health conditions, outpatient therapy is excellent.

A planned programme called a partial hospitalisation programme (PHP) enables patients to receive intensive treatment during the day and go home at night. For people who have a secure home setting but need more help than an outpatient programme can provide, PHP is the best option.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): IOP is a less regulated treatment than PHP but still requires weekly attendance at three-hour long therapy sessions. IOP is the best option for people who require more care than is provided by outpatient therapy but are unable to attend inpatient or PHP due to family or work obligations.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): To treat opioid or alcohol addiction, MAT combines counselling and support services with medications like methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone. For people who are severely addicted to alcohol or opioids, MAT is ideal.

Selecting a Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Program

A person’s ability to recover might be impacted by selecting the best substance abuse treatment programme. It is crucial to take the following elements into account while choosing a programme:

Treatment Philosophy: Different treatment programmes, such as abstinence-based, harm reduction, or 12-step programmes, have different approaches to treating addiction. It is crucial to pick a programme that is in line with a person’s ideals and views.

Staff Credentials: Professionals with licences and training should work at treatment facilities, including psychiatrists, doctors, and addiction counsellors.

Treatment Services: Treatment facilities should provide therapies that have been shown effective, such as dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), trauma-focused therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Support Services: Support services, such family counselling, job training, or aftercare planning, can be extremely important in a person’s rehabilitation process.

Price: The price of treatment programmes varies, so it’s important to think about whether insurance will cover them or if there are other financing options.

Healing Is Possible

Individuals can overcome addiction and regain their lives with the aid of substance abuse treatment. Yet, healing requires dedication and a lifetime of work.