Different Treatment Options

In the last section, we mentioned some of the potential treatment programs that can help with self-medication.

In this section, we’ll be taking a closer look at three of these options. Specifically, we’ll explore PHP, IOP, and evening IOP.

Partial Hospitalization Program (or PHP)

The Partial Hospitalization Program offered here at Northstar Recovery Center is a great solution for people struggling with their self-medication.

If the thought of free, unstructured time during your substance misuse recovery journey stresses you out, then you should consider PHP. During PHP you’ll commit six hours for five days each week.

You’ll devote this time to both therapy and treatment options related to your specific needs. It’s more intensive than the other treatments in this section. But this makes it a great option for people struggling to get over their condition.

Intensive Outpatient Program (or IOP)

An Intensive Outpatient Program is a less demanding form of treatment than PHP. With IOP you’re only coming in two to three times a week for treatment. And these sessions tend to only last between two to four hours.

During this time you’ll receive both the physical and mental treatment that you need. It’s important to note that IOP might not be for everyone.

If you’ve previously relapsed, have a co-occurring disorder, or have an unstable home life, then you should consider a different option.

Evening IOP

If you want treatment, but you work a day job or go to school, then it can be hard to get time off for the IOP or PHP. So, what’s the solution?

Evening IOP is similar to the regular Intensive Outpatient Program, but it accommodates your busy schedule. It’s a good option for those that have a high risk of relapse or don’t trust themselves at home.

Our staff will monitor you until you get back on a path that feels right for you.

Signs of Rock Bottom

If you or someone you love has hit rock bottom, there will be clear signs to indicate it. You’re likely to feel overwhelmed, depressed, and fatigued. Some describe it as feeling broken.

Even though you feel these emotions, you may try your best to hide them and reserve asking for help as a last resort. There’s no period for rock bottom. Some people feel it for months, whereas others can feel it for years. 

Reaching rock bottom could be the result of suffering recent trauma like a bereavement, loss of a relationship, loss of a job, or an injury or illness. You may feel that simple tasks have become far more difficult.

You may not want to wake up in the morning to go to your job, you may avoid visiting the grocery store, and even showering can feel like a task. People who have hit rock bottom also try to avoid social gatherings for fear of their symptoms being recognized.

Some symptoms of rock bottom include depression, anxiety, stress, paranoia, and isolation. You may also notice that your habits and behaviors change. Perhaps you’ll binge eat when you feel hungry or rely more heavily on your addiction to get you through.

Symptoms can also manifest physically. For instance, you may experience dizziness, nausea, breathing difficulties, sweating, and muscle tension. Insomnia and nightmares can be particularly difficult symptoms to deal with and often add to other worsening symptoms.

Why does Rock Bottom Makes a Difference?

Hitting rock bottom can be a much-needed wake-up call. Most people will come to understand that once they reach the bottom, there’s no alternative but to seek help. You have to be desperate enough to listen to advice before applying it to your life.

This is why addiction programs like PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) or IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) are so important. It gives every patient the chance to receive sound advice and figure out what changes need to be made in order for sobriety to be successful. Rock bottom is the ideal starting place for recovery because patients are willing to do the work needed.

Getting Out of Rock Bottom

Getting out of rock bottom is entirely up to the patient. Although professionals will be able to give you the tools you need, it will be down to your resolve. People who hit rock bottom can be successful in sobriety because they don’t want to return to the place that made them feel so desperate.

Whether you choose outpatient addiction treatment or inpatient treatment, joining a recovery program will ensure you get professional help to equip you for facing your hardest days. There are programs to suit all, whether you want to be hospitalized or want to continue living your everyday life while receiving treatment.

What Are the Groups Less Likely to Seek Addiction Treatment?

There are a few different groups that tend to have a harder time getting treatment for their addictions. Each group’s reasons vary slightly. You might be surprised to learn about the nature of some of these groups, while for others the difficulty in seeking treatment makes perfect sense.

• People Experiencing Homelessness
• Those Living in Remote Areas
• Mentally Ill Individuals
• People with Lower Socioeconomic Status

People Experiencing Homelessness

There are a few different reasons a person without a stable place to live might struggle with getting help for their addiction treatment. The first and most obvious is that many treatment programs cost money which these people simply don’t have. As well as this, they could be staying in shelters that house other people with addiction issues, which isn’t conducive to a successful recovery journey.

It’s estimated that between one-third and one-quarter of the homeless population in the US suffers from mental illness. As we’ll explore below, poor mental health can be a huge obstacle in seeking effective addiction treatment.

Those Living in Remote Areas

For those living in cities and larger metropolitan areas, it might seem as though a lack of addiction treatment centers isn’t a challenge facing Americans today. But of course, for much of the population, this is a serious issue.

There are huge disparities between different geographical locations in terms of the healthcare available there. While it might be relatively easy to find addiction treatment in Springfield, MA for example, in smaller towns and cities, it’s going to be a lot more difficult.

Lower Socioeconomic Status Groups

A lack of financial resources is one of the biggest roadblocks to people getting the treatment they need. This is true for any sort of medical treatment. Addiction treatment is no different.

The amount of coverage that insurance companies provide for this type of treatment varies greatly. This results in many people having to pay out of pocket. This is something many people can’t afford.

Did you know that black people and Hispanics are less likely than white people to complete addiction treatment? It’s true and this fact is largely due to socioeconomic factors.

The official poverty rate in 2020 was 11%. Unfortunately, the number of people who simply can’t afford to go through addiction treatment is far greater.

Those with Mental Health Issues

Mental health challenges can make it difficult for a person to seek and complete treatment. Oftentimes, addiction and mental health issues are intertwined. It can be difficult to treat one without treating the other.

But often a condition such as depression or bipolar disorder, when left untreated, can make it seem impossible for a person to seek treatment. Addiction is a mental health issue in and of itself, and it can be a struggle to deal with two serious mental health challenges at once.

Relapses Are Common

More than 50% of people with substance use disorders relapse, even after treatment. Relapses can occur for many different reasons.

Some people use drugs again because their brains are still dependent on substances for pleasure. Other people relapse because of social pressure, consuming drugs after a friend or relative offers them drugs. They may also relapse to escape stress. 

Relapses do not suggest that drug treatment has failed. But many people take relapses to mean that they cannot be cured of substance use disorder. They may continue using drugs, believing they can never change.

The best way to avoid and recover from relapses is to pursue addiction treatment. You can return to the same center, or you can try out new therapies. 

You Have Options for Addiction Treatment in Newton

There is no one model of addiction treatment that works for everyone. You can experiment with a few different programs and talk to a therapist about your options. 

PHP

During a partial hospitalization program (PHP), you receive therapy multiple times a week. You can be in a drug treatment center for up to six hours a day, five days a week. You can leave once you’re done for the day and attend to your job and other responsibilities. 

You can receive the same therapies as someone who is in the treatment center for the entire day. Individual counseling involves personal sessions with your therapist.

You can talk about whatever you want, including things unrelated to substance use. You can learn about ways to cope with stress and difficult memories. 

You can also try group and family counseling. In group counseling, you will be with others who have had similar experiences with substance use. You can make friends and learn about how others have coped with their history. 

In family counseling, you and your family talk to a therapist. You can talk about experiences you all went through and learn new coping mechanisms. 

IOP

An intense outpatient program (IOP) is another treatment program that lets you receive therapies while holding down a job and other responsibilities. However, an IOP requires more time than most outpatient programs. You may go to therapy for more than 10 hours a week.

A therapist may ask that you practice the skills you learn in therapy in the real world. When you are feeling stressed, they may ask you to ground yourself, take deep breaths, and talk to someone about your thoughts. 

Most IOPs center around group therapy. Therapists step back and allow the participants to speak freely, improving their communication skills. They can offer and receive feedback on how their substance use treatment is going.

You may try out a few different kinds of group therapy. Psychoeducational group therapy involves emotional support. You can learn about how substance use disorder starts and how it can affect the body. 

Refusal training involves role-playing. You rehearse how you can handle invitations to use substances and how you can avoid triggers. 

You can pursue an evening IOP. You can go to work in the morning and afternoon and then travel to the treatment center at night for therapy. But you can schedule therapy whenever it is convenient for you.

What Executive Treatment Options Are Available?

Executive addiction treatment acknowledges that busy professionals may not be able to drop everything and enter rehab full-time.

It also recognizes the unique barriers to treatment that executives and other high-flyers may have to overcome. This can include concerns about the impact of their absence on the business. There may also be a fear of the impact on their reputation if they seek addiction treatment. 

It goes without saying that confidentiality is of the utmost importance in executive rehab. It’s possible that with one of these flexible programs, your colleagues or employees may not even notice that you’re gone.

Even if they can commit to a full-time program, they may need access to computers or conference facilities. This can help them keep on top of certain responsibilities while focusing on their recovery. Flexible programs also allow time for business travel. 

Executive addiction treatment focuses on providing solutions that don’t compromise your job while getting you the treatment you urgently need.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

PHP is one of the more intensive executive addiction treatment programs. It requires people to attend for up to 6 hours a day, five days a week. Depending on your needs, the treatment program may go on for several weeks or even months. 

In the PHP program, you’ll use your time to focus on therapy and other treatments in a safe environment. You’ll be working with others who are on their personal recovery journeys. 

In a regular PHP program, you’d be expected to cut off contact with the outside world. But this is not the case with executive addiction treatment. You’ll be able to schedule your therapy around your work commitments.

This allows you to go ahead with meetings, both in person and via videoconferencing. 

An international study showed that stress is a major trigger for substance misuse. Learning to deal with the stress that’s an integral part of a responsible job is a key part of executive rehab. Individual therapy can help you understand how you handle stress and give you the tools to avoid stress-related triggers.

Group therapy and support groups give you the chance to give and receive support. In this safe, confidential environment, participants can share what works for them and can provide mutual accountability as well as support.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

The IOP is most suitable for people whose substance misuse does not require hospitalization and can commit to a longer recovery period. It’s a flexible program, which can work well with the commitments that busy professionals have. Typically, you may spend two to four hours each day engaging with the program.

This allows you to keep up with much of your normal routine. One of the executive rehab benefits is that you’re recovering from substance misuse in your normal environment. You’re learning day by day how to cope with daily triggers.

This can provide an excellent foundation for successfully coping in the long run.

Virtual PHP and IOP

The world has moved on in the last couple of years and more and more of us prefer to attend virtual meetings. Now both PHP and IOP have been adapted to allow you to attend them virtually from the comfort of your own home.

Virtual PHP is most suitable for those with moderate to severe symptoms. It’s an in-depth form of treatment that requires committing several hours a day to your recovery. You can structure your therapy sessions around work meetings and keep up with your commitments.

Virtual IOP provides the same level of support as an in-person program. It includes daily group meetings, counseling, and talking therapies. You can schedule therapy around your work so that you get the best of both worlds.

Evening IOP

If your addiction treatment in MA does not require inpatient support, then evening IOP could be right for you.

It allows you to schedule your therapy in the evenings, giving you the day for work and family commitments. You benefit from the same structure, accountability, and therapies. But it also allows you to keep up with your other responsibilities.