Drugs are sweeping across Newton. In a 2018 survey, 22% of Newton high school students reported drinking alcohol in the last 30 days. 17% reported using marijuana at least once, and marijuana use was more common than tobacco use.
Teenagers and adults alike can benefit from addiction treatment in Newton. Yet many people who use drugs hesitate to get help. If you’re considering addiction treatment in Newton, MA, you should think about how addiction treatment can help you overcome drug use.
What causes substance use disorder? What leads to relapses, and can someone receive treatment after a relapse? What options for treatment are there?
Answer these questions, and you can get the help you deserve for substance use. Here is your quick guide.
Addiction Is a Brain Disease
Many people believe that substance use disorder is based on personal decisions an individual makes. They use drugs due to “personal weakness,” and they just need to use willpower to break free. In reality, substance use is a complicated phenomenon.
A person’s brain has many different circuits that control different bodily functions. One of them is the reward circuit. When a person does a healthy or productive activity, the brain creates hormones and chemicals to encourage the individual to do the activity again.
Drugs can hijack the reward circuit. They can trick the brain into producing a massive supply of chemicals. This encourages someone to use more drugs.
As a person continues to use drugs, the substances skew the reward circuit. The circuit only fires when drugs are circulating in a person’s system, and it may produce a small supply of chemicals. In order to feel what they felt when they started using drugs, someone has to consume a large supply of drugs.
This has led doctors to suggest that substance use disorder is a brain disease, not a moral failing. To tackle their substance use problems, a person needs medical help to change their brain functioning. This means addiction treatment in MA.
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.
The Essentials of Addiction Treatment in Newton
Addiction treatment in Newton can provide substantial help. Many people need medical assistance with substance use because substances affect their brain circuits. Relapses can be discouraging, and getting medical assistance can bring people back on track.
You have a range of options to help you out. If you need assistance throughout the week, you can try a partial hospitalization program. If you want group therapy and intensive training, you can join an intensive outpatient program, including evening programs.
Seize your opportunities for help. The Northstar Recovery Center serves Newton residents. Contact us today.
Day Treatment Program in MA
The Day Treatment in Massachusetts, also referred to as PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) or IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program), is the highest level of care offered at Northstar Recovery Center. This addiction treatment option encompasses comprehensive clinical care and behavioral therapies. In the initial stages of recovery from addiction, it's crucial to have robust support to navigate both physical and emotional challenges. Our dedicated team at Northstar Recovery Center, located in Southborough, MA, and West Springfield, MA, is committed to assisting you in establishing a solid foundation for a lifelong recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol. Clients typically visit our addiction treatment center in Massachusetts each weekday for several hours, engaging in counseling sessions and other necessary interventions. This approach ensures a balanced and effective recovery process, tailored to individual needs within the framework of Day Treatment.
Individual, Group, and Family Counseling in Massachusetts
Addiction thrives in isolation, which is why group counseling sessions are a foundational part of our addiction treatment plans. In group sessions, you’ll gain perspective on your struggles with substance abuse and can connect with others who understand your experiences. Family counseling can help your loved ones understand the disease of addiction, navigate conflict and build healthier relationships. In individual counseling sessions, you’ll be able to work through personal issues like past trauma with the help of an experienced therapist.