Substance Abuse Help Options
Discovering that a loved one is struggling with addiction can be a shock for many people. There are conflicting emotions of disbelief, worry, and a desire to help—and that’s where a lot of people get stuck.
There are so many substance abuse treatment programs, rehabs, and recovery services out there that finding the right one can be an overwhelming process.
Rehab Programs
Most individuals who enter addiction treatment facilities will start with either a detox or a residential program.
Detox allows your loved one’s body to get rid of all traces of the drug and get through the withdrawal symptoms before long-term treatment begins. In most cases, detox won’t last more than two weeks, after which the individual can move on to the next stage.
Residential treatment, a rehab starting point for many people struggling with addiction, involves the individual living onsite and attending therapy, classes, and activities throughout their day. This allows them to recover under a high level of supervision and is especially helpful if your loved one requires mental health services or struggles with a mental illness.
Eventually, most participants in rehab programs are moved to a lower level of care, known as outpatient treatment. This program allows participants to stay at home while attending therapy for a set amount of time every day.
Many substance abuse services should include counseling and evaluation to help someone decide which treatment option they should choose first.
The Best Options for Substance Abuse Help
Whether you are looking for a residential program or an outpatient program, there are three core rehab services that should play at least some part in the option you choose.1
Experiential Therapy
Experiential therapy forms part of most residential and outpatient programs. It focuses on using unique encounters and experiences to give individuals the outlet to express themselves and address the emotions, trauma, or thought processes that contributed to their addiction.
Some of the best experiential therapy methods include:
- Animal-assisted therapy, which involves spending time with and caring for animals like horses or dogs.
- Music therapy can help individuals find new methods of expression through musical instruments, singing, or simply exploring new music genres.
- Art therapy is one of the most commonly used and involves activities like sculpting, drawing, or painting.
- Nature therapy, including activities like hiking or learning more about nature.
These activities boost self-esteem and often help reduce the depression and anxiety related to withdrawal cravings and recovery.
Family Support Group
Families play a vital role in the mental health of people struggling with addiction. By getting a patient’s loved ones involved in their treatment, family support groups can offer unique benefits to the individual being treated, offering them both mental health and substance abuse help while assisting their loved ones who may have been affected by their addiction.
Family therapy sessions often involve discussing and forming boundaries, resolving familial conflict, and healing broken relationships that may have contributed to your loved one’s addiction in the first place.
Other addiction-related issues that are addressed during family support group meetings include:
- Examples of self-medication from parents or perceived family leaders
- Depression and anxiety in family members
- Traumatic experiences shared by family members
- Repetitive examples of a parent or other family member’s addiction
Substance Specific Rehab and Recovery
Drug and alcohol abuse often develop in very different ways, and the effects of addiction can vary just as greatly.
Alcohol is not an illegal substance, so often helping individuals realize they are addicted or that their alcohol consumption is causing them harm is vastly different from explaining how opioid drug addiction can damage your body.
Understanding the difference between how these substance use disorders affect people in recovery and that even addictions to different drugs can present in different ways will help health care providers, therapists, and counselors offer your loved one the best treatment for their addiction.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction and want to get help to find a treatment center for alcohol or drug abuse, get in touch with our experienced team today at (888) 418-4188 to learn more about the treatments offered by Yellowstone Recovery, which are some of the best and most affordable in the United States.
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