Substance Abuse:
How to Get Help
Below you will find a brief description of different types of treatment for mental illness and links to some local resources that can provide you with help. With any treatment, a good place to start is by talking to a health care professional to do a formal assessment and referral to the appropriate treatment.
Detox Treatment
Alcohol and drug detoxification and rehabilitation is a medically supervised process of helping individuals through the withdrawal from an abused substance. Participants in these programs would be monitored at a detox center for at least 72 to 96 hours for the emergence of withdrawal symptoms. Many patients are prescribed medication to assist with side effects of withdrawal.
Residential Treatment
Drug rehabilitation (often drug rehab or just rehab) is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines. Rehabilitation centers differ in their structure, but generally participants will live on site at the center with access to 24 hours services for anywhere from 30 days to several months depending on course of treatment.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient drug rehab is less restrictive than inpatient programs. Outpatient recovery programs usually require 10 to 12 hours a week spent visiting a local treatment center. These sessions focus on drug abuse education, individual and group counseling, and teaching addicted people how to cope without their drug. Outpatient drug rehab can be a good standalone option for someone with a mild addiction, or it can be part of a long-term treatment program.