The public has witnessed in recent years the number of celebrities that battle or succumb to drug and alcohol addiction. Celebrities like Robert Downey Jr. openly admit that the struggle to remain sober lasts a lifetime and is never fully won. Even so, when you are battling your own addiction to drugs or alcohol you may wonder what path you should take to regain sobriety. You can consider options like inpatient admittance or an IOP for Addiction to determine what approach works best for your particular needs and goals.
Intensive Outpatient Services
Many drug addicts and alcoholics develop dire health conditions as a result of their substance abuse. They suffer from conditions like cirrhosis, anemia, hepatitis C, kidney and liver failure, and a host of other illnesses that could lead to their premature deaths. People with such conditions are often admitted for inpatient care so that they can receive prompt, regular medical care along with treatment for their addictions. Inpatient services sometimes last as long as six months to a year depending on the severity of a person’s substance abuse-related illnesses.
If you do not suffer from such illnesses, however, and instead need treatment to help you overcome your physical addiction to drugs and alcohol, you may fare better by entering an outpatient program. Even though you will not be admitted to the facility, you will still receive continuous and specialized attention to help you overcome your desire to use and drink.
Part of your program will revolve around teaching you what addiction truly is and what kinds of characteristics it possesses. Many addicts deny that they need help or are addicted to drugs or drink. They think that they can stop whenever they choose and go back to living a normal life. If you still battle with denial yourself, your program therapists and counselors will work with you to ensure that you recognize your own addiction and appreciate the characteristics of it.
You also will be guided in learning what could cause you to relapse if or when you finish the program. For example, if you use drugs or drink alcohol to mask emotional traumas such as childhood abuse, you could relapse when you are confronted with a memory of this trauma. You also could relapse if you come into contact with someone associated with the abuse. Overcoming such difficult emotional circumstances takes time and the help of a qualified professional counselor. During your time in the program, you will receive intensive counseling to help you put those past challenges to rest and to learn better ways with which to cope with them.
Life on the Outside while Going through Treatment
Because you will be a patient in an outpatient substance abuse program, you will not be admitted to the facility. Rather, you will be allowed to leave the facility everyday after you complete your therapy and medical sessions for the day. You could spend several hours a day at the center; however, when your daily itinerary is completed you will be dismissed to return to your home or job.
Your counselors and doctors will not be with you every minute of the day, watching you to ensure that you resist the temptation to use or drink again. You will learn the coping mechanisms you need to function outside of the program so that you do not relapse. You will also maintain regular contact with your therapists and doctors each day so that your progress can be monitored and so that you can continue with your treatment.
As you near completion of your program you may transition to the facility’s graduate or alumni services. These services ensure that you maintain the right level of contact with the professionals who helped you achieve sobriety. They can also provide you with the motivation and encouragement you need to maintain your recovery.
When this option sounds like it would work out best for you, your first priority may be to contact the facility and set up an appointment to come in for evaluation. Staff is always on call to speak with you over the phone. They can tell you what steps to take to enter yourself into this program.
Overcoming drug and alcohol addictions is a lifelong effort. You must always work at staying sober. You can learn how to maintain this effort and reduce your temptation to drink or use drugs again by choosing a recover path that is best suited for your needs.
