Addiction affects mental health, physical health and behavioral health — but for many people, it feels like the better alternative to addiction treatment. This is because of an outdated understanding of what happens at rehab facilities, largely due to movies and TV shows. Thankfully, the best treatment programs have evolved drastically in recent years to be people-centered and holistic and mirror daily life more than a highly restrictive, clinical setting ever could.
Changing Tides is a stunning beachfront addiction treatment center that puts its residents front and center, offering more freedom, privileges and perks than other rehab centers. We believe that comfort and joy are just as important to the recovery process as education and therapy. Call us today at (252) 715-3905 and get started on your personalized recovery journey.
What Is Drug and Alcohol Rehab?
Addiction treatment programs exist to help people who are dependent on drugs or alcohol break free from substance abuse and learn how to thrive without substances. A treatment plan usually involves a mixture of group therapy, one-on-one counseling, psychoeducation and holistic therapy. There are several different levels of care under the umbrella term of drug rehab, including inpatient treatment, day treatment/partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, general outpatient programs and continuing care.
Residential or Inpatient Rehab
Addiction treatment at an inpatient rehab facility is usually reserved for the most serious cases of alcohol and drug addiction. Generally, when the term “inpatient” is used, it’s a description of a medical treatment center or hospital. It’s rare that someone attends an inpatient program by choice — they might be admitted as a result of a medical emergency or because a court has ordered them to attend.
On the other hand, you usually attend residential rehab on a voluntary basis, and the treatment program takes place at a private treatment facility. There’s an overlap between day treatment/partial hospitalization and residential rehab for some treatment providers, where extensive care from medical professionals is provided in a highly structured environment.
Residential and inpatient treatment involves spending every day taking part in a treatment program for the whole week. You have access to around-the-clock medical assistance in case of an emergency. Removing yourself entirely from your home life provides a unique opportunity to hit the reset button and get into the healthy habits that are essential for successful recovery.
Day Treatment/ Partial Hospitalization Programs
A day treatment/ PHP is the next step down from a residential treatment program. The first 28 days of this level of care at Changing Tides to a degree mirror the inpatient or residential treatment model to an extent to provide you with the most support during this process. During this time, you’ll take part in individual therapy with therapists, and meet regularly with your primary therapist, who gathers the information necessary to create a tailored addiction recovery plan. This includes the following:
- Your understanding of the mechanism of addiction
- How well you understand addiction recovery and language related to the recovery process
- Your short- and long-term goals
- The importance of connection and healthy relationships for recovery
- Your level of awareness
- Whether you’ve attended drug rehab previously
- Family dynamic and interaction
Once the initial period of gathering information for your treatment is complete and you’re through the most intense phase of the withdrawal process, your family can get involved and you’ll attend regular therapies on a group and individual basis.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment
Intensive outpatient care is the next step down. It’s still highly structured and involves daily attendance of individual and group therapy, psychoeducation and experiential therapy. However, you have plenty of time during the day to pursue meaningful goals such as employment, education and volunteering. You’ll usually spend three hours per day, five days per week at rehab, and at Changing Tides, you’ll stay in our accommodations to help you get the most out of recovery.
General Outpatient Treatment
The last step in the recovery process is a general outpatient program, which involves spending one hour three days per week attending sessions. Over the course of your stay, the calming, structured environment helps you get into a healthy lifestyle — but true change requires commitment over time. GOP services and aftercare are essential to help reinforce everything you learned during treatment.
Medical Detox
Not everyone needs to go through the medical detox process, but some type of detox is required for every substance use disorder. Detox is simply the process that happens when you cease drug and alcohol abuse and your body purges the toxins from your body. During detox, you’re likely to experience withdrawal symptoms, which are the result of the changes that happen as your body adjusts to no longer receiving a substance that’s been consistently present for an ongoing period.
Alcohol, benzodiazepines and opiate addiction might necessitate medical detox, and you’ll find out what’s required during your intake assessment.
Sober Living Facilities
For some people, their home environment is a major trigger. There are many reasons this might be the case, from lacking emotional support to violence or drug use at home. In instances such as these, sober living facilities can act as a stepping stone between attending highly structured treatment and gaining independence and finding your own home.
For many people who stop using drugs and start living in a healthy environment, pursuing goals such as finding a job you love or gaining a qualification in a field you’re passionate about becomes much easier. Sober living helps you learn to live with others and communicate in a safe and healthy way, so when you become fully independent, you’re fully prepared.
Therapy Sessions at Drug or Alcohol Rehab
For people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, recovery meetings and individual counseling are two of the most effective ways to help them get sober. Understanding why you use substances, whether it’s to self-medicate, to feel in control of your pain or because it’s a learned habit, usually has a profound effect on recovery. What’s more, therapy and psychoeducation help you understand the gravity of the situation and see that continued substance abuse is only likely to cause more and more problems.
Individual Therapy Sessions
Individual therapy is essential for recovery, and most people continue to attend long after they complete a rehab program. Modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, person-centered therapy and motivational enhancement therapy can help you understand yourself and the nature of addiction better.
Group Therapy Sessions
Group therapy is a cornerstone of addiction treatment, and it’s so useful for a number of reasons. First, it helps you build confidence in expressing your feelings to other people. Many people who struggle with addiction have difficulty speaking up about how they feel because they feel they’re unworthy of having emotions. This can lead to a cycle of shame and repression that feeds the addiction.
Another benefit of support group sessions is that you get to learn from other people as they share their experiences. This gives you a broader perspective and better understanding of addiction as a whole and helps you hone empathy skills, which can be very useful for relapse prevention.
Family Therapy Sessions
Family therapy is vital for most people who struggle with addiction because the condition rarely affects an individual without sending shockwaves through those around them. In some cases, family members get into negative patterns of communication, and a therapist is best-placed to help you move forward and learn how to communicate in a healthy way, set boundaries and overcome codependency.
Psychoeducation
Another key aspect of the recovery process is learning about how being addicted affects the mind and body. Most people who struggle with addiction have a disconnect between their understanding of substance abuse and the reality of how it impacts them. Learning about how much more difficult drug and alcohol abuse makes it for your brain to function properly often plays a key role in recovery.
Holistic Therapy
Treatment facilities should never focus exclusively on the classroom and therapist’s chair. Instead, treatment should include holistic therapy methods that promote healing and calm and act as a contrast to the intensity of treatment. Music therapy, yoga, meditation and other alternative therapies help you find peace within yourself and learn new ways to self-soothe.
The Healing Process at Changing Tides Rehab Center
Substance abuse treatment for drug or alcohol addiction looks different for every individual because everyone is unique. The rehab process you go through might start at the outpatient level if you have a mild to moderate disorder, but if you’ve already received treatment for active addiction, you might need to come in at the most intensive level.
Below is an explanation of what someone with a severe addiction might go through to achieve long-term recovery.
Intake Assessment
The first step of the rehab process is attending a thorough intake assessment with a medical professional. After this, a group of addiction experts work together to create a tailored addiction treatment plan, which might include detox, attendance of a day treatment/ PHP, family therapy, CBT, group therapy, AA meetings and a specific aftercare plan.
Detox Under Medical Supervision
People with a severe substance use disorder might require detox and medication management to help them get sober. It’s important to note that detox is by no means a cure for addiction. Without therapy, psychoeducation and case management, you’re highly likely to slip back into old habits sooner or later. Addiction is a sign that your brain has developed unhealthy coping mechanisms that don’t serve you, and getting out of these patterns usually requires the assistance of medical professionals.
Residential Treatment
Residential treatment or a day treatment/ PHP are recommended for people who meet the criteria for a moderate to severe substance use disorder. The highly structured routine and intensive treatment methods support you as your body gets used to the major changes that occur when you stop using substances after a prolonged period. Not everyone who struggles with addiction requires this level of care, but practically everybody with an addiction can benefit from it.
Explore Outpatient Treatment Options
Once you’ve been through inpatient rehab or a day treatment/PHP, you’re ready to step down to intensive outpatient care. This allows you to start looking for work or attending school, which can provide purpose and meaning in your life. People are usually happiest when they feel like they’re making a meaningful contribution to the world and have a goal to work toward. An IOP supports these efforts while providing the care necessary to stay sober.
After an IOP, you step down to general outpatient care and step up the amount of time spent at work, school or volunteering. Your counselors can help you navigate any issues or concerns you have while you settle into a healthy routine, and ongoing family support helps you all work as a supportive, healthy unit.
Aftercare Planning and Relapse Prevention
Once your treatment plan is complete, you’ll undergo an outtake assessment and your primary therapist will set goals and make recommendations for the future. For most people, it’s suggested that you continue attending support groups and individual therapy indefinitely. This is because addiction is a chronic disease that rehab helps you gain control over but doesn’t cure. Many relapses occur because the individual feels 100% better and stops actively maintaining the recovery process.
How Long Does Drug Rehab Last?
Rehab for addiction to drugs or alcohol works best when you attend over an extended period. The first month helps you get back to baseline, and we suggest attending for at least a further one to five months depending on the severity of your condition and how much time you have available to commit to recovery. The best results tend to occur in people who attend treatment for the longest time as forming new habits to replace old ones is not a quick process.
Get Help for Addiction Issues Today
Overcoming addiction requires love, support and professional assistance for the best results. When choosing a rehab center, look for a center that places its residents front and center. At Changing Tides, we go over and above to ensure our clients feel safe, peaceful and supported. You can bring your electronic devices and even drive your own car once you complete the first month.
Get in touch at (252) 715-3905 to learn more about how our rehab program could help you change your life.