Seeking Substance Abuse Treatment Options In the Sacramento Region
esidential treatment in either a detox or rehab facility can be the difference between life and death for many people. In Sacramento, most of the facilities are based on the social model of recovery. In this atmosphere, the addict or alcoholic is supervised 24/7 and closely monitored during the first 24 hours. Government funding is available for some residential treatment programs, but there are also several that accept private payment including personal check, cashier’s check, cash, credit, or traveller’s checks.
Drug or alcohol detox is the first step in the treatment process for anyone entering a residential program. A contracted physician will review the client’s medical and use history and prescribe the appropriate detox medications. These medications will ease the pain of withdrawal and reduce or prevent many of the symptoms of withdrawal like body aches, the shakes, night sweats, vomiting, and even a depressed mental state. Closely monitoring the of the client in the social model detox program during the initial stages of withdrawal is critical. For many the symptoms of withdrawal can be overwhelming causing them to relapse before they have even been given the chance of getting clean and sober. Going back to using or drinking during this initial critical stage is oftentimes seen as the easier path, but this only prolones the vicious cycle of addiction.
After the initial detox phase of someone’s journey to sobriety, many people will choose to continue their treatment in a longer term program. Treatment for addiction and substance abuse in an inpatient setting is much more structured than most social model detox programs. There are scheduled activities like one-on-one counseling, group therapy, exercise, journaling, and recovery planning. Inpatient treatment can last 30, 60, 90 days or even longer.
An intensive outpatient program is another option for treatment after a stay in a residential detox program. In an outpatient alcohol and drug counseling program, the addict or alcoholic will work with one or more counselors to develop a plan for long term sobriety. Activities will include things like anger management, sobriety maintenance, and recovery planning. In the social model format of counseling, everything will be done based on the 12 steps of recovery and most of the treatment will be designed to get people knowledgable about and interested in the 12 step fellowship.
The opportunity to ease back into normal life provided by the outpatient addiction counseling can be critical for many people. Leaving an inpatient program, whether that be detox only or a longer form of residential treatment, can be stressful for many addicts and alcoholics. The substance abuse counselor in an outpatient program can keep the client’s mind focused on their recovery and reduce the stress that normal everyday life causes. The individual’s needs determine the frequency of care necessary in the outpatient counseling program. For some as little as one day per week will be sufficient for them to maintain their sobriety after treatment, but for other addicts and alcoholics 5 days per week may be required for a time after leaving treatment if they are to maintain their sobriety.
Some addicts or alcoholics may try to avoid inpatient treatment completely. Either they refuse to put their life on hold while they seek help for the chemical dependency, or they are in denial about the intensity of their addiction. An outpatient addiction counseling program is an attractive alternative to inpatient treatment. For some of these people the outpatient program is sufficient to get them headed in the right direction, but for many others outpatient substance abuse counseling is only a way for them to please loved ones, employers, or the courts. In the end, their addiction or dependency on drugs or alcohol ends up being too strong to be handled by outpatient addiction treatment, and they eventually end up in residential treatment.
Pathways Recovery provides several options for people seeking addiction or substance abuse treatment or counseling. For many people they will need to check themselves into our Sacramento Rehab program, but for others they may choose to seek help through our Outpatient Drug Counseling In Sacramento.
