Addiction, clinically known as a substance use disorder, can upend your life in many ways. More than 40 million people in the United States suffer from a substance use disorder, but sadly, only about 6% get treatment. It’s important to be aware of your substance use, whether you use alcohol or drugs, and to recognize that you have a problem requiring treatment. With treatment, you can move forward as a healthier, happier person.
The clinical definition of a substance use disorder specifies 11 criteria that indicate that an addiction is present.
Meeting 2 or 3 of these criteria indicates a mild substance use disorder, 4 to 5 is considered moderate, and 6 or more is severe.
You can also evaluate the effects of substance abuse on your life to determine if you have an addiction that needs treatment. Commonly, addiction can wreak havoc in a multitude of ways, including:
This list is not all inclusive, so you need to thoroughly examine your life to see what negative consequences have occurred due to your substance abuse.
If you have determined that treatment is right for you, you should understand your options. Four levels of treatment are commonly offered by treatment facilities.
A detox program involves an inpatient stay at which you are kept comfortable and safe as you withdraw from the substance. Medication may be given to ease withdrawal symptoms. These programs typically offer both individual and group therapy, although it is limited by the short time frame. A detox program should ideally be followed by another form of treatment.
During a 30 to 90 day inpatient treatment program, you’ll be given intensive therapy, mostly in groups. Group therapy is very valuable part of treatment, giving you the opportunity to learn about the nature of addiction, and to interact with peers, forming mutually supportive relationships.
The most common therapy used in treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on changing your thought patterns from negative, irrational, and destructive, to positive, reality-based, and productive. You learn to identify your “addict” thoughts, and replace them with rational thoughts. For example, if you catch yourself thinking “I just need a reset and then I can just use substances on the weekends”, you’ll replace that thought with something like “using substances has ruined my life because I can’t control it. I have to quit for my health and my family.”
In CBT, you’ll also learn healthy coping strategies for handling stress, cravings, and other challenges that life brings. For example, you might turn to exercise when you feel stressed instead of substance use. Exercise is a natural mood booster and stress reducer.
A PHP is an outpatient program consisting of therapy for four to six hours per day, five days a week. This program may last from four to ten weeks. Therapy is similar to that of inpatient treatment, but you can live at home rather than staying at a facility.
These outpatient programs usually involve two to three hours of therapy, three days per week. They are anywhere from six to ten weeks long. Often, therapy sessions are held in the evenings so that you can still go to work or school.
Ideally, particularly for severe addictions, the treatment program will be comprehensive, with inpatient treatment followed by a PHP and an IOP. After treatment, it’s also beneficial to regularly attend support group meetings and/or individual therapy.
Understanding the signs of addiction can help you to make the right treatment choices for you. If you are ready to seek help for your substance use, New England Medical Group is here to help. We offer several treatment options, and are dedicated to providing comprehensive, compassionate care to help you to live a healthier, more fulfilling life.
