Substance abuse and addiction affect people from all walks of life, regardless of gender, income, race, or ethnicity. Across the Bay State, there are hundreds of thousands of people who are believed to struggle with drug and alcohol dependence.
Seeking treatment for addiction can be one of the hardest and most rewarding decisions you ever make. Admitting you have a problem and taking the steps to heal is a sign of strength, not weakness.
In Massachusetts, there are a wide range of inpatient rehab centers and outpatient treatment options that serve to help people overcome addiction and learn the tools they need to stay sober for lifelong recovery.
Across the state, the most common types of addiction include:
- alcohol addiction – Learn more about Alcohol Rehab Centers in Massachusetts
- opioid and opiate addiction
- heroin addiction
- meth addiction
- cocaine addiction
- prescription drug addiction
If you or a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, you’re not alone. Recovery is possible. At Recovering Champions, we empower newly sober individuals to identify and use their personal strengths to build a future in recovery.
Here you’ll find information about different types of treatment programs, drug and alcohol abuse rates across Massachusetts, and how to choose the best rehab center for yourself or a loved one.
Types Of Addiction Treatment Programs In Massachusetts
Addiction rehab centers in Massachusetts offer a range of treatment programs at multiple levels of care. The level of care a person needs can vary according to where they’re at in their addiction recovery process.
Determining what type of treatment program you need can depend on a variety of personal factors.
These factors may include:
- severity of drug dependence
- duration of substance abuse
- co-occurring disorders
- prior treatment history
- current support system
For most, the first step towards addiction recovery is entering an inpatient rehabilitation center for medical detoxification. This is the safest and most effective way to stop drinking or using drugs.
Overcoming addiction, however, requires more than just getting sober. Most doctors recommend continuing treatment within an inpatient treatment or intensive outpatient program.
Massachusetts Drug And Alcohol Detox
Medically assisted detox programs offer the safest way for people to stop using drugs and alcohol. Without professional help, quitting addictive substances can be highly uncomfortable at best, and life-threatening at worst.
Detox is the process of allowing the body to remove harmful substances from your system. If you’re dependent on drugs or alcohol, stopping your use may cause a number of physical and psychological symptoms. This is known as withdrawal.
Within a detox program, patients can receive certain medications to curb drug cravings and ease symptoms of withdrawal. Patients can also be monitored for serious health concerns and receive IV therapy to stay hydrated and nourished.
During the detoxification process, medications may be offered to blunt the worst withdrawal symptoms. Medications vary by recovery center, but can include methadone or buprenorphine (Suboxone).
Entering a detox program can reduce a person’s risk for relapse and protect them from some of the more serious symptoms of withdrawal. For people with chronic alcoholism, for instance, this may include heart palpitations, hallucinations, severe fever, and seizures.
Learn more about Drug Detox Centers in Massachusetts, and Alcohol Detox Centers in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Inpatient Rehab
Inpatient and residential rehab programs offer a supportive and supervised environment for residents to begin the process of healing from addiction. Residential treatment is highly recommended for people with persistent or severe addiction.
Inpatient drug rehab programs in Massachusetts offer treatment services that can address the underlying causes of addiction and help patients learn more supportive ways to cope and manage stress.
Common treatments in Massachusetts residential rehab include:
- behavioral therapy
- individual and group therapy
- family counseling
- medication-assisted treatment
- mental health treatment
- gender-specific therapy
- recreational therapy
- dual diagnosis treatment – Learn more about Dual Diagnosis Rehab Centers in Massachusetts
- motivational interviewing
- yoga and mindfulness training
- relapse prevention planning
- aftercare services
Not every inpatient rehab center offers the same types of treatment. Drug rehab centers may differ in their approach to addiction recovery, and the types of substance use they treat.
Learn more about Inpatient Rehab Centers in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Outpatient Treatment Programs
There are several types of outpatient treatment programs in Massachusetts. These outpatient treatment programs vary in the level of structure they offer and their intensity.
Outpatient treatment is most suitable for people who:
- have recently completed an inpatient rehab program
- have relapsed but do not require intensive treatment
- need ongoing support to strengthen their commitment to recovery
Outpatient treatment programs are not suitable for people who are actively drug dependent, or are medically unstable.
Depending on the level of support you need, a treatment specialist may recommend step-down treatment in a day treatment program, intensive outpatient program, or standard outpatient program.
Learn more about Outpatient Rehab Centers in Massachusetts
Day Treatment
Day treatment—known as partial hospitalization in some other states—is the most intensive form of outpatient treatment. This type of recovery program involves attending treatment at an addiction treatment center for up to 25 hours a week.
Day treatment schedules may integrate individual counseling sessions, group counseling, medication-assisted treatment, and other appointments with medical or psychiatric professionals as needed.
Learn more about Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)
Intensive Outpatient Programs
Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) involve attending treatment at a drug or alcohol rehab center for three to four hours a day, up to three days per week. This offers greater flexibility for parents and people who are working or attending school.
During this time, residents may attend therapy, participate in support groups, and check in with a doctor or psychiatrist as needed.
Learn more about Intensive Outpatient Programs in Massachusetts
Standard Outpatient Programs
Many people in early recovery from addiction continue seeing a therapist or substance abuse counselor on a regular basis to maintain their commitment to recovery.
For people recovering from opioid addiction, outpatient treatment may also involve receiving ongoing methadone maintenance therapy or Suboxone therapy. These are evidence-based treatments for opioid and opiate abuse that are offered by some inpatient and outpatient providers.
Massachusetts Sober Living
Sober living homes offer temporary housing for people in early recovery from addiction who are medically stable. Residents of these homes may be required to attend drug or alcohol treatment at a nearby rehab center, secure or maintain employment, and attend to other household tasks.
Temporary housing in a sober home or Recovery Home can be helpful for people who lack a supportive home environment. It can also be supportive for people who have traveled to a rehab center from out of state and wish to continue their treatment on an outpatient level.
Learn more about Sober Living Homes in Massachusetts
What To Look For In A Massachusetts Treatment Center
When searching for a Massachusetts rehab center, you want to find a treatment program that can offer the quality of care you or your loved one’s needs.
This means finding a drug rehab center that accepts your insurance, or offers an affordable payment plan. For residents with co-occurring mental health disorders, this also means finding a rehab center that offers dual diagnosis care.
There are several qualities to look for in a drug rehab program.
In your search, consider looking for a treatment facility that can offer the following:
- evidence-based treatment: Evidence-based treatments are treatments that are shown to reduce the risk for relapse and improve recovery outcomes in residents overcoming addiction.
- customized treatment plans: Addiction recovery is not a one-size-fits-all process. Treatment is most effective when it’s customized to meet your individual needs.
- wide selection of treatment services: Offering a wide array of treatments provides an opportunity for residents to find a type of treatment that works best for them.
- supportive environment: Beginning recovery in a peaceful treatment environment with supportive staff can benefit physical, mental, and spiritual health in early sobriety.
- relapse prevention planning: Preventing relapse in early recovery is critical. The best rehab facilities offer long-term treatment planning to set patients up for success.
Drug And Alcohol Abuse Rates In Massachusetts
Along with several New England states, Massachusetts has been the epicenter of a wave of fatal drug overdoses in the last decade—in large part due to widespread opioid abuse and addiction.
In 2018, nearly 2,000 Massachusetts residents suffered a fatal drug overdose involving one or more opioids. This includes illegal opioids like heroin and the highly potent fentanyl. Opioids are also commonly mixed with other drugs, like alcohol and benzodiazepines—a dangerous and life-threatening combination.
According to data from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, as many as 25 percent of Massachusetts residents have lost a loved one or acquaintance due to deadly opioid overdose.
In addition still, there are hundreds of thousands of people who suffer the consequences of living with substance use disorders each day. This includes consequences to relationships, ability to work, physical health, and emotional wellbeing.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an estimated 383,000 Massachusetts residents struggled with alcohol abuse or dependence in 2015. An additional 173,000 reported illicit substance abuse and drug dependence.
Among people who receive substance abuse treatment in the Bay State, more than half are seeking help for heroin addiction. About a third seek help for alcohol abuse.
Substance Abuse Prevention Efforts in Massachusetts
Across the Bay State, the Massachusetts Department of Health and city governments have worked together to develop community partnerships with organizations to fight high rates of drug and alcohol abuse.
Massachusetts elected officials, public health experts, and community leaders have collaborated on key initiatives to prevent substance abuse and combat the state’s opioid crisis.
These efforts include:
- Forming a Massachusetts Opioid Abuse Prevention Coalition (MOAPC) grant program to prevent opioid abuse and opioid overdose
- Empowering cities and communities to expand educational outreach, available treatment programs, and promote harm reduction strategies through state government funding
- Creating safe sharps disposal sites, expanding access to naloxone (which can reverse opioid overdose), and creating prescription drug dropoff locations
- Developing a training program to teach first responders and community members how to reverse an opioid overdose with naloxone (Narcan)
- Passing legislation to control the number of opioid prescriptions being given to individuals at risk for opioid abuse and addiction
From 2016 to 2017, opioid overdose deaths declined by eight percent statewide, according to the Boston Globe. Prescribing rates for opioids have also dropped. Additional efforts to address widespread drug and alcohol abuse are ongoing.
Our Massachusetts Addiction Treatment Programs
Recovering Champions is an accredited Massachusetts treatment facility that empowers residents of the Greater New England area to advance towards a healthy and fulfilling future in addiction recovery.
We offer a range of outpatient treatment programs for addiction, including our:
- day treatment program
- intensive outpatient program
- outpatient program
- medication-assisted treatment
Our Cape Cod rehab center belongs to a network of substance abuse treatment centers across the state that together offer a full continuum of care—from medically assisted detox to outpatient.
Strengthen Your Recovery At Recovering Champions
At Recovering Champions, you’ll find a treatment team that is dedicated to ensuring residents in early sobriety have the skills and tools they need to thrive in long-term recovery.
We offer onsite clinical and psychiatric support, as well as evidence-based treatment, 12-step facilitation, and job placement assistance.
Our customized recovery programs provide each resident with the opportunity to receive treatment that is personalized to meet their physical, spiritual, and mental health issues.
We serve all areas throughout the Bay State, as well as surrounding states such as New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.
If you or a family member need assistance in arranging travel to our rehab center, or finding nearby sober living housing, our administrative staff can help.
Recovering from addiction is a marathon, not a race. Learn more about Recovering Champions and the types of treatment services we offer by calling our helpline today.
