Across the United States, more than 20 million Americans struggle with some form of substance use disorder. In the New England region, drug and alcohol abuse has had a significant impact on individuals living with addiction, their family members, and communities at large.
Millions of New England residents and their loved ones live with the consequences of addiction in any given year. Alcohol and drug abuse can risk significant health problems, as well as take an enormous toll on relationships, ability to work, and emotional wellbeing.
In severe cases, substance abuse can also be deadly—as a result of fatal overdose, organ damage, or suicide. If you or a loved one in the northeastern United States is struggling with substance misuse or addiction, there’s no time to wait to seek help.
At Recovering Champions, our Massachusetts treatment facility offers a restorative setting for residents to heal from the effects of their addiction and learn skills to help them thrive in recovery.
Our treatment team understands that recovering from addiction is more than just getting sober. We know that the journey towards addiction recovery is a marathon, not a race.
At Recovering Champions, we treat addiction to substances such as:
- alcohol
- heroin, opiates, and other opioids
- prescription drugs
- cocaine
- methamphetamine (meth)
Here you’ll find information about the rates of drug and alcohol abuse in New England states, the types of treatment programs that are available, and how to choose the best rehab center for yourself or a loved one.
Drug And Alcohol Abuse In New England States
Since 1999, the number of annual drug overdose deaths in the United States has more than tripled. And in many New England states—such as Massachusetts and New Hampshire—drug overdose deaths far exceed the national average.
A major contributor to this alarming spike in drug overdose deaths is the rise of opioid abuse and addiction. In addition to several midwestern states, New England has become one of the epicenters of the United States opioid epidemic. The misuse of opioids and other drugs comes with significant costs, including loss of life, disability, and enduring health problems.
Information about drug and alcohol abuse rates in New England states:
- Over 80 percent of drug-related deaths in white, Hispanic, and Black communities in Massachusetts are opioid-related.
- Five New England states—Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, and Connecticut—are among the top 10 states with the highest rates of opioid-related deaths.
- Nearly 80 percent of people who use heroin in Vermont report first misusing prescription opioids like oxycodone (OxyContin) or hydrocodone (Vicodin).
- Alcohol and other drugs, such as opioids and benzodiazepines, are commonly taken together to feel a more powerful high. Mixing drugs, however, is also much more dangerous and can increase the risk for life-threatening overdose.
- More than one-third of individuals who seek substance abuse treatment in Connecticut qualify for dual diagnosis treatment. This is a type of specialty care for people who have both a substance use disorder and one or more mental health disorders.
Substance Abuse Prevention Efforts In New England
In order to address the devastating effects of substance abuse throughout the New England region, several states have taken important efforts to prevent and treat drug and alcohol abuse.
Many New England states have adopted a harm reduction approach to substance abuse. This approach focuses on reducing the immediate and urgent harms of substance abuse—such as risk for overdose and disease transmission.
Harm reduction acknowledges the complexity of addiction, understanding that drug use can be driven by a variety of social, environmental, and other personal factors. This contrasts with simplistic views of addiction that can promote shame, guilt, and low self-worth in people who are struggling.
Examples of harm reduction services and strategies include:
- expanding available drug disposal sites
- syringe services programs for safe injection and mobile community care
- educational outreach through training sessions, lectures, and prevention programs in a variety of community settings
Many state and municipal health departments in New England states have also undertaken efforts to reduce the number of opioid prescriptions and expand access to quality, effective treatment services. This includes evidence-based treatments like medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which can be received on both an inpatient and outpatient treatment level.
Ensuring that addiction treatment is available to some of our most vulnerable populations—including homeless individuals, the elderly, and low-income residents—has also been a priority, although not without its challenges.
Types Of Addiction Treatment Programs
Addiction doesn’t look the same for everyone, and neither does the recovery process. Treatment for drug and alcohol abuse can be most effective when it is personalized to meet the needs of each resident.
Most people who are actively struggling with substance abuse or addiction require intensive treatment within an inpatient treatment program. This involves temporarily residing within a detox center or drug rehab facility for 24-hour care and support.
The level of care someone needs will depend on a variety of factors, including the severity of their drug dependence, their current support system, and the extent to which their drug use affects their ability to function in their daily life.
Depending on where you are in your recovery process, the primary forms of drug and alcohol treatment include:
- Drug and Alcohol Detox
- Inpatient/Residential Rehab
- Day Treatment
- Outpatient Counseling
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
New England Drug And Alcohol Detox
Getting sober from drugs and alcohol is the first step towards addiction recovery. Despite popular belief, however, this is not as simple as quitting drugs or alcohol cold-turkey.
If you’re addicted to drugs, stopping them all at once can be highly uncomfortable at best, and life-threatening at worst. This is due to what’s known as withdrawal syndrome—the body’s reaction to the stopped use of drugs after a period of regular use.
Drug and alcohol withdrawal can set in between six to 12 hours after your last use. It can cause both physical and psychological symptoms. Without professional alcohol and drug treatment and support, withdrawal can become serious enough to cause a person to return to their drug use.
New England detoxification centers offer a safe and supportive environment to help addicted individuals get sober and treat symptoms of withdrawal. Drug detox programs may use both medical and behavioral health strategies, including the use of certain medications to curb drug cravings and ease symptoms.
New England Inpatient Drug And Alcohol Rehab
Getting sober is only the first step towards addiction recovery. While detox can help someone stop their drug use, it doesn’t address the underlying causes of their addiction or provide strategies for maintaining recovery.
After completing drug or alcohol detox, most substance abuse experts strongly encourage entering an inpatient treatment or residential rehabilitation program. Inpatient treatment is the highest level of care for people overcoming substance abuse and addiction.
Within a New England inpatient or residential treatment program, rehab centers may offer treatment services such as:
- Medical Detoxification Services
- Supervised Clinical Care
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Psychiatric Support Services
- Family Therapy
- Mental Health Treatment
- Gender-Specific Treatment
- Support Groups (including 12-Step, psychoeducational groups, and skill development)
- Holistic Care
- Recreational Therapy
- Relapse Prevention Planning
- Aftercare Support Services
New England addiction treatment centers each offer their own approach to addiction recovery that may vary from one center to the next. While evidence-based treatments—which are proven to reduce relapse and improve recovery outcomes—are the gold standard in inpatient care, this is not offered at every rehab center.
New England Day Treatment Programs
Day treatment programs offer a lower level of structure and intensity compared to inpatient programs.
Day treatment can be beneficial for:
- people who have recently completed an inpatient rehab program
- people who have relapsed but do not require intensive inpatient treatment
- working professionals, students, or caregivers who require greater professional support on an outpatient basis
Many alcohol and drug rehab centers offer day treatment programs as a step-down program for residents who are medically stable but still need ongoing support and structure in early recovery.
Day treatment programs do not involve residing within a treatment facility. Instead, patients will attend treatment for up to 25 hours a week. Day Treatments may include individual and group counseling, mental health treatment, and medication-assisted treatment.
New England Outpatient Treatment For Addiction
Attending standard outpatient services, such as weekly counseling appointments and checking in with a psychiatrist or medical doctor, can also be helpful for people in early addiction recovery.
Outpatient treatment for drug and alcohol addiction can generally last for as long as a person needs. Residents can receive outpatient treatment through a New England drug rehab center or through another outpatient treatment provider in their communities.
Continuing Care For Addiction Recovery
Overcoming substance abuse is not a quick process. Many people begin abusing substances as a way to self-medicate or to cope with past trauma, mental illness, domestic violence, or other life stressors. Addressing these triggers and learning how to manage stress without returning to harmful substances can take time.
During an inpatient or outpatient treatment program in New England, your treatment team may connect you with a case manager to coordinate continued care. Continued care, or aftercare, is a service that involves creating a long-term plan for maintaining sobriety.
Aftercare programs may connect newly sober residents to recovery-focused support groups, coordinate housing within a sober living home, and direct residents to other community-based resources.
Choosing The Right New England Rehab Center For You
New England treatment centers can vary in their approach and the types of treatment services they offer. With many treatment options to choose from, finding the best rehab center to meet your or your loved one’s needs can be an intimidating process.
When searching for a New England rehab center near you, you’ll need to consider several factors. First, you may wish to search for a rehab center that accepts your health insurance plan. Most private drug and alcohol rehab centers accept some form of insurance.
You’ll also need to find a rehab center that offers the level of care you need. By contacting your doctor or a rehab center directly, you may be able to have your loved one assessed to determine an appropriate level of care.
In addition, there are several other features and amenities of a top addiction rehab center that you can look for.
In your search for a suitable New England rehab center, consider looking for a facility that can offer the following:
- customized treatment plans: The best drug and alcohol rehab centers will customize patients’ treatment plans according to their individual needs.
- evidence-based treatment: Access to evidence-based treatments, which are proven to help people overcome addiction, can increase the chance for success in long-term recovery.
- 24-hour care: In early recovery, having 24-hour access to medical and behavioral support can be very helpful to prevent relapse and treat additional health concerns.
- Array of treatment services: Access to a wide array of therapies gives patients an opportunity to find treatment that works best for them.
- Mental health treatment: Many people overcoming substance abuse also struggle with mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and trauma. In these instances, having access to mental health treatment can be important in the addiction treatment process.
- Relapse prevention planning: Preventing relapse in early recovery is crucial. The best rehab centers provide treatment services designed to help patients learn to manage triggers in early recovery.
Our New England Addiction Recovery Programs
At Recovering Champions, our treatment staff understands that recovery is not a one-size-fits-all process. Our Massachusetts treatment facility offers a range of outpatient treatment programs for people overcoming various forms of substance abuse and drug addiction.
At Recovering Champions, you’ll find:
- a personalized treatment approach
- medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- behavioral therapies
- 12-Step groups
- family counseling
- onsite clinical and psychiatric services
- job and volunteer placement assistance
- aftercare planning
Our primary treatment programs include our day treatment program, and standard outpatient rehab. This makes our Cape Cod rehab center perfect for people who have recently completed inpatient rehab or require greater structure and support on an outpatient basis.
Although based in Massachusetts, Recovering Champions also welcomes residents from nearby states, including:
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Maine
- Connecticut
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
We understand that continuity can be critical in the addiction recovery process. By contacting our rehab center, we can assist you in coordinating care, verifying your insurance, and finding supportive housing in a nearby sober living home if you are traveling to our facility for treatment.
For more information about our addiction recovery programs and the types of treatment services we offer, call Recovering Champions today.
