An addiction to any substance is a cause for concern. Although it is easy to think that a dependency on marijuana or prescription medications is less serious than if you were dependent on heroin or cocaine, this is not the case. Any form of drug addiction can lead to a range of problems and not just for your health. While it might initially be difficult for you to accept that your drug taking has got out of control and that you need specialist addiction treatment, acknowledging you have a problem with substance abuse is the first step that any addict needs to take in their journey to recovery.
When you are able to admit that you are addicted to cannabis, an opiate, stimulants or another drug, Steps to Recovery can help you to achieve a life that is free from the grip of these destructive substances. However, when you choose one of our treatment centers near Abington, the rehab programs on offer are quite different from those provided by many other facilities. Our unique approach to treating substance dependency enhances your chances of breaking your habit and staying clean for good.
Consequences of Drug Addiction
The particular drug you use and the way in which you choose to take it determines the physical and mental health problems you may experience. For instance, abusing heroin or another opiate can leave you vulnerable to breathing difficulties, digestive problems and drowsiness, and if you inject these drugs there is a risk you may contract HIV or hepatitis B from dirty needles. Alternatively, amphetamines can reduce your appetite, increase your anxiety levels and make you more susceptible to a heart attack or stroke. Even marijuana, which many people view as a safer drug, can lead to lung irritation, chest infections and problems affecting your mental well-being such as anxiety and depression. However, the effects on your short and long-term health aren’t the only consequences you need to worry about, as withdrawing from these drugs when you are dependent upon them can lead to a range of unpleasant symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms can make it harder for you to quit, which is why Steps to Recovery is able to offer supervised detox programs as part of our service.
Even though the health effects of drug taking vary from one substance to another, when dependent on any drug there are also social consequences. For instance, when drugs have a hold over you, you are more likely to:
- Struggle to maintain your relationships with family and friends
- Experience problems at school, college or in the workplace
- Get into financial difficulties
- Expose yourself to unnecessary risks such as drugged driving
- Take part in other illegal activities
Any of these consequences can have a devastating impact on your life, but it is possible to turn your life around with the help of a specialist drug treatment center, which Steps to Recovery offers within reach of Abington.
Choosing Drug Addiction Treatment near Abington
When you recognize that attending rehab is the only way to get clean and abstain from drug taking in the longer term, you are then faced with choosing a treatment program. As you will see, Steps to Recovery offers a range of options for substance abuse rehabilitation, from a supervised stay as an inpatient to treatment as an outpatient. Each form of treatment is designed to meet different needs, so you can select which fits best with your own circumstances. For example, if you wish to stay on at college or to avoid a break from work, an outpatient program is ideal. This allows you to continue with your commitments, while receiving professional support for a few hours several times each week. However, if you don’t have a structured or supportive home environment, a residential stay is usually more suitable. Some clients even opt for a course of treatment that is in between the two, known as partial hospitalization. This allows you to receive intensive input, just like you would as an inpatient, but allows you to return home each night. The close proximity of our drug treatment centers to Abington makes outpatient and partial hospitalization a realistic option for you.
If you would like any guidance on choosing the right style of addiction treatment for your needs, our supportive staff are more than happy to assist you.
What Makes Steps to Recovery Different?
Although other facilities that support addicts in their recovery offer inpatient, outpatient and partial hospitalization treatment, there are various aspects of the care we offer that helps our programs to stand out. Some of the key benefits of our rehab include:
- A tailored program of care unique to your needs
- A diverse range of addiction therapies on offer
- The chance to develop essential skills that will ease your return to life in Abington
- A focus on family and building strong relationships
- A devoted team of staff
- Options for follow-up care to give you the best chance of continued success
Care that Puts Your Needs First near Abington
Addiction treatment facilities often adopt a general approach to treatment, giving clients a universal program of therapy. However, there is evidence that generic rehabilitation just doesn’t work for most addicts, as everyone has their own needs, with different factors contributing to drug taking. This is why Steps to Recovery always puts together an individualized treatment plan for every client who comes to us for rehab. We take the time to find out about the difficulties you face to design a program of therapy tailored to address these. By taking this client-centered approach, you are more likely to overcome your drug addiction on the first attempt, which helps to explain why many of our clients are able to do so.
Talking Therapies Integral to Treatment
If a supervised drug withdrawal program is necessary, this is only the start of treatment with us. After you have safely detoxed you will then begin a course of counseling, with the specific talking therapies used in private counseling sessions chosen according to your needs. These one to one sessions allow you to work through your difficulties and with the help of a counselor identify how you will cope when temptation strikes. However, group counseling also has an important place within rehab. While you may feel conscious about speaking in front of others, it is important to remember that you are all in a similar situation and a non-judgmental environment is fostered. Interacting within these group sessions not only allows you to receive feedback from other clients, which increases your awareness of yourself and the impact of your actions, but allows you to learn from the experiences of others. As there are usually common themes that affect clients, these sessions are also a good opportunity to problem solve as a group.
Besides helping you to see a way forward and give you the coping skills to effectively do so, taking part in talking therapy sessions additionally allows you to work on your communication skills. This lets you to talk more easily with your loved ones, allowing you to explain your struggles, but with improved listening skills you will also appreciate the impact your drug taking has had on their lives too. Enhanced skills in speaking and listening are also of value in the workplace.
Looking Beyond Standard Therapies
Although there is an emphasis on both individual and group therapy sessions in our residential and outpatient programs, we make sure that we don’t neglect other therapies that show promise for addiction recovery. One area where there is increasing interest is the use of complementary therapies. The likes of acupuncture and yoga are not designed to replace standard treatments for overcoming drug dependency, but their use alongside these therapies can enhance their effects. One area in which complementary therapies can help is promoting a brighter mood and reducing anxiety levels. Many addicts find that they suffer from low mood and anxiety, which is often a factor that initially contributes to drug taking and can then make it harder to escape from the hold of drugs. Withdrawing from a substance you are dependent upon can also make you more likely to experience worsened mood and anxiety, so it is beneficial that complementary treatments can lessen this impact. There is additionally evidence that these other therapies may help to manage cravings, which many addicts find hard to resist, particularly during their initial period of abstinence. However, as with all the treatments on offer at Steps to Recovery, we only use those that are backed by scientific research, so you can be sure that all are safe and effective.
Skills Development for a Better Future
When planning your treatment, we will make sure that you receive help to fill in any gaps in your skills. This makes sure that you are practically ready to return to Abington after your rehab is complete. With the skills to cope in your everyday life and ensure your success in the job market, you can not only contribute meaningfully to the community, but you are less likely to relapse. As relapse rates are typically between 40 and 60% for addicts coming out of addiction treatment, at Steps to Recovery we want to make sure that you are given every opportunity to avoid returning to your old habits.
Building New Relationships and Strengthening Existing Ones
As there are so many group activities as part of our inpatient and outpatient programs, you are in an ideal position to develop good relationships with your peers in rehab. Peer support is invaluable during your time in addiction treatment and you will find that when you work together life is so much easier. This is certainly a philosophy you can take forward with you, as when you leave rehab you will need to work on building new friendships if you are to avoid the social circle you associated with when taking drugs. However, it isn’t just about forming new relationships, as your family and old friends are also a valuable source of support, but these relationships often suffer as a consequence of drug abuse. Using your time with us to strengthen these existing relationships is vital, which is why we include family therapy and family time within our programs.
Supportive Staff at Every Step
From the moment you enter therapy to when you leave, our dedicated staff are there to support you. Our team members with experience of the rehab process themselves are only too aware of how difficult recovery from substance abuse is, but all therapists and members of our support team will show you empathy and assist you in whatever way possible. If you are looking for intensive input, Steps from Recovery can offer this, thanks to our favorable staffing levels. We like to think that our commitment to helping you achieve long-term abstinence from drugs plays just as large a part in the success of our clients as does the treatments we offer.
Ongoing Support near Abington
Although the care from some drug treatment facilities ends when you finish an inpatient or outpatient program with them, this is not the case with Steps to Recovery. We appreciate that returning to life after rehab is not easy, which is why we offer a range of options for follow-up care. For instance, if you complete a residential program, but feel that you would not be able to cope at home, one of our sober living facilities in the Abington area is a good option. These offer you more freedom than a residential stay, but while you live here you are offered a structured environment and have to abide by various rules, helping to keep you on track. Alternatively, if you return home, you can benefit from an aftercare program or recovery coaching, both of which increase your chances of staying free from drugs after treatment.