Alabama Drug Rehab

If you or someone you love needs help for a drug problem, you are not alone.

An estimated 262,000 adult Alabama said they had used an illicit drug during the previous month in a 2015-2016 survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Some of the most commonly used drugs are marijuana, prescription opioid painkillers, illicit opioids such as heroin, and methamphetamine (meth).

As in other states, opioid abuse is a special problem. There were 343 deaths associated with opioids in Alabama in 2016, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). This works out to a rate of 7.5 deaths per 100,000 people. While the death rate is far too high, it is nearly half the United States national rate of 13.3 deaths per 100,000 people.

Most of the opioid-related deaths were associated with synthetic opioids, mainly fentanyl and heroin. Specifically, 157 of the deaths were related to synthetic opioids, 126 with heroin and 124 associated with prescription opioids.

Alabama doctors and practitioners wrote approximately 6.8 million prescriptions for opioids in 2013 – that’s about 141.1 prescriptions for every 100 people. At nearly twice the average U.S. rate of 79.3 prescriptions for every 100 people, Alabama had the highest opioid prescription rate in the country. Opioid prescriptions have now dropped, both in Alabama and across the country. Opioid prescription rate dropped nearly 17 percent in Alabama from 2013 to 2015. By the end of 2015, prescription rates dipped to 120.3 prescriptions per 100 people for a total of about 5.8 million prescriptions.

Drug abuse is a serious condition that can have equally serious consequences. Fortunately, treatment can help you or your loved one overcome a substance abuse problem and reclaim a quality life. Sadly, SAMHSA estimates that 225,000 people in Alabama needed help in 2016 but did not receive it.

What You Need to Know about Drug Abuse, Addiction, Dependence and Treatment in Alabama

Substance abuse is when you take illegal drugs, or when you use legal drugs or alcohol excessively or incorrectly.

People in Alabama are highly concerned about drug abuse in their state. In fact, mental health and substance abuse was the fourth highest priority to Alabama voters in late 2017, according to the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama.

More than one in four American adults who live with a severe mental health issue also have with substance abuse issues, so it is important to look at mental health in Alabama as it relates to drug abuse. Mental Health America ranked the 50 states and Washington, D.C., according to a number of mental health categories.

They ranked Alabama 30th in the number of adults with any mental illness and 18th in the overall number of adults with acute suicidal thoughts. They also ranked Alabama 48th in overall access to care – the state was ahead of only Texas, South Carolina, and Mississippi when it came to access to care.

Despite access to care in Alabama, fewer than half of all adults living in the state receive the mental health care they need.

The opioid crisis has posed special challenges to people living in the state. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Alabama had the highest number of opioid prescriptions per capita in the country in 2013, with 141.1 opioid prescriptions per 100 people compared with the national average of 79.3 per 100 people. The opioid prescription rate has dropped to 120.3 per 100 people in 2015 but that ratio still works out to 1.2 prescriptions for every man, woman and child in the state.

In 2012, the state of Alabama had the highest amount of prescription painkiller use throughout the country. Similar to other states, it has more recently developed a heroin epidemic. Prescription painkiller use tends to transition to heroin use as heroin is easier to come by and cheaper. People in Alabama who are using heroin or other substances can find help through a treatment program.

Most Abused & Treated Drugs in Alabama:

The main drug that leads to treatment in Alabama is marijuana. Nonetheless, the state also has a significant amount of problem drinking, high levels of prescription painkiller use and an epidemic with heroin use.

Drug Rehab and Treatment Overview

Everyone experiences drug abuse in their own unique way, so treatment is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Alabama drug rehab and treatment focuses on the needs of the individual.

Treatment usually begins by addressing withdrawal symptoms associated with detoxification. Substance abuse professionals can administer medical detoxification, which is the use of medicines and procedures that reduce withdrawal symptoms long enough for a person to make it all the way through the detoxification process.

Alabama drug rehab may also include treatment for drug addiction in the form of counseling, behavior modification and talk therapy. This type of drug treatment explores the underlying reasons for drug abuse and addresses the behavioral changes associated with addiction. You learn how to deal with cravings, for example. Drug rehab helps you identify situations that may trigger drug use, and gives you the tools you need to avoid relapse when you find yourself in these situations.

Drug treatment in Alabama is available in a variety of settings. In inpatient care settings, substance abuse professionals provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to patients that stay in the facility for several days or weeks. These settings provide maximum benefit for people who have a severe drug problem or who need treatment in a new environment, away from any triggers that might lead to relapse.

In outpatient care, patients come attend counseling sessions a few days a week but return home at night. These settings may be best for those with a moderate drug problem, or who cannot stay away from home because of family responsibilities.

Treatment works. If you or someone you love has a drug problem, Alabama drug rehab can help. For more information on your drug treatment options in Alabama, contact your drug rehabilitation center.

What Are Your Treatment Options?

Treatment helps a person stop the effects the substance use is having on his or her mind, body and life. The person can heal and learn to change through therapy and other methods. The best treatment program will assess each person’s situation and needs, and then target the treatment approach to make it effective. Following is a general breakdown of options.

Type & Length of Care

Long Term Treatment Programs (90-Day)

Long-term treatment facilities provide thorough treatment in one setting, which includes a full range of treatment approaches with medication, counseling, education, relapse prevention, lifestyle changes and other services. With longer care, people have more time to devote themselves to treatment and to heal the damage that addiction has created.

Short Term Treatment Programs (28 / 30 Day)

These programs only last for a few weeks. They offer intensive treatment with counseling and other approaches. Short-term programs can help people who need a turning point but cannot commit to long-term residential care. To minimize the risk of relapse, a person should participate in some form of outpatient treatment, self-help groups and/or aftercare after they leave the short-term program.

Outpatient Vs. Inpatient

Inpatient programs require people to enter facilities and commit to treatment, with a full focus on recovery during the stay. These programs provide structure, time away from the previous environment and comprehensive services that include therapy, nutrition and education. Outpatient programs can range in how intensive they are, while they provide more freedom and flexibility. This option can be best for someone who can’t stop working or caring for children while participating in treatment.

Residential Treatment Services:

Detox

Detox is the first step someone will take when trying to recover from an addiction. While people can go through this process on their own, a medical detox gives support and tools, such as medication, that make the withdrawal symptoms easier and less dangerous. After detox, a person will generally move forward on the path to sobriety with rehab treatment.

Sober-living house

It can be hard for some people to go from the structure and sobriety of an inpatient facility to the freedom, temptations and triggers of normal life. A sober-living house offers a place for people to live, heal and practice rehab techniques before going home from inpatient facilities.

Facts aboutdrug rehabs in Utah.

Dual diagnosis

An addiction and a mood disorder, such as depression, often go hand-in-hand, leading to a dual diagnosis. Addiction can stimulate or worsen a mood disorder, or a person might use substances to try to manage the symptoms of a mood disorder. When a person has a dual diagnosis, he or she needs both addiction treatment and mental health treatment.

Conclusion:
With so many types of treatment available, everyone can find a program that helps them recover from their specific situations. To find success, some people may need to travel to find the right program and be willing to enter a facility that takes them away from the triggers of their normal home life. To stop the progression of addiction and stop depending on a substance, contact us for an immediate change in your life.