Understanding Substance Abuse Recovery Programs

If you or a loved one are suffering from drug or alcohol abuse, it may be daunting to foresee a clear path forward. Stopping the cycle of addiction may be challenging without the help of a professional. You may be wondering what this sort of support looks like and how to get started. Fortunately, the state of California has a variety of programs and services available to help people overcome the hurdles associated with addiction.

What Programs Are There?

The types of services and places they are offered can range widely, and not everyone is the right fit for a person or their situation. Treatment can be offered everywhere from a medical hospital to a private addiction center. In general, there are two major stages involved in completely resolving the addictive behavior. In some cases, these can be finished individually and in totally separate facilities. In others, they are combined together as part of a complete, structured package.

• Detoxification – This is the process your body needs to go through to rid itself of the substances controlling at and return to a clean state. It may have effects on physical and mental health, so proper oversight during this phase can be critical.
• Rehabilitation – This is a broad term that can encompass many things, but refers to the act of breaking your body’s need for the substance and preventing future relapse.

Where Should You Start?

If stopping the use of the drug or alcohol causes your body to go into withdrawal symptoms, then it’s likely your first step will be a detox program. This is an important first step, as rehabilitation cannot occur without your body being clean first.

There are short detox programs and longer ones. They can be offered at inpatient facilities or also as an outpatient service. The one that’s right may depend on several factors. These may include the type of substance involved, the length of time you have been using it and the effect a lengthy stay may have on your family or job.

Whose Care Are You Under?

The person overseeing your care will also vary depending on the facility you choose and the type of treatment to be received. One important thing to understand is that as of 2016, you do not necessarily need to be under the care of a primary physician while at a treatment facility. Licensed operations can now provide Incidental Medical Services (IMS) for patients directly. IMS assists treatment services by a healthcare practitioner in the role of addressing issues associated with detoxification or addiction recovery. The six services that can be provided according to DHCS are as follows:

1. Obtaining medical histories.
2. Monitoring health status.
3. Testing associated with detoxification from alcohol or drugs.
4. Providing alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment services.
5. Overseeing patient self-administered medications.
6. Treating substance abuse disorders, including detoxification.

The battle to treat substance abuse and recover properly is not an easy one. With a structured and focused path, the end result can be a positive one. Know that you are not alone and there are programs and professionals out there to assist throughout this process.