Over the past decade, substance misuse has been steadily rising in the Chicago area — and Skokie has been no exception. It’s essential to know the recovery options available and the right next step to take if you or a loved one is struggling with substance misuse.
There are plenty of Skokie outpatient substance misuse treatment programs to choose from, which can sometimes make this significant life decision more challenging. To clarify, let’s take a closer look at how substance use and addiction impact Skokie, the benefits of outpatient treatment programs and the best options for outpatient substance misuse treatment in Skokie.
Although anyone can become addicted to drugs, no matter their age, gender or economic status, some factors can make a person more prone to addiction. Namely, a person’s genetics and environment impact their likelihood of abusing a substance. Some genetic traits may speed up or slow down the development of addiction. At the same time, environmental influences, such as the views your family and friends hold on drug use, may also alter the rate of an addiction’s progression.
Here are some specific variables that may put an individual more or less at risk for developing an addiction.
Some people may be more genetically predisposed to addiction based on how their brain responds to dopamine. Scientists say that between 40 and 60% of vulnerability to addiction may be due to genetics, so those with a close blood relative who had struggled with substance use are more likely to develop an addiction themselves.
If family history is the genetic component of addiction, family involvement is the environmental aspect. A lack of parental supervision or strong familial bonds can increase the risk of addiction in young people. Difficult family situations in which addiction is already present may also normalize the use of drugs, adding to the likelihood of future addiction.
Often a result of a lack of family involvement, early use of drugs can affect the brain’s development and speed up the process of drug addiction.
Because people often turn to drugs as a coping mechanism, those with a mental health disorder — such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder — are more prone to developing an addiction. Unlike healthier methods of dealing with the pain of loneliness, anxiety and depression, drugs make these painful feelings worse.
Surrounding yourself with people who regularly misuse substances makes it more challenging for you to avoid becoming addicted, too. Although this problem is particularly relevant to young people, peer pressure affects everyone.
Not all drugs have the same level of addictive quality. Stimulants, such as opioid painkillers and cocaine, may speed up the development of an addiction. Injecting or smoking drugs may also hasten your path to drug dependence. But this does not mean there are no consequences for using less addictive drugs — these “light drugs” often lead to progressively harder drugs and addiction.
Often, occupational obligations or family responsibilities can prevent people from getting much-needed treatment. An outpatient treatment program solves these issues by offering a conveniently flexible therapy schedule built around a patient’s daily tasks. By opting for an outpatient treatment program, a patient can receive counseling, get medical assistance and recover, all without leaving home.
Outpatient treatment typically takes the form of routine appointments several times per week that last only a few hours, allowing patients to keep working during the day and attending family events. If a prospective patient has a hectic lifestyle, an outpatient program is probably the right fit. This format makes outpatient treatment programs especially suitable for students, working parents and those who care for family members, as they can schedule their therapy sessions around class times and other activities.
Outpatient treatment programs are ideal for those looking for a more affordable alternative to inpatient treatment programs. Because outpatient program patients are not living on the treatment facility’s campus, they do not have to pay the same room and board fees as residential patients. Thanks to outpatient treatment program options, patients can expect the same quality therapy and care during the day, while paying less than they would for a residential rehab experience.
As previously mentioned, substance misuse and mental health disorders often go hand in hand. Rehab centers that offer treatment seek to treat the person as a whole and assess patients for co-occurring mental health conditions. A dual diagnosis requires creating a custom plan for each patient’s needs and addressing any recovery obstacles specific to them.
Although outpatient treatment isn’t always a viable replacement for inpatient residential treatment, it can be a perfect fit for those with a less severe addiction. Outpatient treatment is a less intensive approach to addiction for those less prone to relapse and able to navigate the pitfalls of living outside of a guaranteed substance-free setting. Despite living apart from the treatment center, outpatient patients can count on constant access to care and the availability of experts to answer any questions, concerns or cravings that may arise during hours outside therapy.
Because outpatient treatment programs are a bit milder than inpatient treatment programs, they are ideal for post-residential treatment follow-up or relapse recovery. Less intensive outpatient programs can help patients continue building long-term habits of sobriety while living at home and staying connected with their families. Going through therapy while living at home can help patients feel less alone as they develop healthy coping mechanisms and alternative responses to cravings.
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) uses treatment sessions to provide individual, group and family therapy along with mindfulness-based training and relapse education for prevention. Because IOP treatment sessions are usually only a few hours long, this approach is perfect for someone looking to prioritize recovery while balancing a busy schedule.
An IOP focuses on clear, achievable milestones for the patient to accomplish as a measurable marker of their recovery progress. As you complete more and more accomplishments, your treatment requirements per week will decline.
Continuing care is the least intensive category of outpatient treatment and includes programs like alcoholism group therapy meetings. These outpatient treatment programs are excellent for those who have already gone through a more rigorous recovery program and looking to reinforce their commitment to sobriety. Continuing care therapy typically meets weekly and focuses on a specific component of recovery.
Patients can now receive the same level of care they would expect in person without even leaving home.Thanks to modern technology, treatment centers can provide their patients with top-quality recovery therapies remotely through virtual outpatient services (VOP).
From individual to group therapy, VOP includes a wide variety of specialty programs. VOP is also suitable for all types of schedules because all it requires patients to do is sign up for their preferred treatment time and program, then get online at the start of their session. These aspects make VOP an ideal form of treatment for anyone in need of an extremely flexible recovery option.
Outpatient treatment programs can differ in quality, as well as style. To avoid enrolling in an ineffective rehab or joining a center that cannot meet your recovery needs, do some research before agreeing to become a patient. Remember that recovery is possible, but you must choose a trustworthy facility first.
Here’s what to look for when searching for a Skokie outpatient treatment program.
Make sure that the outpatient treatment program you’re interested in meets the standards for quality care and has received accreditation. Double-check that it only employs licensed, qualified professionals to work with you on your healing journey.
Financial worries should never get in the way of recovery, so look for a facility that will work with you to determine what your insurance policy will cover. Fortunately, the law requires all U.S. health insurance policies to cover at least part of addiction treatment costs.
As discussed earlier, an extensive range of symptoms can accompany withdrawal, so make sure your outpatient treatment program can handle them. Look for a center that either has medical personnel on staff or partners with a local medical clinic.
Another reason to look for a recovery program that includes medical staff is to give you the option of medication-assisted treatment. This type of treatment uses both therapy and medications to help patients stay sober, which can be valuable, depending on their substance of misuse.
Because of the link between substance misuse and mental health disorders, find an outpatient treatment program that offers co-occurring disorder therapy and meets your psychiatric needs.
Look for an outpatient program that provides individual therapy, so you know you’ll get individualized care by talking with a therapist one-on-one about the barriers you encounter and new ways to cope.
Group therapy is an excellent way to build community and learn about drug addiction alongside others going through similar circumstances. Hearing their experiences and sharing yours will help everyone grow and get closer to both each other and recovery.
Often, it’s impossible to fully address addiction without reconciling with family members. An outpatient treatment program that includes family therapy will let you get to the heart of addiction and make returning to your family upon completing treatment easier.
Addiction is a lifelong struggle, so choose an outpatient treatment center that’s going to stick by you for the long haul. Find a program that will continually check in with you, instead of abandoning you upon completion of your program.
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