Bristol Alcohol & Drug Rehab Options

Bristol Alcohol & Drug Rehab Options

Bristol Addiction Treatment Resources

Founded in 1785, Bristol, Conn., has a rich history of farming and industry. It’s now popular for being the home of ESPN and offering an affordable residential area about 20 miles west of Hartford. Though Bristol is a great place to live for many people, the sad truth is that many residents struggle with addiction.

While the city does have unusually high rates of addiction, there is hope. Thanks to the many intensive drug rehab treatment centers in Bristol, people struggling with addiction have a chance to achieve sobriety. Understanding substance use disorder is key for getting started on the path to recovery.

Understanding the Addiction Epidemic

Virtually every part of the U.S. is currently undergoing a substance use crisis due to the increasingly high amounts of drug and alcohol addiction. Connecticut is faring worse than much of the country, with the state having twice as many overdose deaths due to opioids as the national average. Opioid use is the primary cause of overdose-related deaths, but alcohol, cocaine, and other prescription drugs are also quite common. Bristol has been struck especially hard by the addiction epidemic.

A recent report from Connecticut’s Office of the Medical Examiner looked at deaths between January and June of 2019. They reported 544 overdose deaths, with Bristol having the sixth-highest rate of overdose deaths in the state. The number of overdose deaths continues to rise, primarily due to the introduction of Fentanyl. This opioid is extremely toxic, and even a 3-milligram dose is enough to kill an adult male. A lot of street drugs like heroin are tainted with Fentanyl, so people may unknowingly ingest too much and overdose.

A particularly worrying trend in Bristol is the high ratio of people dealing with addiction. In many other areas of Connecticut, the number of those with a substance use disorder are roughly the same as the number of those with other types of mental health disorders since addiction is itself a mental health problem. However, in Bristol, the yearly number of people with an addiction is 1,170, far outpacing the 457 residents dealing with mental health disorders not related to addiction. This indicates that the town faces an abnormally high amount of challenges with drug and alcohol addiction. The unusually high levels of substance use disorder in Bristol are due to a variety of factors, including the overprescription of painkillers, a lack of educational and career opportunities, and a lack of resources.

Do I Need Treatment?

So how do you know if you or a loved one is in need of care? Recognizing addiction can be a little challenging. Common myths surrounding substance use disorder suggest that those with an addiction tend to be disheveled, impoverished people with no jobs or family connections. However, the reality is that many Bristol addicts are functional addicts. They may be able to hold down a job, support a family, and maintain social engagements even while they are in the throes of addiction. Therefore, recognizing addiction may require you to pay attention to more subtle signs.

Generally, a person is clinically addicted when they cannot stop using the substance without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Feeling bad every time you stop using drugs or alcohol means your body has developed a physical dependence. A person who is addicted to a drug will experience extreme cravings for the substance. They may keep taking a medication after a health problem has cleared up. Many struggle to kick the habit even though they want to stop. Addicts often develop a tolerance to a substance, which means they need to take more and more to get the same effects. You can be addicted to just about any type of drug, including alcohol, prescription painkillers, or illegal street drugs.

The physical signs of addiction can vary quite a bit depending on what drug a person is abusing. For example, methamphetamine addiction can cause tooth decay while alcoholism might cause yellow, jaundiced skin. In general, any sign of ill health may be a cause for concern. Some symptoms to keep an eye out for include:

  • Unexplained weight loss or gain
  • Changes to sleeping patterns, including drowsiness or insomnia
  • Sores, scratches, burns, or needle marks appearing frequently on the body
  • Slurred speech or poor reaction times
  • Jitteriness, tremors, and fast speech
  • Nausea, constipation, and other digestive issues
  • Headaches, fatigue, or depression
  • The mental and behavioral effects of addiction are often even more noticeable. Here are some issues you may notice when a person is dealing with addiction.
  • A loss of interest in former hobbies and activities
  • Risky decision making
  • Struggles with daily responsibilities, including basic hygiene and getting meals
  • Sudden mood swings, such as irritability, euphoria, and mania
  • Unethical behavior such as stealing from loved ones
  • Unexplained financial problems
  • Lying and hiding drug use
  • Using medications in ways not prescribed by doctors

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to start looking for drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers near Bristol.

Effective Treatments for Drug and Alcohol Addiction

If you think you or a loved one may be suffering from addiction, it’s important to get professional help as soon as possible. The right treatment can give you the tools you need to overcome substance use disorder. There are many different treatments that can help you achieve sobriety. To discover which one is right for your situation, it’s important to explore all the options available in Bristol.

Exploring the Difference Between Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab

Regardless of the types of care offered at rehab centers, they are usually divided into two basic categories of inpatient and outpatient. Inpatient rehab, which is also called residential rehab, involves checking into a center and living there for several weeks while you get constant support, monitoring, and treatment. Outpatient rehab lets you stay at your usual Bristol residence and just visit a center several times a week for therapy and other treatment. There are also intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization rehab options. These are technically outpatient treatments, but they involve extra treatment and hours spent at a care center.

Research finds that there is no significant difference in overall success rates between these types of rehab. Instead, the choice is mostly personal. A person who has a lot of stress in their daily life and uses drugs due to peer pressure may do better at an inpatient center where they can focus on sobriety. Meanwhile, someone with a busy career or several children may do better with an outpatient rehab where they can still manage their responsibilities while seeking treatment.

Get the Help You Need

Two of the most promising options near Bristol are the New Freedom Academy and Green Mountain Treatment Center. New Freedom Academy is a lovely private rehab set on 17 acres of the Canterbury Woods in New Hampshire. It primarily provides medically based residential treatment. The small center has a 20-patient limit, ensuring that there is a high number of staff and clinicians available to support each resident. During a day at New Freedom Academy, residents can go to group and individual therapy or take part in holistic therapies like yoga and medication. Clinicians are highly trained in treating addiction and co-occurring mental disorders, and there is 24/7 on-site medical staff to deal with any health problems.

Another excellent option is the Green Mountain Treatment Center. This residential facility is slightly larger, but it still maintains a home-like setting in New Hampshire. In the scenic location, people can recover and focus on their sobriety. With a medically monitored detox, the Green Mountain Treatment Center is a safe place to get clean. Granite Recovery Centers provides medical detoxification for people who do not need immediate medical intervention, are not a danger to themselves, and are capable of self-evacuation in the event of an emergency. Gender-separate programs provide a sense of security for residents while the evidence-based clinical treatment helps ensure effective assistance. The rehabilitation curriculum focuses on the 12-step program, which helps people to seek out root causes of addiction and rebuild their lives. To take residents’ minds off addiction, the Green Mountain Treatment Center also offers a variety of entertainment options like an on-site gym and off-site outings.

At Granite Recovery’s rehab locations, the staff focuses on getting you the care you need. With a little help, substance use disorder can be beaten.

CONTACT US TO GET THE HELP YOU NEED

If you want to visit one of our New England drug rehab centers, please contact us at Granite Recovery Centers. Our experts will work with you to find a
high-quality treatment option that meets your needs. We strive to provide a holistic level of treatment with evidence-based care, giving you the help
necessary to regain your sobriety for good.