Lewiston Addiction Treatment Resources
Lewiston is the second-largest city in Maine and equidistant to Augusta, the state capital, and Portland, the most populous city. The city comprises half of the metropolitan area of Lewiston-Auburn. A significant portion of Maine’s diversity, commerce, education, religious variety and economic power can be attributed to Lewiston. The city is known for its low cost of living, easier access to medical care and very low crime rate. Lewiston is also home to the largest French-speaking population in the United States in terms of population numbers.
For many residents, Lewiston is an ideal place to live. However, every city has its share of less desirable activity.
Addiction in Maine
Cumberland County, where Portland is located, is included in the New England High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. Marijuana and prescription drugs are the most commonly trafficked drugs in Maine. The state also reports moderate cocaine trafficking through the use of passenger vehicles and tractor trailers. Heroin abuse has recently increased in the state and throughout New England. While opioids account for the largest percentage of drug-related deaths, 400 of the 2,000 juveniles who were arrested on drug-related charges were brought in for a marijuana-related offense.
In 2019, Maine recorded 380 drug overdose deaths, up from 354 in 2018. The national rate of opioid-involved deaths was 14.6 per 100,000 people that year. Maine more than doubled that rate with 37.9 per 100,000. In total, 13 of those deaths occurred in Lewiston.
While opioids dominate the headlines, alcohol abuse remains a serious problem in Maine. In 2013, 41% of EMS overdose responses were related to alcohol. One in three driving arrests was related to alcohol. In the prior year, law enforcement made more than 11,000 alcohol-related arrests; more than 5,000 of those arrests involved operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
Causes of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
People begin using drugs and abusing alcohol for any of several reasons. Some people grow up in an environment in which substance abuse is common. Others experience trauma and attempt to self-medicate with alcohol and drugs. Job stress, financial stress and family stress rank high among the reasons that people abuse substances. In the case of prescription drug and opioid addiction, it is not uncommon for people who were legitimately prescribed an addictive prescription drug for a health condition to become addicted and resort to procuring the drug through illegal means once they are no longer able to refill their prescription. Some of these patients obtain pills from street dealers. Because opioids tend to be expensive to procure illegally, some people who have become addicted resort to using heroin due to the price differential. Regardless, there are options that allow people from every walk of life to obtain alcohol and drug addiction treatment in Lewiston and the surrounding areas.
Types of Treatment Therapies
There are certain therapies that have been around for decades and have a proven track record of success. Most people who receive alcohol or drug abuse treatment will receive treatment in the form of individual one-on-one therapy and also attend group therapy sessions. Some treatment centers also offer the opportunity for patients to attend family therapy with their relatives or to attend family workshops, which may take place at the treatment center or be completely offsite. Treatment centers are also increasingly incorporating holistic therapies to support more traditional Western approaches to treatment. Many centers offer yoga, meditation and other spiritual practices depending on the client’s lifestyle and personal interests. Exercise is also a common part of most treatment programs.
Two Major Types of Treatment Facilities
Despite the seemingly limitless combinations of curriculum formats, therapies and amenities that treatment centers offer, rehabilitation facilities can generally be classified into two types: inpatient and outpatient facilities. There are compelling advantages and disadvantages to each type of program. Each client should evaluate his or her personal needs and lifestyle with a case manager or addiction counselor to determine which type of program would best support their desire to get clean and sober.
Inpatient Treatment Centers Near Lewiston, ME
Residential or inpatient treatment occurs onsite at the treatment center. Patients are assigned a room and bed, and they reside at the treatment center 24/7 for a period of weeks or months. Inpatient treatment can be short term or long term. Advantages of attending an inpatient program include the presence of an onsite staff with clinicians who are generally available 24/7. Many inpatient programs have medical staff available at the center. Programs generally aim to provide nutritious meals for residents in support of their physical and mental recovery.
Patients who enroll in an onsite program are not required to commute to the center every day. Therefore, patients who have transportation challenges or who may lack the motivation and commitment to commute to the program daily are not tasked with physically getting to the treatment center every day. Inpatient treatment also isolates program participants from their daily lives and the triggers that may increase the likelihood of relapse if they were to otherwise remain in that setting during treatment.
There are certain disadvantages to inpatient treatment that may make this particular format less suitable for certain clients. For example, a person who is unable to take leave from his or her job may require a different program format. People who have dependent children and are unable to find proper childcare for the time they will be away at the program will also likely need a different type of program structure.
Outpatient Treatment Programs in Maine
Clients who have responsibilities that they are legitimately required to attend to outside of the treatment facility are likely to find outpatient treatment to be a better fit. Outpatient treatment requires the client to travel to the treatment each day to undergo drug testing to ensure compliance, receive treatment therapies and participate in other therapeutic activities that will support the client’s recovery. Some programs are structured as a hybrid of inpatient and outpatient treatment. These programs require the client to commute to the center each day and receive treatment until the evening hours. At night, the client may return home only to sleep and return back to the treatment center the next day.
Outpatient treatment may not be a good fit for patients who require a completely structured program, are unable to return to their everyday setting without being triggered to relapse, or lack the means or motivation to travel to the treatment center each day. In some cases, patients who lack the means to commute each day may receive transportation assistance from the treatment program, publicly funded assistance or help from a nonprofit.
Green Mountain Treatment Center
With scenic views of rolling hills, fragrance-filled air from the apple orchards and fresh mountain air, Green Mountain Treatment Center provides a tranquil backdrop for clients to focus on recovering and healing. The adult-oriented, gender-separate facility located in Effingham, New Hampshire, utilizes individualized treatment plans to help resident clients address the underlying roots of their addiction and receive effective, clinically proven treatment. The curriculum is based on the renowned 12-Step Program with holistic exercises woven in each client’s experience. Gym work, exercise, meditation, yoga and experiential adventure therapy help clients build their confidence, improve their physical health and strengthen the connection between mind, body and spirit. An onside chef provides nutritious meals to support each client’s well-being. Green Mountain is in-network with major insurance carriers and provides transportation as needed. A medical detox facility is located on site to allow clients to complete each step of their recovery in the same familiar setting from the very beginning.
New Freedom Academy
Situated in the countryside of Canterbury, New Hampshire, New Freedom Academy provides a more intimate setting with 20 beds and gender-separate accommodations on 17 secluded, wooded acres. Clients receive a personalized treatment plan that may include individual counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, grief and loss therapy, motivational interviewing, process groups and treatment for co-occurring mental disorders when applicable. Patients may receive medically assisted treatment according to their individual needs. New Freedom Academy also has an onsite chef and offers meditation, yoga, educational programs and workshops, including weekly offsite Family Recovery Workshops. Residents may also enjoy bowling, mini golf and paintball excursions.
Recovery Groups
During the course of your treatment program, your treatment center staff, counselor or case manager will likely connect you with a community-based recovery group. Most people are familiar with Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, the most popular among these groups. However, there are different types of groups of all sizes that share common interests. Your treatment center will help you find the group that best meets your recovery needs, lifestyle, spirituality and personal interests. Recovery groups meet at least once each week. Within your group, you will experience continued support, social interaction and commonality with other members to better equip you to continue along the path of recovery and wellness in your everyday life post-treatment.
If you want to take the first step toward recovery, help is closer than you may realize. Recovery counselors are standing by give you the information you need to connect you with a treatment center in Lewiston, Maine, or the surrounding area. An addiction counselor will work with you to determine the best program to suit your lifestyle needs and recovery requirements. Simply reach out and ask for help, and your chosen addiction treatment center will meet you where you are and help you navigate your way to the path of lifelong recovery. There is no better time to get started than the present.