Peabody Addiction Treatment Resources
Just a short jaunt from bustling Boston, Peabody is the place where Massachusetts residents go to get away and enjoy the North Shore. From Peabody, you can travel less than an hour and enjoy the antique shops in Essex, the artistry of Rockport, and the seacoast of New Hampshire. International festivals held every September are just some of the many celebrations that take place in this city’s main streets each year.
Unfortunately, like many other cities in Massachusetts and across the United States, Peabody has felt the effects of drug and alcohol dependency. In 2018, the city of Peabody experienced 13 opioid-related overdose deaths. This is a high number when one considers the population of the city. However, it is a decrease from 2017, when the town experienced 23 opioid-related deaths. The year 2018 had the second-highest opioid-related fatality rate in Peabody in the last five years, tied only with 2014.
Peabody is reflecting a trend seen throughout Massachusetts, which has been one of the states most affected by the opioid epidemic. Many have referred to the effects that opioids and other drugs are having in Massachusetts as an imminent public health issue.
You likely do not need to read the statistics to know the effect that substance use disorder is having on the community in Peabody. You may be battling substance use disorder yourself or have friends and family members who have been struggling with this issue.
At times, it may feel like there is no way out. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Every year in Massachusetts, many people get the rehabilitation they need and are able to go back to living the lives they had before addiction entered the picture.
What Are the Factors That Lead to Substance Use Disorder?
There are a number of factors that can lead to a person falling into addiction, or as modern professionals refer to it, substance use disorder. Substance use disorder happens if a person starts to use alcohol or other substances and it reaches a point where the habit interferes with employment, scholastic life, or home environment.
Some of the factors that could play a role in a person forming an addiction include:
- Genetic makeup
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Peer pressure
- Environmental stress
It is common for a person battling with substance use disorder to also have mental and emotional health challenges, including:
- PTSD
- Attention deficit disorder
- Depression
- Low self-esteem
Children who grow up in an environment where their parents use drugs could have an increased risk of developing substance use issues later on in life. This increased risk comes from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
What Are Commonly Used Substances That Lead to Substance Use Disorders?
Different substances will affect the users in unique ways.
- Marijuana and Other Products That Contain Cannabis: People use cannabis by eating it, inhaling it, or smoking it. Cannabis has been referred to as a gateway drug. It is often one of the first illegal drugs a person uses before moving on to other substances. Marijuana can give people a sense of euphoria or make them feel high. Their senses are enhanced, including visual, auditory, and taste senses. Common symptoms include increased heart rate, poor coordination, difficulty remembering, anxiety, and exaggerated cravings for foods.
- Bath Salts, K2, and Spice: When taken as drugs, synthetic cannabis and synthetic cathinones are dangerous and unpredictable. This is because the quality of the ingredients is not known. These synthetic drugs may be sprayed on herbs and then ingested as an herbal tea or smoked. They can create a high that is like what you get when you use marijuana. Some of the symptoms of these drugs include vomiting, confusion, hallucinations, agitation, and paranoia. Some people have increased heart rates to the point where they feel like they are having a heart attack.
- Hypnotics and Barbiturates: Barbiturates and hypnotics work to depress the nervous system. People may use them as a way of relaxing, disconnecting from the world, and forgetting their stress. These types of substances lead to lack of coordination, mood changes, memory problems, lack of inhibition, dizziness, and reduced blood pressure.
- Stimulants: Cocaine, meth, and other stimulants are most used by those searching for a high or a boost of energy. Some use these drugs as a way to lose weight, to control their appetite, to gain more energy, and to improve performance at work or school. Side effects and symptoms of these drugs include a hyper sense of alertness, dilated pupils, impaired judgment, insomnia, and an emotional crash when the artificial exhilaration dies off.
There are a number of substances that can lead to addiction. It can be difficult for friends, family, or loved ones to identify what substance a person is using just by looking at the symptoms as many symptoms are caused by multiple drugs.
What is true is that a person battling with substance use disorder may deny that his or her symptoms are caused by substance use. Users may even be reluctant to seek treatment. In some cases, friends and family members will need to stage an intervention to help a loved one make changes before the situation becomes even more dire.
Why Should You Get Help for Substance Use Disorder?
It is common for people to feel that they control their substance use and that their substance use does not control them. One of the biggest mistakes an individual trying to break free from drugs and alcohol can make is thinking that being an addict or not being an addict is a matter of willpower. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Study after study clearly shows that substance use disorder is a mental illness. It is a mental illness that is characterized by impairments in social function, health, and control over substance use. Like any other disease, substance use disorder can range from being mild to severe.
A person battling with diabetes, heart disease, or cancer would seek medical attention. Logic dictates that a person is not going to be able to treat these problems on their own. The same principle applies to substance use disorder. A person cannot will himself or herself to get better. Substance use changes the way the brain and other chemical processes work, and a user will need the help of professionals to get things working normally again.
On the positive side of things, there is a wealth of scientific evidence showing that substance use disorders can be treated effectively. When they are treated in the right way, the issues have a recurrence rate that is the same as those for other chronic illnesses, like hypertension, asthma, and diabetes.
Unfortunately, only one in 10 people with substance use disorder get specialized treatment. Thankfully, the public consciousness, when it comes to substance use disorder, is shifting. Focus is being placed on early intervention and treatment services.
Types of Rehabilitation Services Available Near Peabody, Massachusetts
There are several general types of substance use treatment programs. However, the surge in opioid use, prescription painkiller use, and street drug use has led to the creation of other modalities and programs that don’t fit neatly into traditional treatment types.
Most rehab programs start with detoxification. Some will use medically managed withdrawal. Detox is the first stage of treatment.
Detox is the process of allowing the body to rid itself of drugs. Detox allows the body to manage withdrawal symptoms in a safe way. Everyone’s experience with detox is unique. Factors such as the length of time a person was taking a particular drug and the type of drugs he or she was taking have an impact on what the detox experience will be. 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.
Medications may be used during the detox process to keep a person comfortable while the drug leaves the body. The detox process may take a few days, weeks, or a month or more. Detoxing at home or going cold turkey may lead to serious or even fatal side effects. It is best to go through the detox process under the watchful eye of professionals.
Inpatient recovery programs, also referred to as residential treatment, happen when patients are checked in to a controlled environment to help them beat their addictions. Patients will stay at the clinic 24 hours a day while they receive emotional and medical support.
During inpatient rehab, a person is able to completely focus on getting sober without the distractions of everyday life. The day is scheduled and accounted for. During the day, residents may receive assistance from psychologists, psychiatrists, and counselors. They benefit from individual or group therapy. Inpatient programs may take as little as 28 days or as long as six months. The benefits of inpatient rehab include:
- A controlled environment
- A higher success rate
- 24-hour emotional and medical support
- Long-term programming
- Support to treat serious addictions
Outpatient recovery programs do not have the same restrictions that inpatient programs have. Outpatient programs usually last between 10 and 12 hours a week. During the sessions, the focus is on drug use education, counseling, and teaching addicted individuals how to cope without their substances of choice.
Outpatient rehab may work as a stand-alone option for a person who has a mild addiction, or it may be just one facet of long-term substance use disorder treatment. Outpatient rehab can last from three months up to one year or more.
Some of the benefits of outpatient rehab include:
- Being able to live in your own home and going to treatment during the day
- More affordability
- Being able to maintain a normal routine
- Having access to support from friends
- Treatment that works well for a person with a mild addiction
Two Facilities Designed for Long-Term Recovery
There are two stellar recovery facilities accessible to residents of Peabody, Massachusetts. The first is Green Mountain Treatment Center. This is a panoramic and secluded location that offers amazing views of New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
The landscape is full of rolling hills, apple orchards, and fresh mountain air. This is the perfect location for an individual looking to recover from drug and alcohol addiction in a picturesque environment.
Green Mountain Treatment Center offers services to adults. Men and women are treated separately and are helped by following a 12-step program using evidence-based clinical therapies. The focus of this facility is to help an individual get to the root of his or her addiction and to begin the emotional healing process that can lead to lasting recovery.
Some of the amenities that this facility offers include:
- Nutritious meals prepared by a chef
- On-site gym
- Treatment for co-occurring disorders
- Yoga and meditation
- Collaboration with most major insurance companies
- Comprehensive care
The second facility is the New Freedom Academy. This facility sits on 17 acres of private woods in Canterbury, New Hampshire. The facility only has 20 beds because the goal is to have a low client-to-staff ratio. This intimate setting makes one-on-one interaction and treatment possible, which is something that is usually not available in larger facilities.
New Freedom Academy takes a holistic approach to rehabilitation. The goal is to treat a person’s mind, spirit, and body. This is why activities like meditation, yoga, and physical exercise are included in the rehab.
Some of the amenities of this facility include:
- 24-hour on-site medical staff
- Nutritious meals prepared by a chef
- Educational programs and workshops
- Gender-separate living quarters
- A peaceful and serene location
If you or someone you love is battling with substance use disorder, there is no reason to feel ashamed or embarrassed. The above-mentioned statistics clearly show that there are many other people throughout Peabody and the rest of Massachusetts who are going through the same challenges you are currently facing. Now is the perfect time to get help. Living your best life without drugs and alcohol is possible.
