Vermont Addiction Treatment Resources
An annual report from the Vermont Department of Health indicates that there was a decline in opioid-related deaths in 2019, decreasing 15% from 2018. Despite this, fentanyl use is on the rise and was responsible for 86% of deaths compared to 77% in 2018. An estimated 37,000 people in the state live with alcohol use disorder, accounting for almost 10% of the total population. Approximately 25% of adults over 65 reported having engaged in risky alcohol use as defined by consumed three or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting during the past 30 days. This is approximately 6% more than reported nationally.
Drug Rehab Programs for Vermont
Drug and alcohol addiction has several implications for those who live with substance use disorder as well as for their families and friends. For those who live with addiction, daily life is a repeating cycle of experiencing painful physical and emotional symptoms of withdrawal and seeking drugs or alcohol to alleviate those symptoms, only to have the symptoms set in again. A person’s life is consumed by this daily struggle, and the emotional effects of being trapped in addiction are another reason why people continue to use drugs and alcohol.
Breaking the cycle of addiction helps you overcome the barriers that keep you from having healthy relationships and achieving your goals in life. Overcoming addiction may also help repair relationships with friends and family that triggered your addiction or that were damaged along the way.
Another reason to receive treatment for your substance use disorder is your health. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, long-term alcohol use causes inflammatory conditions of the liver, certain types of cancer, heart diseases and brain abnormalities. The National Institute on Drug Abuse describes the long-term effects of heroin addiction as potential chronic pneumonia, respiratory illnesses, mental health disorders, blood-borne bacterial infections, arthritis and cell death in tissues that may cause organs to shut down.
Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Vermont Cities
How to Overcome Substance Use Disorders
The goal of treatment for drug and alcohol addiction is to help you regain control of your life journey on a long-term basis. This requires a multi-step process that begins with detox. The drugs and alcohol need to be removed from your system so that you can work on the underlying issues that facilitate your addiction. Often, people who rely on drugs and alcohol are living with a mental health condition that motivates them to find ways to manage their emotions.
After detox, you’ll start counseling to help you unravel the effects of your addiction and any past experiences that contributed to your use of drugs and alcohol, be it social anxiety, loss of a parent or spouse, not performing well in school, suffering abuse or living in an unhealthy environment. Counseling helps you learn new life skills that help you make better choices in the future should you be faced with difficult circumstances. You may start treatment with intensive therapy and then transition to therapy that is more supportive in nature, such as AA and NA meetings.
Treatment Options for Drug and Alcohol Use
Receiving treatment for substance use disorder is the only way to safely and effectively end the cycle of addiction. As you come to grips with your addiction, you will find that you have several options for recovery. The most important aspect of overcoming addiction is to be honest with yourself, your care team, and the friends and family members who have watched you struggle with drug and alcohol use. Your care team is there to guide you along the journey and help you find a deeper understanding of your addiction and even the choices of substances that you used along the way.
Vermont Drug and Alcohol Detox Programs
The first step is to go through medically supervised detox to clean the drugs and alcohol out of your system. The difference between detox and the symptoms that you experience on your own when you stop using is that a clinical team assists when needed to ease the discomfort of the withdrawal symptoms. Counselors and mental health professionals are also available to help you deal with any emotional issues that arise, such as anxiety, depression and anger.
Vermont Residential Treatment Programs
Residential treatment programs in Vermont are for people who face a multitude of challenges when going through treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. Residential treatment means that you live at the facility while you receive counseling and medical care. Residential treatment programs are ideal in overcoming addiction because they help you restore structure and balance in your life. A team of medical professionals and mental health counselors is available to help you in times of difficulty. Part of a residential program is participating individual and group counseling sessions that help you learn new skills. You may also be able to participate in activities that prepare you for life after treatment, such as completing your GED or taking classes for employment in the future. A residential treatment program in Vermont for drug and alcohol use disorders may last 30 to 90 days based on the recommendations of your intake team.
Vermont Partial Residential Treatment Programs
Partial residential programs are ideal for individuals who have obligations, such as jobs or families, that require them to be outside the facility for a period each day. These programs may also be recommended after you complete an inpatient treatment program to slowly transition you into life without addiction. In a partial residential treatment program, you are at the facility for counseling during the day and go back home in the evening where you spend time with family and friends. Partial residential or transitional programs are best for those who have a stable foundation for recovery yet need additional support before being on their own.
Vermont Outpatient Treatment Programs
You may want to continue with an outpatient treatment program after you succeed with residential or partial residential treatment. An outpatient program may involve regular appointments each week with your counselor in an individual or group setting as well as other activities to strengthen your newly acquired life skills.
Vermont Recovery Support Programs
Recovery support programs, such as AA and NA, are less formalized than treatment programs yet still give you the network and accountability you need to stay clean and sober. Recovery support programs have some structure, but you can attend as you deem necessary. You can even attend additional meetings should life experiences become especially difficult for you.
Consider Green Mountain Treatment Center and New Freedom Academy for Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment
As the demand for drug and alcohol treatment rises in Vermont, you may need to look outside the state to find the support you need to overcome your addiction. Green Mountain Treatment Center in the White Mountains of New Hampshire offers several treatment options for overcoming drug and alcohol addiction. Residential treatment is available for adults, and the facility has separate programs for men and women. The staff customizes treatment to your unique needs, and the facility also offers peer support for you to work with someone who has gone through the recovery process.
You needn’t go to another facility for detox as Green Mountain Treatment Center offers onsite medical detox. The facility’s approach to recovery is founded upon evidence-based models, such as the 12 steps, and you can trust that fully qualified clinicians will provide needed mental health counseling for co-occurring mental health conditions. Alternative therapies, nutrition, fitness and other self-care aspects are integrated into your treatment plan. Green Mountain Treatment Center is an in-network provider for most major insurances.
New Freedom Academy in Canterbury, New Hampshire, offers medication-assisted treatment programs and clinical psychotherapeutic support in a serene environment set in 17 acres of wooded area. The facility is limited to 20 beds to ensure that each client receives the individualized care needed to overcome addiction and their journeys to living clean and sober.
The facility uses evidence-based therapies for addiction treatment, such as dialectical behavior therapy, grief and loss therapy, motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy, to help individuals learn to live with co-occurring mental health conditions and other circumstances that contribute to addiction. New Freedom Academy also integrates alternative therapies, such as yoga, fitness, nutrition and meditation, into treatment plans to help you learn a holistic approach to self-care.
Medical staff is on site 24 hours per day should you need support. You can participate in educational programs, workshops and outdoor activities to enjoy wholesome recreation without the need for mind-altering substances. Meals are nutritionally sound and prepared by a professional chef on site to ensure that your body gets the nutrients it needs to repair the damage caused by drug and alcohol use. New Freedom Academy also offers Family Recovery Workshops off site each week. These programs bring families together to learn new techniques for interacting with healthy boundaries and overcoming any damage done to relationships caused by the addiction or contributing factors for the addiction.
If you or someone you love in Vermont is in need of professional help to treat an addiction to opioids, alcohol or another substance, getting help is as simple as reaching out.
