Framingham Addiction Treatment Resources
A subregion of the Greater Boston metro area, the city of Framingham is located in Middlesex County and occupies an area of just 25 square miles. Known for its parks, art centers, and attractions like Bowditch Field and the Garden in the Woods, Framingham offers a unique mix of quaint comforts as well as easy access to all that Boston has to offer. While Framingham has a population of just over 70,000, it still has its share of big-city problems, which include substance abuse as well as drug and alcohol addiction.
Addiction in Framingham
Drug abuse and chemical dependency are blanket terms that may be used to describe a variety of issues ranging from alcoholism and recreational use of street drugs like heroin and cocaine to problems with prescription medications like morphine and fentanyl. In 2017, almost 1,300 Framingham residents sought treatment for addiction and other problems with drugs and alcohol.
Despite the common and widespread nature of chemical dependency and substance abuse problems, many who struggle with a drug or alcohol addiction fail to seek help. Alcoholism, abusing street drugs, or even an addiction to prescription medications can be very dangerous.
If left untreated, drug addiction is far more likely to result in serious, permanent, or even fatal consequences. If you or someone close to you is struggling to overcome an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or prescription medications, choosing to seek professional help by enrolling in a rehab program could make a life-saving difference.
The Dangers of Substance Abuse
Addiction is a very serious and often misunderstood disease. While many forms of substance abuse begin early in life, it is also very common for adults who have no previous issues with drugs and alcohol to develop an addiction later in life. Efforts to deal with emotional trauma, attempts to self-medicate or to manage either a known or an undiagnosed mental health issue, or even an injury that requires long-term use of prescription painkillers are all situations that can easily result in a drug or alcohol addiction.
Substance abuse problems can devastate personal relationships, an issue that can make seeking treatment even more difficult as those who suffer from addiction may end up being abandoned by their friends and loved ones as a result of their decisions and behaviors. Other signs of addiction commonly include mood swings, sleep disturbances, and loss of interest in career or personal activities.
Many addicts experience a loss of emotional equilibrium that can lead to poor decision making or reactive behaviors that may lead to additional problems. These problems may, in turn, lead them to increase their drug or alcohol use in an effort to escape. Drug addiction can be a vicious emotional cycle, one that requires outside assistance in order to be effectively addressed.
Substance abuse can also damage the body in a variety of ways. Depending on the severity of the addiction and type of substance being abused, some potentially serious health consequences commonly include:
- Heart and liver disease
- Increased risk of contracting diseases like HIV and hepatitis
- Damage to both the peripheral and central nervous systems
- The potential for an overdose or acute alcohol poisoning, which may result in permanent loss of function or even death
Regardless of the nature, severity, or duration of addiction, professional rehab services can help. From detox and emergency medical assistance to long-term counseling and aftercare options, a rehab program can provide the crucial support needed during the process of recovery. 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.
Seeking Help for an Addiction
While it may be possible to overcome an addiction without external resources, those who seek help are far more likely to ensure a more complete and lasting recovery process. Certain acute detox and withdrawal symptoms can be very dangerous, and medical assistance and constant supervision may be required in order to ensure that the process can be made as safe and comfortable as possible. Enrolling in a formal rehab program and seeking aftercare services, such as counseling, therapy, or emotional support groups, can also help minimize the risk of a relapse.
Treatment, Care and Options
Treatment options vary based on factors like the nature of addiction and the needs of a patient. Some patients can be effectively treated on an outpatient basis and may require little by way of long-term assistance or aftercare. Others, however, may need immediate medical care during detox as well as the more structured environment that only an inpatient hospitalization or rehab program may be able to provide.
Types of Rehab and Drug Abuse Treatment
- Emergency and acute care
- Emergency medical care is of critical importance for patients who have suffered from an overdose or acute alcohol poisoning. Emergency care is typically sought within a hospital’s emergency department or by summoning an ambulance when dealing with a medical emergency in a pre-hospital setting.
- Acute care and sub-acute care can also make a life-saving difference. This is provided to patients who are detoxing from alcohol, opioids, and other drugs that are known to produce severe or even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Acute care focuses on preventing a medical emergency rather than attempting to address a life-threatening situation once it has occurred.
- Inpatient care
- Inpatient hospitalization provides patients with a controlled environment and around-the-clock supervision. It is ideal for patients who require intensive treatment and those who are highly likely to experience a relapse should they remain in an unsupervised setting. Many rehab programs offer inpatient care exclusively.
- Outpatient treatment
- Outpatient treatment options allow people to obtain the help they need while minimizing the potential disruption that treatment may have on their daily routines and responsibilities. Some outpatient treatment options require the client to visit a facility only a few days each week. Intensive outpatient care, however, requires a more significant time commitment on the part of the patient while still enabling them to return home at the end of the day.
- Aftercare
- Patients who have managed to recover from addiction may still experience a relapse at some point in the future. Aftercare refers to any ongoing care or treatment that needs to be continued following the completion of a formal rehab program. Typical examples include ongoing therapy sessions and regular counseling appointments as well as sober living communities and emotional support groups. While aftercare may seem less significant than acute care or inpatient treatment, it can often be just as crucial for ensuring that people are able to maintain their sobriety, especially those who have had multiple problems with drugs and alcohol in the past.
Two Top Rehab Services
New Freedom Academy
A 20-bed facility that provides a more intimate setting due to its lower client-to-staff ratio, New Freedom Academy offers a variety of substance abuse treatments. They include both individual and group therapy services, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and treatment for co-occurring mental illnesses that may have contributed to addiction or might otherwise complicate recovery efforts.
The Academy is staffed by licensed clinicians and experienced therapists. The rehab program itself offers:
- Separate facilities and accommodations based on gender
- Medication-assisted treatment for symptoms associated with withdrawal and detox
- Weekly off-site family workshops
- On-site medical supervision
- Chef-prepared menu plans and meals
- Sports and other outdoor activities
- A secluded and picturesque setting
Green Mountain Treatment Center
This facility utilizes a 12-step curriculum to assist adults in overcoming their addiction or substance use issues. The center also has an on-site facility to assist in sub-acute detox along with around-the-clock medical supervision and a structured patient environment.
On-site yoga, meditation classes, and a gym are also available. All arrangements within the center are divided by gender. The rehab program and services offered include:
- • A complete continuum of care
- • Treatment for co-occurring mental disorders and illnesses
- • Nutritious meals
- • Transportation services, depending on client needs
- • Scenic location and surroundings
Seeking Help
Beginning the process of recovery can be difficult, even under the most ideal circumstances. Selecting the right rehab program and recovery center is often an issue of the utmost importance.
When it comes to overcoming a drug or alcohol addiction, Framingham residents need to select a drug and alcohol treatment center that is best suited to their needs. The right treatment center can help make it easier to complete the rehab program and to minimize the risk of a future relapse.
If you or someone close to you suffers from a drug or alcohol problem, a rehab program can provide the help and care needed to overcome an addiction and begin the recovery process.
