Washington DC Substance Abuse Treatment

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Last Edited: September 24, 2020

Author
Patricia Howard, LMFT, CADC

Clinically Reviewed
Jim Brown, CDCA

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and certified by an addiction professional.

Finding Substance Abuse Treatment in Washington DC

Washington DC is the capital of the United States, and it has the sixth largest metropolitan area in the country. The area is packed with world-class museums, monuments and fascinating sites for the whole family. This is the heart of the United States government and houses the headquarters of most agencies and military organizations.

For the nature enthusiast, the area supplies many parks and trails, including the famous Rock Creek Park. Fine dining restaurants exists throughout the city and offer cuisine to satisfy any palate.Even in a historically rich area such as Washington D.C., people find themselves caught in the vicious grip of addiction. It is a chronic disease that can only be overcome by professional treatment.

In treatment, you will learn about yourself and figure out why you started abusing drugs or alcohol in the first place. With the help of group therapy, individual therapy and behavioral therapy you will find the root of your problem and learn new coping mechanisms so you can get through life without the use of drugs and alcohol. Call us today for more information on addiction, treatment and therapy. Our number is: (866) 578-7471 It is never too late, so call now.

In the D.C. area, an estimated 55,000 people abuse Alcohol.

The number of locals who abuse illicit drugs is estimated to be up to 20,000.

Roughly 125 people died in 2015 because of a drug overdose.

Washington DC Drug & Alcohol Detox

Detox is necessary and readily available in DC for those addicted to drugs and alcohol. It allows your body to be purge itself of the harmful toxins that you were poisoning it with.

Detox will be the initial step in recovery and will need to be completed before attending rehab. Medications are made available for those addicted to these substances to ease withdrawal symptoms, and are also used help curb cravings. The different medications used are Suboxone, Naltrexone and Buprenorphine. Only medical professionals can administer them. The medications you will used will depend upon what substance you abused.

Medically supervised detox is recommended and will make the time go by much faster. For more information on detox- give us a call. We are happy to help in any way we possibly can.

Washington DC Drug & Alcohol Rehab

If you have completed detox, the main part of your recovery will then begin. Rehab consists of behavioral therapy, counseling, group support and anything else you might need to return your brain function to normal without your drug or Alcohol use.

Rehab is where you will determine what caused your addiction in the first place. It makes sense to attack the root of the addiction so that the tools you are armed with in rehab, give you the best tools available to help you stay clean and sober. Ultimately though, it is your choice to stay clean and sober.

It may get difficult at times and you may want to run back to getting high or drinking. But feelings and emotions are only temporary. Keep moving forward in life and do not give up on yourself.

Best Washington D.C. Treatment Centers

Finding A Treatment Facility in Washington DC

Treatment centers are easy to find in Washington DC. The tricky part is finding the right one for you. You can go to 10 different treatment centers and still end up drinking or using if you don’t want to stop.

Some people will thrive on a 12-step program, but if you’re not a believer then it might be hard to relate to the principles. Maybe a holistic treatment center is more your style? Maybe you’d be most comfortable with a program that is gender specific or maybe you’d like treatment away from DC altogether.

Whatever treatment you chose it all depend on you and if you want to stay clean and sober. Contact us and we can help you narrow your choices down to the right one for you.

With Intervention, You Can Save a Life

One might think it’s ridiculous to imagine the substance abuse in the very heart of our nation’s government, but even in Washington DC, substance abuse is a very real and serious problem.

Your loved one needs your love and support to fight this, so it’s important to be there in his or her darkest hour. Call us now and get your loved the help he or she desperately needs.

Can Intervention Really Help?

Washington DC is known for its lakes, memorials, and The White House. There is no doubt that there are a diverse mix in Washington DC- there are also a many individuals who struggle with addiction. Addiction is a progressive disease and does not get better with time- it gets worse.

If you, a friend or a family member are suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, please do not wait to get help. With the help of an interventionist you will be able to help your loved one and give them the support they need. Help your loved one get through this hard time.

Living Your Recovery in Washington DC

It’s important for you to be actively engaged in your aftercare process and fellowship. Researchers found a correlation between recovery success and how much time you invest in aftercare. It shouldn’t be a chore, but it is a necessity for lasting recovery.

Relapse usually happens 60-90 days after completing your treatment program. If you are concentrated on your recovery and those who can help you stay on the path, relapse is unlikely. If you do happen to relapse, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Keep your head up and remember why you went to treatment in the first place.

What is the Best Treatment for Addiction?

Many people consider travelling for treatment to be the best course of action. By finding a treatment center away from negative influences, you are giving yourself a better chance of getting and staying sober.

For most people, inpatient addiction treatment is the best option. Inpatient centers offer the most comprehensive and intensive care, and provide around-the-clock support. From individual and group therapy to yoga and meditation, addiction treatment centers will help you overcome the past and learn new coping techniques to better address future problems.

Is Your Alcohol or Drug Use a Problem?

When you are trying to decide whether  you have an alcohol or drug abuse problem or not- you are doing the strongest and bravest thing you can do. Consider going into treatment if you suspect a problem.

If you are having a hard time with money, losing friends and acting out when you shouldn’t- you may have a drug or alcohol problem.  However, admitting to yourself and others that you have a problem can save your life, and it can also be quite liberating. It is never too late to realize you have an issue.

“Recovery is tailored to each individual person”

There are many different rehab facilities that offer many different methods of treatment. Everyone suffering from addiction should go through treatment, but treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all; it’s a way to recover from your own addiction. Everyone is different, and everyone handles treatment differently. Find a treatment center that is right for you.

Prescription Drug Abuse is Rising

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens, prescription drugs are now the most abused substance behind Alcohol and Marijuana. Many teens use prescription drugs for recreational use because they are easy to get. According to the study 51 percent of teens who use prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons admit to getting them from friends or family for free. Like Alcohol, there is a good number of people who think that because under the right circumstances, that prescription drugs are legal they cannot do nearly as much harm as illegal drugs such as Cocaine, Heroin or Meth.

Not only do prescription drugs act as a gateway drug, they can be devastating to someone’s life. Abusing prescription drugs can lead to a serious addiction. All of the same signs, symptoms and consequences exist for prescription drug abuse as they do with illegal drug abuse.

A good portion of people who suffer from Heroin addiction started out abusing prescription pain killers. No one truly strives to be addicted to Heroin, but when they lose access to their prescription drugs for look for something to help get them through the day. Often, Heroin is cheaper and easier to score for people.

Why Can’t People Just Stop Using Drugs?

You might be wondering why people wouldn’t just stop using drugs when they lose access to prescription medications, why turn to Heroin or other drugs? It is because addiction is a disease. Constant drug and alcohol consumption can lead to that substance to remap your brain into thinking that it cannot function without getting loaded. People who have a substance abuse problem cannot get through daily activities without getting their fix. Addiction affects the body both mentally and physically, which is why it is nearly impossible to stop using on the spot.

Most people who fall ill with addiction get in trouble with the law and can end up in prison. Incarceration means the person will be forced to sober via cold turkey. Old school cold turkey methods are extremely dangerous and usually do not last long. Once they are free, the first thing they will do is to get loaded. Trying to sober up cold turkey is dangerous because when people try to lay off using drugs and alcohol they experience withdrawal symptoms. Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms are: shaking, sweating, trouble sleeping and puking. In severe cases, withdrawal symptoms can cause permanent health side effects. That is why rehab is the only choice you have when seeking a logical and safe way to give up using drugs.

Enrolling into an inpatient detox and rehab program can help you reach sobriety and get your happiness back. It might be hard right now to see yourself living without having to use drugs or alcohol, but it is possible. Millions of people have been in deeper than you are now with their addiction and they were able to find recovery and make a comeback. You can too.

In treatment, you will be able to fight back against the physical and mental bonds that you have developed to the substances that you abuse. By detoxing under medical attention, you can remain motivated, stable and comfortable while dealing with withdrawal symptoms. Often, people use withdrawal sickness either as an excuse to not seek treatment at all or to leave treatment to go back to using drugs and alcohol.

After detox, you move on to rehab where you will complete intense therapy sessions to take a look at all aspects of your addiction. Working with a therapist, you can discover how and why you took to drugs and alcohol in the first place as you dissect past events in your life that might have been stressful or tragic. Knowing what may have led to your substance abuse problem can give you a better advantage of denying your temptations to use after rehab because you will be able to recognize triggers.

How to Get Started on the Road to Recovery

How Do I Pay For Treatment in Washington DC?There are many payment options out there for treatment, and many do not realize that their insurance plan will cover most, if not all of it. There are plenty of ways to not worry about money in rehab.

There are many different treatment centers that vary drastically in price. If you don’t have insurance, some centers will take a payment plan or charge on a sliding scale based on your income. Don’t make not having money an excuse for not getting into treatment, because there are many places that will work with what you have. Make the decision to change your life today.

Identifying Someone Suffering From Addiction

If your friends are people you hang around and drink with, or you know someone who occasionally does drugs, it can be scary when your gut feeling tells you it’s become too much. When that drug use becomes drug abuse, you’ll start to notice a lot of signs.

Things to look out for are making bad decisions while under the influence, money problems when it usually isn’t, and losing interest in things that interested them. If you or your loved shows signs of drug abuse, then drug addiction is likely right on its heels. Don’t freak out- stay calm and give us a call.

We can help you with treatment or an intervention for your loved one. Remind him or her treatment is not the end of the world- it is the beginning.