Boston, Massachusetts, is a major city that’s been hit hard by the addiction and overdose crisis of the past few years. Like most major cities in the country, Boston has had to manage public health problems related to substance use disorders. Opioids are a major problem in the United States and in Boston, but they aren’t the only drug that can lead to substance use disorders.
Benzodiazepines are a common prescription drug that is also used recreationally. Long-term use and high doses of a benzodiazepine can cause chemical dependence and addiction. However, it can be treated with drug detox and addiction rehab. Learn more about benzodiazepine addiction and treatment options in Boston.
Benzodiazepine Addiction in Boston
The past decade has seen a crisis of addiction and overdose in the United States. In 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, overdose death rates peaked to record numbers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated more than 93,000 overdose deaths occurred in 2020, far exceeding the previous record for one year. Northeastern states have been hit particularly hard by the overdose crisis. Many of those overdose deaths were related to opioids. In Massachusetts, there were 2,035 confirmed overdose deaths that involved opioids. That’s an increase from 1,991 in 2018. Opioid overdose deaths also rose 5% between 2019 and 2020 in the state.
Many overdose deaths involve multiple drugs that are used at the same time. Drugs may be mixed accidentally, but they are often combined to create a unique or more intense high. Benzodiazepines are often combined with other substances, but they can be deadly when they’re mixed with common drugs of abuse in Boston, such as opioids and alcohol. Benzodiazepines may also be dangerous when mixed with stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine because the drugs’ competing effects will mask the intensity of each substance.
Serenity at Summit Drug Rehab in Boston
If you’re looking for drug rehab for a substance use disorder that’s related to benzodiazepines or any other type of drug, there are several things to consider. In many cases, addictions that involve depressants like benzodiazepines require high levels of care or consultation with a doctor. Since depressants can cause some potentially serious side effects during withdrawal, you may need to taper off the drug slowly with the help of medical professionals. If you’ve become addicted to a benzodiazepine, you may start addiction treatment at high levels of care.
Serenity at Summit offers high levels of care like medical detox and inpatient treatment. Here’s a breakdown of some of the levels of care you may experience here.
Detox
Medical detox is often the first step in treatment for people that have substance use disorders related to benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are central nervous system depressants, which can cause some potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, especially when you quit cold turkey. Medical detox is the highest level of care in addiction treatment, and it involves 24-hour medically managed services.
Detox is a level of care that’s designed for people with significant medical needs who can’t live on their own safely. It’s especially used to treat people who are likely to go through uncomfortable or dangerous withdrawal symptoms. It also may be used to treat people with medical needs that withdrawal might complicate.
Through the detox process, you may receive medications to help you get through some of your withdrawal symptoms or to treat withdrawal directly. In some cases, you may be given a benzodiazepine to prevent some of the consequences of quitting cold turkey or help you taper off the drug more slowly. You also may begin therapies to address the underlying factors in your substance use disorder.
Inpatient/Residential
Inpatient and residential treatment also involve 24-hour care in addiction treatment, but they represent lower levels of care than detox. Inpatient treatment is reserved for people who don’t need medically managed treatment that they might get in medical detox but still need medical monitoring. Inpatient treatment may be important for some people with substance use disorders that involve depressants like benzodiazepines. Depressants can cause dangerous symptoms like seizures, even after the acute withdrawal phase. That means, when you’ve gotten through the worst of your withdrawal symptoms, you may still need to be monitored for medical complications like seizures.
Inpatient treatment may take place in a clinical setting, where medical staff can monitor your condition at all times. However, residential treatment may involve clinically managed treatment with a slightly lower intensity than medically monitored inpatient treatment. In residential treatment, you may stay in an apartment-style setting while you attend treatment services throughout the day.
In both inpatient and residential treatment, you may go through many hours of treatment services each day. The specific treatments you experience will depend on your needs. It’s common to go through individual therapy, group therapy, and behavioral therapies.
Alumni
Serenity at Summit also offers an alumni program and aftercare services. Addiction is a chronic disease, and recovery from it is a lifelong process. After you complete formal addiction treatment, you should continue to pursue recovery. Alumni services can help by connecting you with community resources in your area, checking up on your recovery process periodically, and helping you find important things like housing and job placement services.
Benzodiazepine Rehab in Boston FAQ
If you live in the Boston area and you’re looking for benzodiazepine addiction treatment options, Serenity at Summit may be able to offer the treatment you need. Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease, and it’s important to address it as soon as possible. Unaddressed substance use issues can have serious consequences that take over your health, relationships, and other aspects of your life.
However, the decision to begin treatment can be daunting, and you may have several questions. There are several barriers to treatment, like cost and transportation, that you may be worried about. The following are answers to common questions about seeking addiction treatment. If you have more questions, feel free to call Serenity at Summit at any time.
How Long Is Rehab?
The length of time you spend in rehab will depend on your needs and the way you progress through treatment. There is no maximum amount of time you should spend in treatment. Ideally, you will take as much time as you need to achieve lasting sobriety. However, there is a recommended minimum amount of time you should spend in treatment.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a treatment that’s shorter than 90 days may have limited effectiveness. However, you don’t have to spend all 90 days in high levels of care like inpatient treatment. Instead, you can spend the 90 days across several levels of care.
Does Serenity at Summit Provide Transportation?
Serenity at Summit can help with certain parts of your travel needs. If you need to fly to get to the facility, you will need to manage your own flight. When you arrive, we can help by picking you up from the airport and driving you to Serenity at Summit. Through the course of your detox and inpatient treatment, most of your needs will be met at the facility. But if you need to go off-site for something like an appointment with a specialist, we can take you to those appointments.
How Much Does Drug Rehab Cost?
The cost of treatment will vary from person to person, especially since each person goes through treatment with a unique treatment plan. Drug rehab is a high level of medical care, and it can be costly. Several factors go into the final cost of rehab, including the treatment center you stay at, the levels of care you need, and the therapies you go through. It could cost anywhere from a few thousand to several thousand dollars.
Do I Have to Travel?
To attend inpatient and residential treatment at Serenity at Summit, you will have to travel, whether it’s down the street or across the country. Detox and inpatient services involve in-person treatment and therapy options for people with high-level needs. If you’re from out of town, there are some benefits to attending treatment away from home.
Disconnecting from your life of active addiction can help remove some triggers that come with familiar surroundings. However, if you can’t travel, it’s not always necessary for effective addiction treatment. There may be some good treatment options in your area.
What Insurance Carriers Does Serenity at Summit Take?
Serenity at Summit accepts insurance coverage from most private insurance providers. The good news about the cost of treatment is that health insurance companies need to offer coverage for addiction treatment and mental health services. If you have insurance, you will likely get at least a portion of your treatment covered. However, the amount of coverage you get and the therapies that are covered will depend on your policy. Feel free to call any time to verify your insurance or to ask more questions.
