Medical professionals administer opioid drugs to treat moderate-to-severe pain symptoms. The drugs are especially used to treat acute pain symptoms that injuries or medical procedures cause. They are also used to treat chronic pain that diseases like cancer cause. Despite their therapeutic use, opioids can be habit-forming, leading to chemical dependence and substance use disorders. Consistent long-term opioid use can increase your risk of developing opioid use disorder (OUD). Opioids like heroin are also frequently used as recreational drugs, which significantly increases the risk of developing a substance use problem. Opioid use disorders have caused an addiction and overdose epidemic across the United States, including places like Lowell, MA.
Many opioid addictions start with prescription drugs. Drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and others are commonly used in prescription pain relievers. They can cause significant euphoric effects that quickly lead to addiction. As you become more dependent on a prescription opioid, it could become harder to maintain your addiction. Prescription drugs can be expensive and hard to get, especially if your doctor or pharmacist suspects you have a substance use problem. Many heroin users started with a prescription opioid first before moving on to heroin, which is cheaper and easier to get.
Illicit heroin is inherently dangerous to use because its purity and contents can be unpredictable. You may become used to a heroin dose that’s effective for you and then overdose when you are given a particularly pure dose of heroin. However, in recent years, the danger has come from fentanyl, a human-made opioid that’s so powerful that it can be deadly in doses as small as 2 mg (milligrams). Fentanyl is often mixed into other drugs to make them seem purer and, therefore, valuable. However, fentanyl can cause severe overdoses in people who weren’t aware they were taking it.
Severe consequences of drug use are more likely when you’re caught in a cycle of addiction. Each day spent battling opioid use disorder is dangerous and may lead to medical, psychological, and social problems. However, it can be treated with opioid detox and other treatment levels in Lowell, MA.
Opioid Addiction in Lowell, MA
Opioid addiction has led to a serious crisis of substance use disorders and overdose in the United States. The rates of overdose rates in the country have been on the rise for more than a decade, reaching a new record in 2020. That year, overdose death rates exceeded 100,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 70,000 of those deaths involved opioids.
The Northeast has experienced some of the worst of what the opioid crisis has to offer, especially in areas of New England. In Massachusetts alone, 2,000 people died in opioid-related overdoses in 2020, a record high.
Serenity at Summit Drug Rehab in Lowell, MA
Serenity at Summit provides treatment grounded in evidence-based approaches, including the continuum of care modeled outlined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). The continuum of care model divides treatment into four major levels of care. The two most intensive levels of care involve inpatient services, including medical detox and residential care. Serenity at Summit provides these high levels of care for people with substance use problems and other needs. Here’s an overview of the services provided.
Detox
Detox, an important level of care in addiction treatment, involves medically managed treatment. Medical detox involves 24-hour care from healthcare professionals who manage substance use disorder-related issues. Most of the time, this means treating withdrawal symptoms. Opioids aren’t usually associated with severe withdrawal symptoms like alcohol and other depressants. However, opioid withdrawal can be severely uncomfortable, similar to a bad case of the flu. Without treatment, it can lead to medical complications like dehydration. More likely, it would result in a relapse or the inability to achieve sobriety.
Medical detox can also help treat other medical issues that can be seen alongside substance use disorders. As our medical staff takes care of your medical needs, you may also receive therapies to help you address your substance use disorder and other psychological or social needs.
Inpatient/Residential
Inpatient and residential treatment services involve 24-hour care, like medical detox. Unlike medical detox, this level of care won’t require highly intensive medical management. However, it could involve medical monitoring, especially for people who may have post-acute withdrawal symptoms. These lingering symptoms need extra medical supervision. In inpatient and residential treatment, you will live on-site at the treatment facility and attend treatment services throughout the week. This may involve individual and group therapy sessions. You’ll also work through a treatment plan with objectives and goals tailored to your needs.
Behavioral therapies are among the most common therapeutic options in addiction treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are versatile therapy options used to address substance use problems and mental health conditions that are often seen alongside addiction.
Aftercare
Aftercare is an important step in a life of recovery. Addiction is a chronic disease that requires a continual commitment to overcome. Serenity at Summit’s aftercare program can help facilitate that commitment. Aftercare will start before you leave treatment by creating an aftercare plan. The plan may involve goals and objectives for your life after treatment and a relapse prevention plan. If you need additional support, you may be connected with outpatient treatment. Aftercare can also connect you to job placement services, housing, and other kinds of support for a life of recovery.
Opioid Rehab & Detox in Lowell, MA, FAQs
Because addiction is a progressive disease, it’s important to address your substance use problems quickly. Ignoring a substance use problem can lead to worsening medical, psychosocial, and social consequences. However, as you approach treatment, you may have some questions that you need to have answered. Here are some of the most common questions about addiction treatment and their answers.
How Long Is Rehab?
Rehab is a complex process that takes time. Substance use disorders can affect multiple aspects of your life, and they often come with co-occurring problems that need to be addressed. It’s important to remain in treatment for as long as you need it. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) highlights research that shows spending fewer than 90 days in treatment may be ineffective. However, there is no limit to the time you should spend in treatment. Rather, you should take as much time as you need in each level of care that it takes to make progress.
Do I Have to Travel?
Serenity at Summit provides in-person treatment options, including inpatient and residential services. You will have to travel to the facility to attend treatment here. Even if you live close by, you’ll need to pack as if you are going on a trip to an inpatient program. Traveling for treatment can be a positive experience. Some people feel like they need to get away from where they live so they can start to heal from active addiction. However, if you can’t travel far, there may be an addiction treatment in your area that can help you.
Does Serenity at Summit Provide Transportation?
If you’re coming from out of town and entering our inpatient treatment, we can help with transportation. You will need to find a flight to get into the area, but when you get here, we can pick you up from the airport. As you’re going through inpatient treatment, you may not need to leave until you complete your program. However, if you need to go off-site to see a specialist, we can transport you to those appointments.
How Much Does Drug Rehab Cost?
Drug rehab, like other forms of inpatient treatment services, can be costly. It’s not uncommon for it to cost several thousand dollars for the full continuum of care. The final out-of-pocket cost of treatment will depend on your specific treatment plan, the therapies you receive, and other factors. But insurance is a major factor that can help make treatment more affordable. Many insurance providers will offer coverage for drug rehab and mental health services. There are also private pay and financing options.
What Insurance Carriers Does Serenity at Summit Take?
Serenity at Summit will accept coverage from most private insurance providers, which are health care providers that aren’t operated by the federal government, such as Medicare and Medicaid. We also have several in-network providers that may provide a more streamlined claims process. In-network providers include:
- Concern
- Saint Barnabas Management Services
- Princeton Healthcare System
- Mental Health Consultants
- Workforce Assistance Programs – Members Assistance Program
- Lower Hudson Valley
However, you don’t need an in-network health insurance provider to qualify for treatment at Serenity at Summit. Call at any time to learn more about insurance coverage and eligibility.
