Treatment for any substance use disorder is guided by general principles that have been established by research studies, but it is also highly individualized.
Approaches that work for one person may not work for someone else. At Elevare, we understand that your needs are unique, and your addiction treatment should be too.
Treatment for any substance use disorder is a long-term endeavor. It is not just a few weeks of “rehab” and then you are cured. There is no cure for addiction, but it can be effectively managed for life.
Elevare's Overall Approach to Treatment
The basic approach of getting treatment for substance use disorder at Elevare involves the following:
- An evaluation from our physician
- An assessment from our team of mental health professionals
- Discussing with our team which treatment approach will work best for you
- Developing a treatment plan
Although your formal treatment plan will be developed by your treatment team, you will be a part of the process. The treatment plan will include elements of medically assisted treatments (medicines), behavioral interventions, and other therapies.
Evaluation by Our Physician
We offer full assessments by our professional medical team. Understanding your physical health needs will help us to shape your care.
Because alcohol or drugs may have damaged your body, it is quite possible that you have medical conditions that need to be addressed. Our physician will assess your overall physical health and identify what areas need to be addressed.
Substance use can damage organs like the liver, heart, and kidneys, and the lack of self-care that accompanies addiction can further compromise your health. Our physician will ensure that all of your health needs are accounted for and addressed.
Specific Treatment Options
Assessment by Our Mental Health Professionals
The second phase of the process to determine your unique treatment needs is a mental health evaluation from our psychiatrist and team of therapists.
We will provide a thorough assessment using different types of instruments, such as questionnaires or tests, in addition to interviews. Our clinician may also gather information from family members or friends.
This evaluation will investigate all areas of psychological and emotional functioning. Part of the process will be to formally diagnose you with some type of substance use disorder as well as screen for co-occurring mental health disorders. The results will help us determine the type of treatment you will need.
Weighing Your Treatment Options
Once you have undergone the physical and mental health assessment, we’ll meet with you to discuss your treatment options. This will include whether we recommend inpatient or outpatient treatment.
We offer four general levels of care for substance use disorders.
This level of treatment is optimal for very severe cases where individuals have severe and life-threatening medical conditions, are suicidal, or have severe psychiatric problems, such as psychosis. This level of care can also be used for medical detox in specific cases.
This requires our clients to live at one of our facilities. Inpatient treatment is used when you have medical issues or a severe addiction that requires 24-hour supervision. This level of care may be appropriate for those with long-term or severe addictions as well as those who have attempted recovery in the past and relapsed.
In our IOP or a partial hospitalization program (PHP), clients receive the same intensity of treatment that they would get in residential care, but they do not live on campus. They return home or to a sober living facility every day following treatment.
Used for clients who are able to function relatively independently while they get treatment. They visit our facility for their scheduled treatment sessions.
Determining Your Level of Treatment
Your assessing physician and mental health care clinician will work with you to determine the level of treatment that is appropriate for your situation. If you begin at one of the higher levels of supervised treatment, such as inpatient treatment, you will eventually transition all the way down to outpatient treatment as you learn to function more independently and without the need for strict supervision.
If you start with outpatient treatment, you need a safe living situation. If your home environment isn’t stable, consider residing in a sober living home for a while. While Elevare does not have sober living facilities, we can help you find one in a location that suits your needs.
The Development of a Treatment Plan
Once the overall mode of treatment is determined, you will also be involved in developing an overall treatment plan with your treatment providers. The plan will be based on the principles of effective treatment for substance use disorders, but it will be individualized to meet your specific needs and situation.
The plan will be flexible. You and your treatment team may change aspects of the plan as you continue through treatment. What is appropriate at the beginning of your recovery process may no longer be needed once you are more stable in recovery.
The treatment plan will include short-term goals and long-term goals. In addition to the core components of addiction treatment (medications and behavioral therapy), your team may recommend various interventions, such as case management services, vocational training, job placement help, tutoring for school, assistance with housing, and other services.
Can’t I Just Do This on My Own?
Having a substance use disorder means you likely have difficulty controlling your use of drugs or alcohol. Nonetheless, many people think they can control their behavior and rectify the problem on their own. As addiction is a disease that is marked by uncontrollable use, it is generally quite difficult to simply stop on your own.
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What Happens After Treatment Ends?
At Elevare, our care for your well-being does not end when your treatment program ends. We provide aftercare planning as well as an alumni program to ensure you have continued support.
An aftercare plan may involve these types of elements:
- Outpatient therapy sessions, often on a weekly basis
- Regular (often daily) attendance at peer support group meetings
- A good sleep schedule
- Regular exercise regime
- A healthy and balanced diet
- Hobbies and interests that don’t involve any substances
- A group of sober friends you can turn to if you are tempted to relapse
- A plan for what to do if relapse does occur
The specifics of your aftercare plan will be very individual. You can work up this plan with your therapist, and you may find you need to tweak it during ongoing recovery. Every part of it should support the ultimate goal of continued sobriety.
Following the Advice of Your Treatment Team
Although the addiction treatment process for alcohol and drug abuse should be personalized, you won’t dictate the full course of your treatment. While you’ll make decisions in conjunction with your treatment team, it’s wise to follow their recommendations.
There may be certain aspects of treatment that you don’t like. Few people enjoy the initial withdrawal stage, but it’s a necessary stepping stone to healing.
Oftentimes, the greatest gains come with a lot of hard work. That work can be difficult and even painful sometimes, but the end result is well worth it.
Rely on your team at Elevare to support you through the parts of recovery you don’t love. And keep communication open throughout the entire process. If a particular therapy isn’t working for you, tell us. The right treatment for you will be customized to fit your needs and accommodate your growth in recovery.
If you would like to learn about addiction in general,
please view this guide to drug addiction signs, causes & health risks.
- Continuing Care Research: What We’ve Learned and Where We’re Going – PMC
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy | Basics and Beyond | Judith S. Beck, Aaron T. Beck | 2011
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- Clinical Manual of Addiction Psychopharmacology | American Psychiatric Publishing | 2014
- Behavioral Therapies for Drug Abuse – PMC
- Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition)
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