Why Drug Rehab in Kentucky Is So Important

According to the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, substance abuse continues to rise in the state. As of 2021, the most popular abused drugs statewide include heroin, methamphetamine, prescription stimulants, cocaine and fentanyl. Just as the abuse of these drugs and others increases, so do overdose deaths. In fact, the state government claims the toll of illicit drug use is disastrous. It affects families, communities, the economy and social services.

Many residents of the state fail to realize the urgency of the drug abuse problem in Kentucky. It is easy to become desensitized to the daily news of illegal drug activity. But Kentucky ranks third in the nation for overdose deaths and fifth for opioid abuse, according to the injury prevention network KSPAN. While the national average for overdose deaths was 13.8 per 100,000 people in 2013, Kentucky had 23.7 deaths for every 100,000 people. These statistics are astounding and reflect the explosion of substance abuse in the state, which ranks 26th in the nation for population size.

Drug rehab in Kentucky is the best way out of the daily struggle for so many people who otherwise risk death on an ongoing basis. The drug withdrawal process is not easy. In fact, it is so physically, mentally and emotionally difficult that being in a licensed rehab is essential for success and safety. Licensed rehabs provide quality detox services designed to meet individual needs. After detox, clients continue into rehab programs to learn how to rebuild their lives and sustain healthy recovery.

As reported by SAMHSA, there are more than 350 licensed drug rehab centers in Kentucky. There are also 74 licensed detox centers. Within these facilities are a variety of treatment programs and methods, including:

• Inpatient rehab
• Outpatient programs (OP)
• Long-term residential
• Intensive outpatient (IOP)
• Residential programs
• Partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)

The Drug Withdrawal Process

As stated above, the drug withdrawal process is not easy. Individuals experience a wide range of ill symptoms after they stop using the substances to which they are addicted. These symptoms affect their body, mind, and behaviors. The heavier the substance abuse history, the harder the journey to sobriety. Symptoms also vary according to the client’s health and which substances they used.

If you or your loved one want to stop abusing drugs, you can expect to experience at least mild withdrawal symptoms. This makes entering a licensed detox and rehab center the best choice for safely ending drug use. A drug rehab or detox center provides 24-hour support, medical care, nutritional services, and therapies needed for individuals to complete their detox program and start on the road to recovery. These professionally staffed centers also take the burden off of families who often feel overwhelmed and unsure when trying to help a loved one detox at home.

Common symptoms of withdrawal include:

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Aches and pains
• Anger
• Breathing changes
• Chills, sweating, and fever
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Hallucinations
• Headaches
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia, nightmares, and night sweats
• Nausea, stomach cramps, and vomiting
• Shaking or tremors
• Seizures
• Suicidal thoughts
• Watery eyes

Although they are expected during the detox process, drug cravings are one of the most dangerous withdrawal symptoms. These cravings are often so intense that people relapse on their drug. In fact, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that 40% to 60% of people treated for substance use disorders use their drug again. But sadly, relapse is one of the easiest ways to die from drug abuse through overdose. In a licensed rehab or detox facility, you or your loved one are safe from relapse, drug cravings, and other withdrawal symptoms.

Types of Drug Rehab Programs in Kentucky

If you are seeking help from a drug rehab program in Kentucky, you probably have more options than you think. With more than 350 rehab centers and over 70 detox facilities in the state, you can find most types of treatment programs represented here. The typical pathway to recovery is first through a one- or two-week detox program, and then through rehab where you learn how to maintain sobriety for the long term.

Some of the most common types of rehab programs in Kentucky include:

Detox

Detox is the first step to sobriety. It is the cleansing of your drugs from your system. This process takes between seven and 14 days and begins when you last use your substances. But detox alone is not recovery. After this short program, you need to enter a licensed drug rehab facility to learn how to maintain sobriety and avoid relapse.

A detox center typically provides around-the-clock support and care to help you stay comfortable throughout withdrawal. This support includes ensuring you eat healthy, well-balanced meals, ensuring you stay hydrated, and making sure you attend your first therapy sessions. If you need medical care or medications to ease your symptoms, most centers provide these, too. Some facilities also offer massage therapy, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, or other specialized therapies.

Inpatient Drug Rehab

Inpatient drug rehab is typically a short-term program lasting up to one month. As part of these programs, clients stay in a hospital-like setting 24 hours per day, seven days per week. They provide the most intensive support and care of any rehab program, which means they are well-suited for individuals suffering from long-term addiction, opioid addiction or dual-diagnosis conditions. These programs provide lodging, meals, and an array of therapies to start recovery after detox. In many cases, clients step down their treatment from inpatient to another program, such as intensive outpatient or outpatient rehab.

Residential Rehab Treatment

Residential rehab is typically a long-term program of two months to a year in duration. Throughout this time, clients live in the rehab facility or associated apartments. There, they receive daily therapies and other treatments for substance use disorder and other behavioral conditions. Some facilities provide dual-diagnosis treatment within the facility, too.

You can find a wide variety of these programs in Kentucky, enabling you to choose one in which you will feel most motivated for recovery. Programs include options for women, men, LGBTQIA+, or faith-based support. Because of the long-term nature of these programs, they provide the most comprehensive support and the greatest potential for lasting recovery.

Intensive Outpatient Rehab

Intensive outpatient (IOP) rehab provides most of the same therapies and other programs associated with residential rehab. However, you continue living at home while you receive this treatment. This makes you responsible for maintaining sobriety in your own home, when not at the facility. Each day, you attend scheduled individual therapy, group therapy, and other types of sessions.

Although it is not the right program for all individuals seeking recovery, this level of care may be intensive enough for you. Because you do not need overnight lodging and daily nutritional support, IOP programs tend to cost less than residential or inpatient programs.

Outpatient Rehab Treatment

Outpatient treatment is highly accessible and the least expensive of rehab programs. As with IOP programs, you live at home while attending scheduled treatment sessions at the facility or multiple points of care. For most people, outpatient rehab is a step-down program after detox or a step-down program after a more intensive treatment program, like inpatient or residential. But if you only suffered a short-term mild addiction and do not have accompanying dual-diagnosis treatment needs, this may be the right program for you.

In outpatient rehab, you can probably maintain your employment or keep attending school while receiving treatment. It is also the least expensive type of treatment.

Is a Drug Rehab Program in Kentucky the Right Decision?

If you or your loved one suffer from addiction to drugs, there is no time like the present to get the help you need. Treatment is the best pathway to a healthy recovery and provides the best chance of staying sober for the long term. Even if you believe your situation is desperate and the chances for recovery are slim, treatment can help. In fact, a 2022 article from National Public Radio reported that three out of four individuals suffering from drug addiction do eventually recover. They go on to lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.

To know if you need rehab treatment for your drug addiction, answer the questions below. If you answer “yes” to any of them, a drug rehab facility is likely the right choice for your recovery.

• Do you know you are addicted to your drug?
• Do you suffer withdrawal symptoms or feel “sick” when you stop using?
• Do you need your drug to function normally?
• Have you needed to use more and more of the drug to feel its effects?
• Is using your drug more important to you than things you once loved or enjoyed?
• Have you lost important people, jobs, money, or things in your life because of your substance abuse?

An affirmative answer to any of these questions points to a need for drug rehab treatment to achieve healthy and lasting recovery. Finding an individualized treatment program will help you build a better life for the future.

Individualized Rehab Programs Available in Kentucky

Types of individualized drug rehab programs in Kentucky include:

• 4 programs just for adolescents
• 21 young adult programs
• 38 programs just for women
• 43 programs for breastfeeding or postpartum women
• 40 programs just for men
• 30 programs for seniors
• 29 LGBTQIA+ programs
• 36 veterans’ programs
• 19 active-duty military programs
• 18 military family member programs
• 29 criminal justice and forensic programs
• 49 dual-diagnosis treatment programs
• 30 programs for people with HIV/AIDS
• 30 programs for victims of sexual trauma
• 29 programs for victims of domestic violence
• 36 programs for individuals who have experienced trauma

As you can see, the state of Kentucky offers a wide range of rehab facility types and individualized programs. You only have to find the one that suits your needs best. Once you start talking to potential rehab centers for your treatment, you have placed yourself on the road to recovery.