Drug Rehab, Detox, and Treatment in Missouri
Like the rest of the United States, Missouri has its fair share of drug use and abuse. Missouri’s widely spaced population hasn’t limited the drug problems to inner cities either. Drugs and alcohol’s effects have spread all over the state. Chances are, everyone has a friend or loved one that has had their lives forever changed due to drug and alcohol use.
Although drugs are seen in nearly every age group, adults between the ages of 18 and 44 seem to be most affected. In fact, drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for people in this age group in Missouri.
Opioids seem to be the biggest influence in Missouri, too. Nearly 70% of all drug overdose deaths involve some form of opioid. This class of drugs includes heroin, fentanyl, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and other pain relievers, both prescription and over-the-counter.
Luckily, Missouri offers a wide range of treatment options for addicts and recovering addicts. There are peers in nearly every area of Missouri that understand the blight of addiction. Missouri’s Division of Behavioral Health deals with the majority of the state-level programs. Programs are tailored to the needs of children, adolescents, and adults, and these programs assist with mental health disorders in addition to substance use and addiction.
The Division of Behavioral Health makes it their goal to help those struggling with addiction and mental health, but they also help the community in other ways. For example, they help reduce crime, reduce emergency room visits, reduce the number of school dropouts, and generally make the community a safer place to live. All this is accomplished by getting people into the right programs and helping them to set goals to improve their lives.
Preventive Methods
Missouri has plenty of treatment options and rehab facilities available, and the state utilizes many different preventive measures as well. State governmental agencies strictly monitor prescribers, conduct public awareness outreach, and target areas with high mortality rates with radio, billboard, and social media campaigns.
Finding Drug Rehab Facilities in Missouri
The Division of Behavioral Health isn’t the only resource for finding help with addiction in Missouri. It’s easier for some to take their own path. With nearly 300 drug rehab centers spread across the state, it can be more convenient for some to exclude the government altogether and find their own treatment program.
Aside from drug rehab and outpatient facilities, there are other recovery options. They include several peer support groups that host 12-step meetings, plenty of options for counseling, and many faith-based meetings as well. There are even residential long-term facilities for those experiencing and recovering from addiction to stay in.
Long-term residential treatment options exist for all demographics, too. Some of them specifically cater to men, and some specifically cater to women. Over a dozen programs in Missouri are designed for adolescents. There are even residential long-term drug treatment options for members of the LGBTQ community.
The Different Options Available
It can be tough to differentiate between the several types of treatment facilities. There are detoxification programs, outpatient treatment, long-term residential treatments, and many more. It’s encouraging to note that most people with a substance use disorder will recover. Those who combine different methods for treatment and recovery have the highest levels of success. It’s important to address every angle of becoming and remaining sober and not focus exclusively on one program.
Detoxification Programs
These types of programs, often shortened to just “detox,” are where people go in order to get themselves clean as soon as possible. A detox program can last anywhere from a few days to a month or more. The goal of detox is to get a client prepared for other treatment options on the way to recovery.
Getting accepted into detox often means being examined at a medical facility first. Detox programs are hesitant to accept people who haven’t had a recent checkup. Detox programs often require communication between healthcare providers and the detox facility itself, too. Clients will be required to leave the healthcare facility directly after being examined in order to maintain proof of sobriety when entering detox.
Inpatient Programs
These programs require commitment, and they are usually exactly what a client needs if they are serious about treatment and recovery. Clients starting inpatient programs must check themselves into a new environment — one with 24-hour medical staff, mental health support, and security. This is the long-term path to sobriety, and it’s the next step for many after detox.
Clients will be able to interact with others who are living at the facility. They will be encouraged to discuss their lives during meetings, and they may even make new friends. Seeing others thrive in their new sober lifestyle is a great way to build motivation and increase the chances of an effective recovery. Many inpatient programs even allow family and friends to visit, but the rules are different at each facility.
As previously mentioned, inpatient programs require commitment. Clients will see every hour of every day planned out for them. They will likely have appointments with psychologists, counselors, physicians, and/or psychiatrists nearly every day. Inpatient programs can last anywhere from a month to nearly a year. Inpatient treatment is not something to take lightly.
Outpatient Programs
The goal of outpatient programs is often the same as inpatient programs, but the approach is quite different. Clients don’t live at a medical facility or recovery house in an outpatient program. Instead, although they may spend more than 20 hours a week at the treatment center, they are free to come and go at other times. This means they can continue their family life and keep going to work or school.
During treatment times, clients will have classes, counseling, and other educational programs to help with the recovery process. In addition to mandatory appointments, some outpatient programs will also require the client to attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings regularly.
Outpatient programs are a great option after detox is completed, but more often than not, outpatient programs are used as a stepping stone once clients have graduated from their inpatient program.
Managing Withdrawal: The First Steps Are the Hardest
No matter which programs you decide to join, the entire process begins with you. Only you can decide to win your fight against addiction, and only you can say when enough is enough.
It’s especially hard to get through the withdrawal period. These first hours and days without the drug are extremely difficult to get through if you don’t have some sort of peer support or medical assistance.
Withdrawal management is the action, or actions, of reducing discomfort caused by ending drug use. Although withdrawal from each drug is unique, those who are dependent on different drugs often share the same withdrawal symptoms, such as runny nose, body aches, headaches, nervousness, and nausea.
Some drug withdrawal can be treated with medication. For example, opioid withdrawal can be eased with medications like methadone and buprenorphine. There are even monthly injections that opiate and opioid addicts can take to assist in the withdrawal and recovery process. These shots work as slow-release medications, providing an opioid block over an extended period of time. Other drugs, such as methamphetamine and cocaine, have no options for medication and must be approached in a different way.
When you’re struggling with the initial withdrawal period, it’s a good idea to consider a detox program. These programs require you to undergo mental and physical evaluations before being transported to an appropriate clinic. The clinic will monitor and guide you through the initial withdrawal process, giving you a safe environment in which to live while the drug leaves your body. The clinic will monitor you, ensuring you are safe during this hard time.
Managing Withdrawal With Assistance
When there are excellent medical facilities and programs for drug rehab in Missouri, it doesn’t make sense to fight the battle alone. It’s always a good idea to get in touch with medical personnel or a rehab facility before you decide it’s time to go through the withdrawal process.
Withdrawal can be deadly in some scenarios. If you’re a heavy drug user, it’s important to seek professional help before committing to withdrawal.
If you’re unable to seek medical help right away, there are some things you can do on your own to reduce the severity of your symptoms. The smartest decision is to taper off your usage. In fact, quitting after an especially heavy use period could have detrimental physical effects. Tapering off opioids requires a great amount of willpower over several weeks. It’s not an option for everyone, but it’s a great way to reduce symptoms.
Sleep is also an important aspect of both withdrawal and recovery. Slumber is a necessary component of the healing process, and a body that isn’t resting isn’t healing, either. Tremors, restlessness, and palpitations from withdrawal will try their best to prevent you from maintaining your sleep schedule, but it’s important to fight back against the symptoms and get some rest.
Most importantly, make sure you get to the appropriate drug rehab program as soon as possible. Even if you’re able to get through the initial withdrawal period on your own, it’s still important to check yourself into a detox or inpatient program as soon as possible. Rehab facilities have the staff and equipment necessary to help you emerge successfully from this difficult process. Once you begin recovery, you can find the support you need to remain sober in an outpatient program or a self-help group in your community.
