Drug Rehab Centers in Vermont
Despite the reduced rate of opioid prescriptions written in Vermont in 2018, the state had an increase in the rate of synthetic opioid deaths. The rates of heroin and prescription opioid deaths also increased. The number of people entering a Burlington rehab center in Vermont especially spiked in 2020. In Burlington alone, non-fatal drug overdoses rose 76% that year.
In 2020, opioids were responsible for the most overdose deaths in Vermont. Opioid deaths increased 38% from 2019, and fentanyl was a factor in 88% of the deaths. There were a total of 157 reported opioid deaths in 2020. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that pandemic-related disruptions to daily life were the main contributing factors to the increase in opioid overdoses across the nation.
Alcohol abuse is also a problem in Vermont. Although the state set and met goals to reduce alcohol-impaired driving fatalities between 2016 and 2019, it did not meet its goals for 2020. At one point, the state’s traffic crash deaths exceeded virus deaths at a total of 62, and alcohol was a contributing factor in 50% of the fatal accidents. What was alarming to state officials was that traffic volume was only 75% of what it was the previous year.
The state is working hard to combat these issues. It offers statewide drug disposal locations, makes naloxone easier to access, has prescription monitoring programs, and set up the VT Helplink hotline. In early 2021, the Department of Health reported more than 9,000 people in MAT programs and no people on the waiting list, which was a success for treatment availability. There are also stricter law enforcement measures to reduce drunk driving. Drug and alcohol rehabs in Vermont are also working hard to help people who struggle with addiction.
Planning a Successful Intervention
An intervention involves a group of people who are close to a person struggling with addiction. They work together to show the person why the addiction is a problem and encourage the individual to seek help. However, planning one that is successful can be tricky. It is important to show the person nurturing support, but it is also important to set strict boundaries and develop compelling consequences.
For example, if a person agrees to treatment, the group should offer to help and support the individual in any way they can. If the person refuses treatment, a family member may tell the individual to move out and may cut off financial resources. To maximize the chances of success for the event, it helps to work with a professional interventionist. The interventionist helps in every step of strategic development. These are the steps:
- Obtain information from alcohol or drug rehabs in Vermont.
- Find other friends or family members who are willing to participate in the event.
- With the interventionist’s help, write statements of impact about how the addiction affects each person individually.
- Develop a list of boundaries and consequences.
- Practice the intervention a few times before performing it.
Understanding the Brain Disease of Addiction
When an addiction takes hold of someone’s life, it causes them to act in ways that they normally would not. The deceptiveness and acts that seem selfish can be especially hurtful. However, it is important to remember that those are symptoms of a disease. Once a person starts abusing a substance, it can become addictive. Since the 1990s, there has been more of an effort among health professionals and Vermont rehab centers to help people understand addiction as a disease.
Addiction is classified as a chronic and relapsing disease because of the effects it has on the brain. Many substances that people abuse create a rewarding or euphoric feeling. They alter how the brain works and alter how it responds to these effects. Since people develop a tolerance when they take too much of a substance or do not need it, they tend to use more.
While using higher doses puts people in danger of overdosing, their altered brain chemistry means that the cravings and seeking behavior last long after a substance is out of the body’s system. Because of this, Vermont detox centers encourage people to seek professional treatment to overcome addiction.
Addiction Treatment Structures
The structure of a treatment plan is its design. The methods of treatment used in these structures will be covered in the next section.
Detox
This is an inpatient stay for the duration of time that a person’s body naturally purges a substance. Since detoxing can be dangerous and is typically uncomfortable, it is important for a person to stay in one of the Vermont detox centers. Medical professionals provide treatment and medications to help people feel more comfortable and reduce the risks of any dangerous side effects. This is a vital step for any person who wants to beat addiction.
Residential Treatment
This involves an extended stay in a treatment facility. The individual is under 24/7 supervision. Long-term residential programs may last up to a year. However, most are short-term programs, which last between a month and a few months. They are better for people who do not have a lot of life responsibilities and those who live in risky environments.
Outpatient Treatment
Unlike residential treatment, this structure does not require a person to stay overnight. As a rule, outpatient therapy is a minimum of three hours per week, and it may be in one session or multiple sessions. It is better for someone who has a supportive home environment or a lot of important responsibilities.
Intensive Outpatient Program
Similar to outpatient treatment, this option does not involve 24/7 supervision or overnight stays. However, it does involve longer and frequent therapy sessions. Unlike residential treatment, it is better for someone with a job or family. Also, it is good for someone who needs more treatment than a standard outpatient structure.
Partial Hospitalization Program
A PHP is usually more intense than an IOP. Most therapists schedule five therapy sessions per week that each last about five hours. This is good for someone who can take time away from work during the day. Although it is not ideal for someone in a risky living situation, it offers lengthier supervision than most outpatient programs.
Online Therapy
This is a newer option. It is often a telehealth service and happens through video conferencing on a mobile device or a computer. Therapists use the same methods as they do with face-to-face appointments. This may be a better option for someone who prefers to stay home, has a supportive home environment, or has a limited budget.
Therapy Methods
The methods of therapies are the different types of approaches that therapists use. These are some of the most effective ones that rehabilitation centers in Vermont use:
- Individual therapy is an approach that identifies the unique and specific effects of addiction on the individual.
- Group therapy is an approach involving multiple people with the same form of addiction, and they support one another, discuss their struggles and collaborate to find solutions.
- Family therapy is an approach that involves the entire family of the person who struggles with addiction, and it addresses their unique concerns and helps them support their loved one.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a technique that helps people identify triggers, behaviors and emotions and understand them.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a CBT variant that helps people develop ways to modify behaviors and deal with triggers or emotions in healthier ways.
- Holistic therapy is an approach that involves alternative or natural treatments, such as yoga, acupuncture, meditation and others.
- Relapse prevention techniques are ways that people can reduce the risk of relapsing.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) helps people deal with and overcome the effects of traumatic experiences related to addiction.
- Exercise and nutrition programs in PHP, detox, and residential programs support better overall wellness to aid in recovery.
When To Consider Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Anyone who has another health issue can benefit from this special treatment program. Many drug and alcohol treatment centers in Vermont offer it because of the high incidence of co-occurring disorders. For example, a person with depression may also be addicted to cocaine. A disorder may lead a person to seek a substance, or the co-occurring disorder may develop as a result of substance abuse.
Substance use disorders and anxiety disorders are the two most common categories of psychiatric disorders in the country, and they are often tied to one another. Some issues are more common with specific conditions or substances. For example, using multiple drugs is common among people with BPD. Cocaine and major depression commonly co-occur. People with alcohol addiction often have panic disorder or use more than one type of drug. Polysubstance abuse is also common in people with schizophrenia.
Addiction Treatment Payment Options
For those who can afford to pay out of pocket, there are self-pay options. Some Vermont rehab centers also offer luxury treatment programs. Because of the provisions in the Affordable Care Act, most Health Insurance Exchange insurers offer coverage for regular alcohol or drug rehabs in Vermont.
The easiest way to find out how to pay is to contact one of the nearby drug rehab centers in Vermont. They understand insurance and can tell callers if they accept certain insurance plans. Also, they may know of local programs. For example, a Burlington rehab center may know of a local assistance program for people with low income. With access to help from insurers, state programs, and local programs, it is easier to afford drug or alcohol rehab in Vermont.
Recovery Meeting Resources
An important part of staying in recovery after leaving rehab is attending meetings. There are many types of meetings for every need, and rehabilitation centers in Vermont also introduce people to them during treatment. These are some of the top choices:
- Narcotics Anonymous has a 12-step structure and is for people in drug addiction recovery.
- Alcoholics Anonymous also has a 12-step structure and is for those in alcohol addiction recovery.
- Celebrate Recovery features a Christian 12-step structure for people to overcome addiction, deal with pain and find religious support.
- SMART Recovery is a science-based program that does not have a 12-step structure, and it uses DBT, CBT, and scientific approaches to overcoming addiction.
Additional Helpful Resources
When the Affordable Care Act launched, it made insurers that wanted to participate in the Health Insurance Exchange cover mental health and addiction treatment as necessary services. However, how much an insurer covers for drug or alcohol rehab in Vermont may depend on an individual’s deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, coinsurance, and other factors. It also helps to call an insurer to inquire about the current status of these aspects.
Since people may need to take time away from work to detox or to enter a residential program, it also helps to visit the Family and Medical Leave Act’s website. This site provides information about the laws regarding time off for necessary medical treatments.
Finding the Right Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Vermont
If you are seeking treatment for yourself, our team is here to assist you in finding the help you need and deserve. If you are looking for resources for a loved one to plan an intervention or learn more about rehab, we can also help. We connect you with drug and alcohol rehabs in Vermont that have teams of compassionate and skilled professionals who can help you on your path to recovery. Please contact us to learn more.
References:
- https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-vermont-synthetic-opioids-opioids-health-2d07477ac8f82c7c07906ed6ac2182ae
- https://vtdigger.org/2021/01/03/despite-less-traffic-vermont-road-deaths-spiked-during-the-pandemic/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9311924/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2904966/
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/co-occurring-disorders