Enrolling in a substance abuse treatment program is an important first step to overcoming addiction, but it can be intimidating if you don’t know exactly what to expect. While we can’t tell you exactly what your personal experience in treatment will be like, there are common features you can expect whenever you enroll in a rehab program in Florida.
Checking in
Before proceeding with any rehab program, you must first check in at the treatment facility and complete an intake interview with the staff. You can expect to answer questions such as how often you’ve been using substances, where you’ve been living during the past 30 days, whether your substance abuse has impacted your life, and questions about your overall health. The staff will then help you decide what treatment program will be best for you.
Detox
After you’ve completed your intake interview, the next step in your treatment program will be the detoxification process, otherwise known as detox. This is likely what most people imagine when they think of drug and alcohol rehab programs. It involves cleansing your body of intoxicating substances so that you can be ready for the work that lies ahead of you.
This can be an incredibly uncomfortable and painful process, especially if you’re physically addicted to your drug of choice. If your body has become physically dependent on alcohol, heroin, or other addictive substances, you will likely experience withdrawal symptoms.
These can be quite severe and often need to be managed with medication administered by medical staff members. The duration of the detox process will depend on the substances you’ve been using and the severity of your symptoms, but you can usually expect to spend between 3 and 10 days detoxing. After that, you can begin the next stage of the program.
Therapy
Therapy will likely make up the bulk of your treatment program. This will involve examining your life and the factors that drove you to start abusing drugs and alcohol in the first place. This therapy can take many forms. If you are enrolled in an inpatient program, you might engage in group therapy with other patients, or you might have individual sessions with a therapist.
In any case, you can expect to discuss the factors that led to you using your substances of choice, how your substance abuse has impacted your life, what your addiction triggers are, and the steps you are willing to take to be sober. It is a long process, one that likely won’t end with your stay in a treatment center. Addiction is often a lifelong issue, and many people are in therapy for years after they’ve completed treatment.
Aftercare Planning
When you get near the end of your treatment program, you will need to discuss your aftercare. Overcoming addiction almost always involves rethinking your life and avoiding behavioral patterns that could lead you to start using again. This is why it is so important that you come up with a clear plan for after you’ve completed your treatment program.
This might mean staying in a sober living house where they can get used to living independently. There may still be a strict schedule to follow and medical staff to ensure that you remain sober, but it will give you time to get used to living a responsible life without drugs and alcohol.
For other people, aftercare planning might involve ongoing therapy, medical evaluations, and peer support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. In any case, planning for the future is crucial. You’re expected to re-evaluate your entire life and make some serious lifestyle changes, which is never easy even if those changes are for the better.
Overcoming any addiction is never easy, but knowing a little about what to expect can help put you at ease. If you want to learn more about the substance abuse programs that we have to offer or if you are looking for help for yourself or a loved one, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to answer your questions and get you the help that you need. Contact us today at 844-639-8371.