Addiction in all its forms is a disease of choice. This means that the sufferer has lost the ability to make healthy choices, or that this ability has been hindered by the addiction. Therefore, addiction is not a moral failing. Rather, it is the disruption of a person’s capacity to choose healthy alternatives to addictive behavior.
For this reason, those suffering from addiction must seek help. This help can come in many forms, but it is essential, if recovery is to be successful and lasting, that professional-grade alcohol and drug rehabilitation be obtained.
The good news is that in Long Island, there are many resources for high-quality rehabilitation services. For Long Island residents struggling with substance abuse issues and drug or alcohol addiction, the simple keyword search “alcohol and drug rehab near me” is sure to reveal a wealth of related services designed to meet this need. Proven, reputable, and evidence-based rehabilitation centers are plentiful in this area.
If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction, seeking help is the best first step toward a healthy and productive life. In this area, you are sure to find drug and alcohol addiction rehabilitation services that meet your needs.
To learn more, seek support today, and read on to learn more about addiction treatment in Long Island.
Table of Contents
- The Landscape of Addiction in Long Island
- The Importance of Community-Based Support in Addiction Recovery
- Types of Rehabilitation Services
- Benefits of Choosing a Local Rehab Center in Long Island
- How to Find a Rehab Center Near You in Long Island
- Evaluating and Choosing a Rehab Center in Long Island
- Understanding Financial Considerations
- Preparing for Rehabilitation
- Family and Community Support during Rehabilitation
- Aftercare and Maintaining Sobriety Post-Rehab
- Conclusion
The Landscape of Addiction in Long Island
In 2022, the rate of death by overdose in New York State was estimated to have increased by 37% over recorded rates in 2019. In 2021, the NY governor’s office reported that as many as 30 out of every 100,000 New Yorkers had died that year from drug-related overdoses. It was also reported that the rate of deaths involving opioids had already gone up by 44% over the two years before that.
With numbers like these, it is clear that we have an epidemic on our hands. As stated above, addiction is a disease of choice. This means that otherwise responsible, well-meaning, and moral people can fall prey to it. This is especially true when prescription medications like opioid painkillers are among the most deadly drugs of choice available.
What this means for the Long Island community is that families are being ripped apart. Lives are being destroyed and the strength of our community is being drained. But it doesn’t have to be this way. When we reach out to those near us in need, we can help them to make the right choice, to seek out qualified, authoritative, and reputable drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in Long Island and the surrounding communities.
Here at Long Island Treatment Center, we know firsthand how a little encouragement from a friend, family member, or loved one it takes to make a difference. It takes courage to seek help, and those who do the most for others often need the most encouragement.
The Importance of Community-Based Support in Addiction Recovery
Maintaining a lasting recovery is an ongoing and persistent challenge. Recovering addiction sufferers need support at every stage. Part of the challenge is the common misapprehension that addiction is necessarily an individual issue. Just as no one is an island, no one can reliably overcome addiction without the support of those around them.
When a loved one is in the early stages of recovery, it can be difficult to successfully establish and maintain a supporting role in their recovery. It can be equally difficult for the recovering addict to accept such support. For this reason, the addiction recovery experts at Long Island Treatment Centers have developed the facilities and intervention techniques to help recovering addiction sufferers and those who care about them to set up and participate in supportive systems that work.
Community-based support is crucial, can come in many forms, and complement all of the traditional, evidence-based rehabilitation services and systems which make up a comprehensive recovery support plan. They are as follows:
Types of Rehabilitation Services
Every complete rehabilitation treatment plan is made up of one or more of the following rehab service types, and community support can be an important part of each.
A. Inpatient rehabilitation: This form of treatment is usually part of an early stage of recovery. Frequently, but not necessarily court-ordered, inpatient rehab involves admission to a staffed facility where detox treatment, group and individual therapy, art therapy, medical assistance, and more are available. Some such programs can be open-door/voluntary, or locked when court-ordered or otherwise mandated.
B. Outpatient rehabilitation: In an outpatient setting, the recovering addiction sufferer returns to a home-like setting. He or she is expected to attend meetings, therapy, or other recovery activities. This step is an important part of a gradual return to normal life.
C. Medically-assisted treatment: This phase of treatment includes one of several replacement therapy modalities wherein the patient may be administered and slowly weaned off of a prescription drug which is considered to be safer than the original drug of choice. Detoxification services are another form of medically-assisted treatment but take place at the very beginning of the recovery treatment process for those who require it.
D. Holistic and alternative treatment options: There is a wide range of treatments that fall into this category. They include acupuncture, meditation, yoga, art therapy, treatment using spiritual techniques and counseling, and much more. Treatments like these are rapidly gaining acceptance and the evidence for their effectiveness is growing.
E. Specialized Programs: Programs designed for the specific needs of individuals in unique or extreme phases of life are an important part of a well-rounded community-based treatment plan. Recovering addiction sufferers often benefit from being around others with similar experiences and similar challenges, the same age group, profession, trauma types, and so on. Sometimes, when sexual abuse is part of the recovering person’s story, gender-specific treatment programs may be best.
Benefits of Choosing a Local Rehab Center in Long Island
One of the most important aspects of a quality rehabilitation program is really a matter of common sense. That is, that it be local, accessible, and well-integrated with the community. The reason for this is the fact that human beings are inherently social creatures. We do not exist apart from our fellow humans, and therefore, any meaningful and lasting recovery will be part of a family/community effort.
A. The importance of a supportive community during recovery
Without at least a sense of support from the community, the recovering addiction sufferer will feel isolated in her or his efforts. Even when the addiction sufferer is successful in these circumstances, it makes for a fragile state of recovery, making relapse more likely than it needs to be.
We, humans, have a built-in reward/punishment system in our brains, powered largely by serotonin. That reward/punishment system is highly responsive to interactions (and a lack thereof) with others. This means community support is a powerful ingredient in a well-formed recovery process. It also means that a lack of acceptance/community support is especially dangerous for persons in this tenuous time of their lives.
To put it simply, the benefits of choosing a local community-based rehabilitation center are significant, and they can mean the difference between success and failure.
B. Accessibility and convenience of nearby facilities
When the recovering addiction sufferer feels he or she is in danger of a relapse, the proximity of nearby recovery services and community support can be an invaluable safety net. Rather than struggling with difficult emotions alone, the recovering person should have the option to reach out for help to caring and qualified people.
C. Tailored treatment approaches that address community-specific factors
Another important aspect of any successful addiction treatment program is that it is tailored to the needs of the individual. The more group-oriented a given activity or program is, the more difficult it can be to make it a custom fit. However, any comprehensive treatment plan will offer a healthy mix of group-oriented activities and individually tailored components.
As treatment progresses, the ratio of group therapy, individual treatment, and community support can be adjusted to best suit the needs of the recovering individual. Because community-specific factors are so important to a successful recovery, we tend to lean into solutions of this kind first and tailor the program as the process unfolds.
D. Continuity of care post-rehabilitation
As you are probably aware, recovery from addiction is considered to be a lifetime endeavor. For this reason, continuity of care and support is considered to be of the utmost importance.
How to Find a Rehab Center Near You in Long Island
Today, with modern technology, the most common first step to a successful recovery is often an Internet search. Simply opening up a Google search page and typing the words, “alcohol and drug rehab near me,” can be tough. Often done in solitude, it takes great courage to make that one simple move.
Because the Long Island rehabilitation community is especially well-formed to be found through a search of this kind, it may be best, to begin with the search phrase, “Alcohol and drug rehab in Long Island.” This is the best way to get targeted results. However, any first step is courageous.
As the recovering addiction sufferer will learn, using search terms like these is a good way to get into contact with professionals who can offer further guidance.
Evaluating and Choosing a Rehab Center in Long Island
Before entering rehabilitation, it is important to choose a quality facility that meets your needs. The first thing to check for is accreditation. An accredited facility is licensed, registered, and accountable. Their methods and treatment modalities will be proven, accepted, and based on positive evidence.
Second, is their range of services. The best facility for you will have the services you know you need, services you may need, and services recommended by experts.
Then, it is a good idea to be sure that the culture and location of the facility match your needs and personality. These things can be tough to gauge, but choosing a rehabilitation center near you in Long Island may be your best bet.
Finally, you want to check for personal and professional reviews. If the majority of former patients rate the facility well, that’s a great sign. If you can find reviews by professionals in the field, that will be a great help as well.
Understanding Financial Considerations
You may be headed for a lot of frustration if you don’t know what you can afford before consulting a string of rehabilitation centers. You should do your best to understand the coverage of any health insurance policy you may have. Know how much you can pay out of pocket, both now and as projected income at least one year in advance. Armed with this information, getting an overview of the costs of a facility you are considering will be much more useful to you.
You will want to know what kinds of insurance the center you are considering takes, and what aid they make available, if any. Finally, take a look at the available payment plans, sliding scale fees, and financial assistance options.
Many rehabilitation centers have very doable payment scheduling policies because they understand people often have limited income during treatment.
Preparing for Rehabilitation
Before entering treatment, you have some prepping to do. You will want to know what to expect during the intake process. Communicate with family and support systems. Pack and prepare mentally for rehabilitation.
Aside from these basics, it might be a good idea to look up rehabilitation experiences on sites like YouTube, Facebook, and the web in general. Find out what people enjoy about the rehabilitation experience, as well as the pitfalls of matching the wrong facility to the wrong personality/case.
Understand that some mental preparation may be needed. You may not have the amount of freedom and privileges you have in your regular life. If you are not ready for that, it could come as a shock. But as long as you prepare practically, socially, and mentally, you will be off to a great start.
Family and Community Support during Rehabilitation
The value of the role of family, friends, members of the community, and/or loved ones in the recovery process cannot be overestimated. It can be tough for others to find the right role to play in supporting a recovering person. But with caring intent and professional guidance, the difficulty can be overcome.
Community-based support groups and resources are incredibly important. Whether it is persons with a similar challenge and background, experienced counselors, mentors, or all or some of the above, an optimal community support system can be tailored to the needs of the recovering person.
Encouraging the community to support recovering individuals is a big part of what we do here at Long Island Treatment Centers. Of course, recovery always comes down to the dedication of the recovering individual, but community support remains crucial.
Aftercare and Maintaining Sobriety Post-Rehab
Quality aftercare is a lifelong process. That’s why the importance of aftercare in maintaining recovery must never be forgotten. It is commonly said that we are “once an addict, always an addict.” But we believe it is more correct to say, “once in recovery, always in recovery.” This is because once we know that we have a predilection for addictive behavior, we realize that we can always be drawn back into substance abuse.
Local aftercare services and resources in Long Island are well-established to support recovering individuals for as long as they need it. It is something in which we take great pride, and it has made many positive treatment outcomes possible.
One of the most important aftercare supports available involves helping recovering persons develop strategies for managing triggers and preventing relapse. These are often mental and emotional strategies. We learn to become wary of internal triggers and thought patterns that lead to addictive behavior. But we can also learn practical strategies to avoid cues that can draw us back into addictive behavior. These can be avoiding driving down the wrong street, stress management activities, parting ways with old acquaintances, and more.
These strategies are often personal, but they all have the aim of helping the recovering person to guard and maintain their precious internal self-control reserves.
Conclusion
Finally, we would like to emphasize the critical importance of local rehab options here in Long Island. Staying close to home, family, employment contacts, and valuable community resources can be a major advantage in the recovery process.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, you should know that the Long Island community is blessed with a wealth of resources with a proven track record of making lasting recovery a reality.
Your all-important first step could be a Google search or even just a click of the mouse. Visit Long Island Recovery Centers online today to learn more.
https://longislandtreatmentcenters.com/contact-us/