It’s well known that there’s a drug and alcohol addiction problem across the entire nation. Recent statistics have reported over 1.15M drug overdose deaths since 1999 in the U.S. alone.
While the prevalence of substance use disorder varies from state to state, New York’s rates have always been a concern. Around 12% of the state’s residents (aged 12 and older) experience an SUD annually, which is one of the highest rates nationwide.
What’s more, there are fewer local options for SUD treatment the farther you move from urban areas. But all hope isn’t lost; alcohol and drug rehab near Levittown represents an opportunity for affected people living in the suburbs of New York.
Levittown sits in the Town of Hempstead in central Nassau County, directly south of Hicksville. Long Island Treatment Center’s outpatient facility is on West Nicholai Street in Hicksville, a short drive north via Wantagh Avenue or the Wantagh State Parkway, and close to the Hicksville LIRR station for anyone taking the train. Because our programs are outpatient, Levittown residents can attend sessions and go home the same day without relocating for treatment.
Substance Use in Nassau County and New York State
An estimated 4,567 New Yorkers died of a drug overdose in 2024, and about 77 percent of those deaths involved an opioid such as fentanyl or heroin, according to preliminary CDC figures reported by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. That’s a sharp drop from 6,688 deaths in 2023, but it still means thousands of families losing someone every year.
Closer to home, Nassau County recorded 341 overdose deaths in 2023 and 436 in 2022, based on New York State Department of Health county data. Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids remain the most common substance involved in fatal overdoses statewide.
Alcohol is a quieter problem but a widespread one. Excessive drinking is one of the leading preventable causes of death in New York, and alcohol use disorder often goes untreated for years because it’s legal, social, and easy to minimize.
Alcohol and Drug Addiction (Substance Use Disorder): An Overview
Substance use disorder (a.k.a. addiction) is a mental condition where patients are unable to stop consuming an addictive substance despite its negative impact on their mental and physical health.
SUD is an umbrella term that encompasses other, more specific disorders, depending on the substance being used, such as:
- Alcohol use disorder
- Opioid use disorder (Morphine, fentanyl, or heroin)
- Cocaine use disorder
- Methamphetamine use disorder
- Marijuana use disorder
- Prescription drugs abuse
With frequent consumption of such substances, normal brain functions are disrupted (the brain’s reward system). People become addicted to the euphoric or numb feeling that these substances provide, taking increasingly larger amounts of drugs to get the same effects.
Substance use disorders can be mild, moderate, or severe. Each condition is treatable using the right combination of medications and behavioral therapy sessions that help patients overcome challenges on their journey toward sober living.
What Are the Signs of Alcohol and Drug Addiction?
Wondering if you or a loved one might be struggling with a substance use disorder? These symptoms point to a problem with your alcohol or drug intake, calling for medical attention:
- Having strong urges and cravings to use alcohol or drugs
- A mind that’s constantly occupied with the drug: how, where, and when to obtain it
- Gradually increasing the dose and frequency of the drug to get the same high (developing tolerance)
- Neglecting social gatherings or recreational activities you’ve been formerly passionate about because of drugs
- Suffering from rough withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit or cut back your intake
- Repeated attempts at quitting to no avail
- Continuing to use the substance despite its harmful impact on relationships, work productivity, and other facets of a person’s life
- Using drugs even when they make your mental or physical health worse
- Drinking alcohol or consuming addictive drugs in dangerous situations, such as when driving, climbing to high places (like a roof), operating heavy machinery, or sailing (the same applies to pregnancy or breastfeeding)
What Are the Causes and Risk Factors of Alcohol and Drug Addiction?
Scientists are still unsure of the exact causes of alcohol and drug addiction. But the current consensus is that an impaired brain’s reward system is what causes substance use disorders.
Still, some factors can be attributed to the development of SUDs:
- Social or peer pressure
- As a coping mechanism for emotional struggles or mental health problems
- Being curious about the drugs’ numbing or ecstatic effects
- As a way to perform better in sports, at school, or at work
People at a higher risk of developing a substance use disorder are those who:
- Have an existing mental health disorder (anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc.). The existence of a substance use disorder with a mental illness is known as a co-occurring disorder.
- Have a blood relative with an SUD (genetic predisposition represents 50%–60% of a person’s risk for substance use disorders).
- Are regularly exposed to drug or alcohol use in their households, neighborhoods, college campus, or social events.
- Have experienced childhood trauma as a result of neglect or abuse.
- Have survived sexual or physical assault, combat, social conflict, violence, etc.
What Are the Complications of Alcohol and Drug Use Disorder?
Without acknowledgement and treatment, addiction could progress from mild to moderate, and then severe. Complications could evolve from everyday mental and physical problems to, sadly, lethal results in advanced conditions:
- Relationship difficulties
- Developing feelings of isolation, depression, and despair
- Career challenges and academic struggles
- Drug overdose (OD), which could lead to death
- Cancer
- Infections, like HIV/AIDS
What Are the Components of Alcohol and Drug Rehab Near Levittown?
Are you ready to begin treatment for substance use disorder on Long Island?
Start by knowing what to expect when you get professional help before contacting a care facility, such as the Long Island Treatment Center.
While the components of a treatment program might slightly vary from one rehab center to another, they’re usually made up of:
1. Initial Assessment
First, healthcare professionals will run a series of physical and psychological tests to accurately diagnose people struggling with addiction. They’ll ask questions about your behaviors and habits regarding your substance use.
Your answers will be matched against 11 symptoms that addiction specialists use to diagnose the severity of your SUD. If you have displayed two or three of these behaviors within the last 12 months, this indicates a mild addiction.
Four or five symptoms mean a moderate case of substance use disorder, while a severe addiction is diagnosed by six or more signs.
After undergoing assessment and diagnosis, you’ll then move on to treatment based on your individual physical, emotional, and mental requirements.
2. Medical Detox
Withdrawal from alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines should always be medically supervised. Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal in particular can cause seizures and can be life-threatening.
Long Island Treatment Center offers outpatient detox, which allows you to go through withdrawal under medical monitoring while continuing to sleep at home. Our team tracks your symptoms and vitals, prescribes medication to manage withdrawal where clinically appropriate, and adjusts care if anything changes. The length of detox depends on the substance, how long you’ve used it, and your overall health.
Outpatient detox isn’t right for everyone. If your assessment shows a higher withdrawal risk, we’ll help arrange a referral to an appropriate inpatient setting.
3. Counseling
Behavioral health therapy sessions play an impactful role in teaching healthy coping skills, stress relief strategies, and a deeper understanding of what thought patterns could lead to addiction.
Whether as individual therapy or group counseling, examples of evidence-based therapies you can find at alcohol and drug rehab near Levittown are:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Family therapy
- Couples therapy
Additional therapy options include contingency management, long-term therapeutic communities, motivational interviewing, and assertive community treatment (ACT). Telehealth and virtual therapy sessions might be offered, too.
4. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Medication-assisted treatment combines FDA-approved medications with counseling. Not every patient needs medication, and it’s never a substitute for therapy, but for opioid and alcohol use disorders it significantly improves the likelihood of staying in treatment and avoiding overdose. Whether medication is part of your plan, and which one, is decided by a physician after your assessment.
Doctors factor in the substance you’ve been using, your medical history, and your level of addiction before deciding what meds to administer and their dosage. Some examples of products used in MAT or medication management include:
- Naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram for alcohol addiction
- Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone for opioid use disorder
5. Dual Diagnosis (Co-occurring Disorders)
Since substance use disorders and mental illnesses often exist with each other, an esteemed drug rehab center must have a dual diagnosis program.
Treating substance use without addressing an underlying mental health condition leaves the door open to relapse. A dual diagnosis program screens patients for co-occurring conditions and treats both together, with the same care team, so the two treatment plans support each other rather than working at cross purposes.
6. Aftercare and Relapse Prevention
The final component of a well-rounded substance use treatment program is aftercare, which prepares recovered individuals for a drug-free life.
In relapse prevention programs, you’ll be taught useful skills, such as:
- Recognizing triggers and dealing with them in a healthy manner
- Detecting early warning signs and acting accordingly
- Stress-relief techniques
- How to build support networks
- Setting short- and long-term personal goals
What Levels of Care Are Available in an Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Program?
Long Island Treatment Center is an outpatient provider, which means you live at home and come to our Hicksville center for treatment. The right level depends on the severity of your substance use disorder, your withdrawal risk, and your home environment, all of which are determined at assessment.
Intensive outpatient program (IOP): For people with moderate to severe substance use disorders who need structured, frequent treatment but not 24-hour supervision. Sessions typically run several hours a day, multiple days a week, and combine group therapy, individual counseling, and medication management. IOP is a common starting point after detox and a common step-down for people leaving residential or partial hospitalization programs.
Standard outpatient program: For milder disorders or for patients stepping down from IOP. Sessions are less frequent, usually a few hours a week, but support and accountability stay consistent.
If an assessment shows that someone needs residential treatment or a partial hospitalization program, we’ll say so and help with placement rather than fit them into a level of care that isn’t appropriate.
The Bottom Line: The First Step Toward Sober Living Starts Now
Falling prey to substance misuse isn’t a conscious choice people make, but a serious mental disorder that requires medical attention and immediate action.
At Long Island Treatment Centers, we treat each person struggling with alcohol or drug addiction with empathy, professionalism, and zero judgment.
In a supportive environment where everyone has their individual medical and psychological needs met, going drug-free isn’t as tough as trying it on your own.
Contact us today to start actively working toward recovery and a transformed lifestyle prioritizing positivity, optimism, and personal achievement.