In the final days of October 2017, the President of the United States put forth his plan for overcoming drug addiction in America. Part of this plan included declaring opiate abuse as a national public health emergency. Doing this could free up the government up to divert funds and energy to combat what some have described as one of the worst problems with addiction in the history of the United States.
Inpatient drug and alcohol treatment in Utah has benefited many individuals in that state battling with addiction. Researchers have estimated that between 2000 and 2017, Utah has seen a 400 percent increase in the number of prescription drug overdose related deaths. Approximately one individual dies each day in the state as a result of overdose. It has reached a point where the US attorney in Salt Lake City said of Utah’s problem that there is an ‘appetite in Utah for pain pills and heroin that is insatiable.’
Many of the individuals listed were battling with addiction became hooked as a result of getting prescriptions connected to sports injuries, work injuries, or as a result of degenerative health issues, such as back pain.
The Benefit of Inpatient Drug and Alcohol Treatment
The benefits of inpatient substance abuse treatment cannot be overstated. For many people, the journey to recovery begins with an understanding that they are battling with something and they need help to get over it. Coming to the reality that there is a need for treatment is arguably the most important factor in helping a person obtain long-term sobriety.
Once a person realizes that they need help maintaining sobriety, they then have to identify what to do next. Inpatient substance abuse treatment offers people 24 hour a day seven days a week care as well as long-term follow-up care, allowing them to benefit from long-lasting changes.
When a person is in an inpatient rehabilitation facility, they’re setting themselves up to get the one thing they really need if you are going to get better, and that is time to focus on recovery. Selecting the right inpatient program can be the difference between a short recovery followed by a relapse or lifelong sobriety.
Physical Benefits of Inpatient Rehabilitation
There are some physical benefits that come from following an inpatient drug rehab program. When a person is physically dependent on a drug, or when they are physically dependent on alcohol, stopping that drug is going to result in some form of withdrawal. As opposed to just quitting cold turkey, the detox facility is going to help a person gradually deal with the side effects of addiction. Because the recovering individual is in an inpatient environment, they don’t have access to drugs that could lead them to relapse and even overdose in response to the withdrawal symptoms related to quitting cold turkey.
Additionally, regardless of what substance on the periodic table of drug addiction a person is battling with, their desire to use or abuse that substance is triggered by things like sounds, smells, sights, or associations with others. However, when a person is in an inpatient rehabilitation program, they are removed from the sights, sounds, smells, and stresses that might encourage them to misuse illegal substances.
Additionally, having medically qualified personnel on hand means that if there are any withdrawal symptoms, these can be addressed in a safe way. These are just a few of the physical benefits that come from enrolling in an inpatient program.
Psychological Benefits
The recovery process is different for each person. The psychological effects of recovery require different approaches and different types of support. Inpatient treatment allows the medical staff to evaluate the psychological state of the individual going through recovery and then offer programs that are going to produce the best results.
Some inpatient facilities include a spiritual aspect. The goal is to help the recovering individual bolster their emotions and deal with emotional challenges that might contribute to their addiction. Having peace of mind, feeling emotionally safe, and having an internal sense of calm are important components in helping a person successfully recover from substance abuse.
Just think about the change that being in an inpatient environment will mean for many recovering individuals. Everyday stresses such as crying children, work stress, school stress, recrimination from family members over past mistakes, arguments, and bills are all gone. Enrollment in an inpatient facility means that a patient has a buffer between themselves and the challenges of the world. This short buffer gives them the time they need to focus exclusively on improving their mental, spiritual, and emotional health as they travel down the road of recovery.
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