Get the Alcohol and Drug Recovery Help You Need in Acworth, Georgia
Part of the Atlanta, GA metropolitan area, Acworth, GA is located 35 miles north of the capital city in Cobb County. With a population nearing 22,500, “The Lake City” is aptly named from its geographical situation on Lake Allatoona and Lake Acworth.
Like many cities its size, the beauty of Acworth, GA does not diminish its vulnerability to alcohol and drug addiction. Residents in this tight-knit community struggle with addiction the same way larger metro areas and inner-city neighborhoods do when it comes to fighting dependence difficulties. Learn more about treatment options available and Georgia drug rehabs by reading our post.
Understanding Drug and Alcohol Statistics in Georgia and Nationwide
A seven-month investigation by multi-agency narcotics units into drug trafficking in Cobb County came to an end in December 2017 with the successful arrests of dozens of individuals who face drug and conspiracy charges. Included in the arrests were several Acworth, GA residents who face lengthy prison sentences if convicted of their roles in distributing narcotics in the community.
The availability of drugs in Georgia, and throughout the United States, sheds light on the supply and demand dynamic that supports these illegal industries and holds users hostage from seeking recovery. The widespread availability of narcotics can lead to a death sentence for those who have become addicted before they are able to seek help.
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and their 2016 National Drug Threat Assessment Summary — the latest statistics available — the threat of drug use continues to expand throughout large and small cities alike throughout the country.
The DEA states:
- Controlled prescription drug deaths have outpaced cocaine and heroin overdoses every year since 2002; 52 deaths occur each day from prescription painkiller overdoses
- Approximately 19,400 people overdosed on Fentanyl and related synthetic opioids in 2016; double the number from the previous year
- Heroin overdoses account for nearly 11,000 deaths each year in the United States
- Cocaine deaths reached 5,415 in the last year recorded, an increase from 4,944 the previous year
- Methamphetamines account for nearly 4,000 deaths in the US each year
Partial cause of the uptick in opioid overdoses, the Centers for Disease Control surmised, is that users do not understand the potency of these drugs, and their deadly nature when used improperly.
Combatting Personal Addiction: Assessing Dependency Difficulties
No matter how your dependency difficulties began, whether it was from a legitimate injury, a traumatic life change, or recreational use turned reliance, it is important to understand that you can seek help for your illness at any stage.
The first step to seeking help in your home, community, at work, or on your own begins with an assessment of your addiction.
An assessment will allow you to:
- Determine the extent of your addiction
- Pinpoint co-occurring conditions that lead to drug or alcohol use, including mental and physical health conditions
- Outline behavioral patterns
- Detect symptoms and triggers
- Identify the effects drug or alcohol use has on your life, including the past, present and future consequences and results
Sample assessment questions can include:
- Is consuming drugs or alcohol part of your everyday life?
- Have you sought medical treatment from the use of drugs or alcohol?
- Is your work, school, or home performance affected by your drug or alcohol use?
- If you are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, are you thinking about the next time you will be?
- Are your personal or professional relationships in jeopardy because of your drug or alcohol use?
Next Steps in Combatting Drug and Alcohol Addiction: Intake Interview
Seeking help for addiction is a brave step in combatting substance and alcohol abuse. It takes guts to say, “I need help.” The process will begin by reaching out to a facility that can help you outline the best course of action for your needs, which occurs during a pre-intake session.
In the pre-intake step you will:
- Contact a recovery facility
- Provide your personal information
- Relay any insurance availability that will help cover the treatment costs
- Make an appointment
- Fill out registration forms
- Read and understand the terms of the facility’s practices
Next Step: Intake
An intake interview will take place at the scheduled time and place determined by you and the facility where you are seeking a consultation. This will be your first personal interaction with the individual(s) and institution who could help guide you through the recovery process.
During this appointment you will begin to understand your:
- Initial diagnosis, and the realities of your addiction
- Mental and physical statuses and their effects on your dependency
- Ability to ask and answer questions that provide the best treatment plan available for you
No two addiction recovery plans are alike. Each person who seeks help has personal factors that affect their dependencies, including their age, pre-existing conditions, and reasons for using and seeking help. It is important to be open and honest during this session to ensure the next steps are effective.
Drug or Alcohol Detoxification Period
Each person’s detoxification process also differs and is based on their personal needs.
The detox process is dedicated to understanding your current drug use, and the existence of the substance(s) in your system. Depriving your body’s dependency of the drug(s) or alcohol you have an addiction to will result in a stabilization process that includes a withdrawal period.
The latter is a dangerous time and requires close contact with a professional to serve as a guide through the treatment process. It is important to understand that the detoxification process only removes the physical dependence. The behavioral issues, social factors and complex psychological addictions that may exist alongside the physical addiction will require a long-term approach to sobriety.
This approach is solidified by choosing the proper treatment cycle and facility for your addiction needs.
Inpatient Treatment vs. Outpatient Treatment: Which is Right for You?
Choosing the best treatment option for your addiction needs is a personal choice, and is dictated by your assessment, pre-intake, and intake interviews. The treatment program can include detoxification and lends itself to rehabilitate more than the physical dependency, but the complex and underlying issues that contributed to your addiction.
Inpatient Treatment Options
Inpatient drug and alcohol addiction treatment is a full-time, residential treatment option that includes intensive therapy for serious addictions that require constant contact and care from professionals.
Inpatient treatment options often fall into three categories:
- Residential Treatment Centers (RTC)
RTC is a live-in healthcare facility that provides medical, psychological, and emotional care for individuals who suffer from severe alcohol or drug addiction. These facilities house individuals full-time for extended time periods to curb relapses, and can range from stays of 28 days to six-month programs.
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
PHP is a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation that is intensive and structured through partial hospitalization. These programs serve addicts through focused care at least five days per week, and lend a versatile approach to their recovery by providing weekend, evening, and half-day active treatment options to prevent relapse or full hospitalization.
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
IOP provides individual and group services and typically requires 10-12 hours of treatment each week. Those who participate in these programs incorporate the use of 12-step programs, and enjoy increased success rates through heightened support systems. It also allows individuals seeking care to check in with their facility in the mornings or evenings, before or after their standard daily activities (or both) that can include work or school to promote intensive recovery practices.
Outpatient Treatment Options
Individuals who are addressing milder alcohol or substance abuse problems, who do not require full-time care, can participate in outpatient treatment. This approach is just as serious as inpatient care and reflects a committed approach to becoming — and remaining — sober.
Outpatient treatment options provide a forum for understanding how to cope with addiction and are a great resource for individual and group counseling. Educational tools are the cornerstone of outpatient treatment, and allow those who participate to make informed choices about their health and sobriety.
The Importance of Addiction Aftercare
No matter the treatment option you have pursued to rid yourself of addiction, it is important to understand that your aftercare is as imperative as the initial decision to seek help. Aftercare should be viewed as continued treatment that keeps you on track, combatting possible relapse signs, triggers, and symptoms before they begin.
Remaining committed to sobriety can be accomplished with helpful tools that are at your disposal, including:
- Individual Therapy: Meeting one-on-one with a therapist will allow you to voice any worries, confusion, or hardships you are experiencing with your recovery. The therapist will provide personal attention, and deliver solutions for your current and future concerns, and administer supportive praise for your efforts and successes.
- Group Therapy: Sharing your experiences with other individuals who are recovering from addiction can help build a positive support system, hone your coping skills, and provide a social network that is committed to staying sober.
- 12 Step Programs: Participating in 12 Step Programs allows individuals in recovery to remain committed to their sobriety through a tiered approach that promotes personal reconciliation, and the betterment of life moving forward. 12 Step Programs are available for not only those who are battling an addiction to drugs or alcohol but their friends and family members, too.
Maintaining Sobriety in Everyday Life
Addiction recovery is a life-long commitment. This means getting back to your previous life may be easier said than done. Self-sufficiency and determination will go a long way in maintaining sobriety, whether it’s your first week or your twentieth year.
Throughout treatment, you will learn how to identify triggers that increase the urge to use, and getting back to reality means combatting those triggers the best ways possible. This can include placing distance between yourself and friends or family members who generate negative emotions or promote behavior that is detrimental to your sobriety. Simply put, hanging out with people who still use is not going to encourage you to pursue a clean lifestyle.
Maintain connections with medical and social professionals who can guide you through the process, including therapists and sponsors. And do not be afraid to lean on others who participate in group therapy, when you need a sympathetic ear who can share similar difficulties, and provide positive support.
Finally, do not be afraid to re-evaluate your sobriety to discover and reward yourself for how far you have come. If you believe there are underlying factors that are holding you back from leading a positive lifestyle, address them accordingly with a realistic approach to success. Your life is an ever-evolving process, and being sober will allow you to enjoy it to the fullest. It takes work, but it is a worthwhile effort. You’ll see.
