by: Kristen Shook, Community Resource Specialist ; Cody Beaton, Outpatient Director of South Central Kansas ; Jason Greever, Western Division Vice President of Operations

Recovery is for everyone. A life without the need for substance use is possible, although it does take hard work. The good news is there are people who wish to see you succeed and will show you the tools needed for the road of recovery. Trying to navigate when and where to begin can be daunting. Do not let this deter you. This article will discuss when you should seek treatment and the process you should follow to begin.

When To Seek Treatment
The moment you begin to consider getting help for a potential substance use disorder is when you should reach out for assistance. If you (or a loved one) use substances daily and struggle to function without the chosen drugs or alcohol, you should begin to seek counseling or rehab. As the disease of addiction progresses, individuals begin to need to use to be able to function and complete everyday tasks. This is a sign of a progression of the disease, and it would be wise to begin treatment at this time. As the severity of the substance use disorder continues, other signs of needing treatment include, but are not limited to: missing work, drastic mood swings, or becoming a danger to self or others.

It is okay to seek help. There is nothing to be humiliated about – if you take the steps to begin recovery and reach out for assistance, it is something that is honored. It takes courage to be honest with oneself and decide to work towards a better future. Those who love and care about you want to see you be healthy and happy.

How To Seek Help
The first step to beginning treatment is to get a substance use assessment. A licensed professional will ask you a variety of questions to get an understanding of where you are at in the disease of addiction. It is important to answer all questions honestly so they can provide you with the best information to assist you. Following the assessment, the professional will recommend a level of treatment best suited to your individual needs.

Levels of Treatment:

Social Detox
"Social detoxification" means detoxification in an organized residential non-medical setting delivered by appropriately trained staff who provide safe, 24-hour monitoring, observation, and support in a supervised environment for a client to achieve initial recovery from the effects of alcohol or another drug. Social detoxification is characterized by its emphasis on peer and social support and it provides care for clients whose intoxication or withdrawal signs and symptoms are sufficiently severe to require 24-hour structure and support but the full resources of a medically monitored inpatient detoxification are not necessary.

Residential Inpatient
Residential inpatient, or residential treatment, is a 24-hour care facility designed to offer an environment that helps people become sober and achieve a level of stability. The program is structured to provide the tools needed to maintain sobriety and work towards regaining stability to return home. Those who are in a residential living facility have an assigned counselor to help them through the steps of recovery, creating management plans for self-regulation to prevent relapse and maintain sobriety. Following the program, individuals can live in a sober-living environment or their own home. It is encouraged to continue the continuum of treatment and begin outpatient treatment.

Intensive Outpatient
Intensive Outpatient (IOP) treatment allows those seeking recovery to continue to live on their own while receiving treatment. Those who do not have significant support for their process of recovery attend regular individual and group therapy sessions. It is recommended to attend between 9-15 hours of treatment sessions per week at the IOP level. A counselor will be designated to assist in the process of treatment and recovery. The counselor will work collaboratively with the client to create a treatment plan to best fit the individual and their circumstances.

Outpatient
Outpatient treatment services are provided for those who have functioning support in the community and who may have already gone through the prior steps. This level of care allows for those who are working on recovery to continue to live on their own while attending individual and group therapy sessions on a regular basis. The recommended number of outpatient therapy sessions varies for each individual and where they are at in their recovery journey – however, outpatient treatment requires between 1-8 hours of treatment sessions per week. With progression in recovery, outpatient treatment hours may decrease – this can often be referred to as Aftercare, Continuing Care, or Relapse Prevention.

Peer Mentoring/Person-Centered Case Management
Throughout the above continuum of care, supportive services are often available that assist in the recovery journey. Peer mentoring and person-centered case management provides on-going support and connects those in recovery to community resources that may enhance their success. These support services can be vital in the recovery journey and they are often provided be staff who are in long-term recovery.

Rediscover You, Recover
It is never too late to begin the process of recovery. Breaking free from addiction will allow you to rediscover yourself. There is power in recovery and there are many resources available to help you along the way.

For more information on all of these services, and how Mirror, Inc can help you or your loved ones, please call one of our Client Navigators at 316-867-0259. You can also email info@mirrorinc.org with questions or visit www.mirrorinc.org for details.