Substance Abuse Stats in Concord, New Hampshire
Concord is a small city in Merrimack County, New Hampshire with a population of around 43,000 people – making it the 3rd largest city in the state. New Hampshire might be small in population, but when it comes to opioid abuse, the state has a big problem.
- In 2018, 424 people died of opioid overdose in the state.
- 51 of these deaths occurred in Merrimack county.
- The rate of opioid overdoses in NH is double the national average rate.
- This problem is out of control despite the fact that prescription rates for opioids are lower in NH than the nation’s average.
Choosing Between an Outpatient and Inpatient Rehab
Choosing between inpatient and outpatient care in Concord is one of the first major decisions you will need to make about your recovery. While these two forms of treatment share some attributes, they are quite different. Inpatient rehab involves living full-time at the treatment center, while outpatient care allows you to keep living at home.
Choosing between the two comes down to:
- Your specific needs for treatment
- Whether you need detox
- How independent you are
- How mentally and physically stable you are
- What your social support system is like
Inpatient rehab is more expensive. However, avoid basing your decision solely off of money, as you may need the extra support offered by inpatient care.
How Long Can Treatment at a Rehab Last?
Treatment centers in Concord tend to offer programs in one-month increments, although many allow you to create a custom treatment plan. Research has shown that treatment is most effective when patients stay for more than 90 days.
Staying for a shorter amount of time because you want a quick fix or think it is too expensive could result in:
- Relapse
- Ending up back in rehab
- Wasting time
If you are suffering from an addiction, getting clean should be your number one priority. All aspects of your life rely on your sobriety, so investing in it is the best thing you can do for yourself.
What to Expect at Rehab
Every person’s experience at rehab is unique because everyone has a different history and unique treatment needs. That said, during your time at rehab, you can expect to partake in at least some of the following:
- Talk therapy
- Group meetings
- 12-step programs
- Medication
- Exercise and healthy meals
- Restorative activities such as yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises
When Would You Need to Go to Detox?
Detox might be needed before you can start treatment. Anyone who is at risk for undergoing withdrawal symptoms has to go to detox. Withdrawal varies from substance to substance, but can include painful and dangerous symptoms. The benefits of detox are:
- Provides a safe, medically-monitored space to go through withdrawal
- Allows you to mentally and physically stabilize before beginning treatment
- Provides immediate access to medical assistance should any complications arise during withdrawal
Withdrawal is hard to predict, but if you’ve been using recently, detox is a must.
How Long is Detox?
Detox ends when medical staff clear you to begin treatment. You will be cleared when the risk for dangerous withdrawal symptoms has subsided, and you are mentally and physically stable.
Detox takes varying amounts of time and can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The time depends largely on:
- What was used
- How heavy the use was
- Your overall health
- Your metabolism
Heavy, prolonged drug and alcohol abuse generally means detox will be longer. Additionally, young, healthy individuals usually detox faster than older, unhealthy people.