Substance Abuse Stats in Buffalo, NY
You know New York State as part of the East Coast opioid epidemic. Buffalo is one of the areas hit hard by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
In fact, synthetic opioid deaths rose by 136% between 2014 and 2015.
The following year, 301 people died from opioid overdoses in Erie County, where Buffalo is located. That’s the largest number of deaths in the area.
These are only a few of the startling substance abuse stats in Buffalo, New York. The area made up 50% of all overdose reports in Upstate New York in 2015.
Choosing Between an Outpatient and Inpatient Rehab
Outpatient and inpatient rehab are each good for their own uses, but it’s important to choose the right one.
- Inpatient rehab offers live-in care and treatment. It’s the preferred method for most treatment plans. That’s because treatment works better for many people if they can immerse themselves completely.
- Outpatient rehab could be a good choice if you have stability and want some control over your care and routine. Many patients choose to start with inpatient and then continue outpatient for months or years after.
Both types of rehab could have a place in your treatment regimen at different times. Talk to your care team about the best option for you.
How Long Can Treatment at a Rehab Last?
The length of your rehab stay depends on your:
- Substance abuse disorder
- Drug use history
- Health and mental health history
Whether you’ve attended treatment in the past is another factor. If you’ve been to shorter rehab programs in the past, then it could be time to try a longer rehab stay.
Commit to the longest rehab stay that you can. Research says that 60 days is the shortest effective rehab length. Stays shorter than that could put you at additional risk for relapse. If you’re recovering from opioid use disorder, then 12 months is the minimum recommended length.
What to Expect at Rehab
Your rehab experience is all your own because no two patients are alike. The best treatment centers for substance abuse customize your treatment plan rather than using the same strategies for everyone.
Some common treatments and therapies include:
- Daily check-ins: A regular check-in keeps you on track and gives you time to ask questions.
- Group therapy: Talking about your experience in a group can be powerful for healing.
- Medication: Sometimes drugs such as Suboxone are used to treat opioid addiction or alcohol addiction.
- Talk therapy: Cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavioral therapy are two kinds most used for substance abuse treatment.
When Would You Need to Go to Detox?
Think about making detox your first stop if you’re dependent on drugs. In fact, many treatment centers require that you go to detox first.
Most treatment centers aren’t equipped to get you through detox. The detox period can be stressful with symptoms that include:
- Agitation
- Drug cravings
- Fever
- Mood changes
- Pain
- Stomach discomfort
- Sweating
It’s common to relapse during detox without help. The process is intense and can make you feel very sick, especially when you’re detoxing alone.
If your treatment team recommends you go to detox, you should go. In medical detox, you can get symptom management to keep you comfortable and safe.
How Long is Detox?
The length of detox varies so you can’t predict it exactly. However, your treatment team can help you decide the right detox program for you.
Factors that affect detox length include:
- The drugs you’re discontinuing
- Your drug use history
- Your health and mental health history
Most programs offer detox lengths between three days and 14 days. Alcohol detox can be short if it’s not complicated. However, stimulant withdrawal can take up to two weeks. Your care team will talk to you about the right detox length for your situation.