Substance Abuse Stats in Dunbar Township, PA
Dunbar Township is just a small rural community, but it’s been fighting opioids since 2013.
That year, a Herald-Standard journalist showcased the ways that opioids are wrecking Fayette County, including:
- An uptick in prescription forgery and fraud
- An increase in black market pill sales
- Increasing rates of heroin and cocaine abuse
5 years later, drug and alcohol services are up by 9%, which means people are finally getting the help they need. In 2016 and 2017 alone, there was a 27% jump in outpatient admissions!
Choosing Between an Outpatient and Inpatient Rehab
Inpatient and outpatient rehab are both good choices for different situations.
Inpatient rehab is the gold standard for drug abuse treatment. It offers a 24/7 experience so you can make the most out of your time there.
If you can’t make it to inpatient rehab because of responsibilities, there’s still hope. Outpatient rehab is an option for clients who can’t leave their work or children behind. However, it’s not the right choice for everyone, so talk to your care team first.
How Long Can Treatment at a Rehab Last?
The length of rehab treatment depends on:
- The drug you’re stopping
- How long you’ve been using
- Whether you use other substances
- Your health and metabolism
You can predict some of these factors, but not all of them. The bottom line is that rehab takes time. In fact, research says that 90 days of treatment is the shortest period that works.
And that’s the bare minimum. Many clients will need more than 3 months of treatment and that’s normal! You didn’t develop an addiction overnight and you won’t heal overnight either.
What to Expect at Rehab
At rehab, you should expect a variety of therapies and activities every day.
Some common options include:
- Activity-based therapy: Art therapy or animal therapy can be rejuvenating when you need it the most.
- Group therapy: Don’t underestimate the healing power of social support! Groups like 12 Steps can be part of your healing.
- Talk therapy: Simply talking through your thoughts and feelings can help you understand yourself better. The more you understand what’s going on in your head, the better you can tackle addiction.
When Would You Need to Go to Detox?
Your care team will ask you to attend detox before rehab if you have a dependence. If you’re physically dependent, then the signs include withdrawal and cravings when you stop using drugs.
Withdrawal can look like:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Hopelessness
- Muscle pain
- Trouble eating and sleeping
- Vomiting and diarrhea
As you can see, withdrawal is physically taxing. It’s common to relapse during withdrawal because it’s difficult to get through. Medical detox gives you the support you need during this trying time.
How Long is Detox?
Many detox centers offer 5-day, 7-day, or 14-day rehab. Shorter and longer rehabs are possible too: 3-day and 21-day are common options.
But which option is the right one? The right detox length depends on:
- The drugs that you’re stopping
- How long you’ve been using drugs
- How heavily you’ve used drugs
- Your health, medications, and any conditions
It’s important to stay in detox long enough. Fully finishing your detox stay gives you the best odds of success during recovery.