Substance Abuse Stats in Richmond, VA
Every week, 19 people die from a drug overdose in Richmond. There are dozens of deaths and hundreds of ER visits for drug ODs every year.
Want more startling substance abuse stats in Richmond? Some include:
- A 25% increase in opioid overdoses from 2016 to 2017
- More than 9,000 Narcan doses purchased by Richmond health departments in 2017
- Over 1,200 overdose deaths in 2017
Prescription painkillers were once the drug of choice in Richmond. Today, it’s fentanyl and heroin.
Choosing Between an Outpatient and Inpatient Rehab
Inpatient and outpatient rehab are both important for different uses. Your care team will help you choose the one that’s right for your case.
Inpatient rehab is a live-in treatment that includes 24/7 care. It’s helpful for nearly anyone entering drug abuse treatment.
Outpatient rehab may be an option if you are stable. It’s not right for everyone and you may need to attend inpatient first.
In fact, it’s common to start attending inpatient and then keep going to outpatient after.
How Long Can Treatment at a Rehab Last?
Rehab treatment can last anywhere from a few weeks to years. For some people, treatment never ends. It’s common to graduate from inpatient and keep going to outpatient for months or even years!
What’s most important is that you keep going to treatment as long as you need to. Ending treatment too early puts you at risk for relapse.
Research shows that you have the best outcomes when you dedicate at least 90 days of treatment to rehab.
What to Expect at Rehab
Not sure what you should expect at rehab? Talk to your care team, who will be able to guide you. They’ll work with you to create a treatment plan that’s customized to your needs.
Your treatment could include:
- Daily check-ins: A regular appointment with your care team keeps you informed and lets you ask questions.
- Groups: Both 12 Steps groups and support groups can be a big aid in recovery.
- Therapy: Talk therapy is an important part of changing your behaviors around drug use.
When Would You Need to Go to Detox?
Consider attending detox if you:
- Are addicted to drugs
- Can’t stop using drugs without help
- Get withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop using
- Have family that’s concerned about your use
Withdrawal symptoms are a warning that you need to go to detox. They can include:
- Agitation
- Cravings
- Headache
- Mood changes
- Pain
If you have an addiction or dependence, then a treatment center can’t help you without detoxing first. Going to treatment without detox can increase your risk of relapse.
How Long is Detox?
There’s no average detox period because it varies so widely between different drugs. The average detox center offers programs that are short (three to five days), medium (a week to ten days) or long (two to three weeks) in length.
Your detox care team will talk to you about your drug use. Then they’ll make a detox plan that reflects your needs. It’s very important that you’re honest with your care team about your drug use so they can plan your care accordingly.