Using Medication to Detox
Though it may seem counterintuitive, several useful and safe medications can help with the initial detox process. These medications manage symptoms of discomfort and ensure that your body is safe while you detox.
As with everything at Sage, we involve you in every decision about using medications during detox. We give you evidence-based information about the medication options and help to administer them on the correct schedule. This resource can be incredibly helpful in overcoming the initial recovery hurdle and can even decrease your chances of relapse.
Advantages of Outpatient Detox Services
Outpatient detox services are a wonderful resource for many people. These services are less expensive than residential or inpatient treatments and offer the same level of medical supervision and attention. You can experience a blend of medical support with family support while you take this difficult step. These services also work well for those with schedules that would otherwise prevent them from seeking care. Outpatient detox services are flexible, so you don’t have to quit a job or find extended childcare to begin your recovery journey.
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Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Overcoming addiction extends beyond initial detox. At Sage Neuroscience Center, we wanted to create an alcohol rehab and drug rehab in Albuquerque that is judgment-free, supportive, and custom-tailored to each individual who walks through our doors. Our staff understands that addiction is a disease, not a choice. We begin all of our programs with that belief in mind. Our intensive outpatient program (IOP) is no exception.
Speaking in general terms, you can expect the following from IOP:
- Three-hour meetings, three times a week, for twelve weeks
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Drug testing
All care options are a collaborative effort between our patients and providers. No decisions about treatment or care are made without full consent and enthusiasm from all involved. More detailed treatment aspects are described below.
Why IOP?
Intensive outpatient programs are beneficial in numerous ways. While many of the same services are offered in residential treatment facilities, IOP allows you to heal on your own schedule. No round-the-clock care is required, so you can maintain your job and support your family if need be. IOP treatment is similarly effective to residential programs but without the full-time commitment. Our programs are also helpful for those who went through a residential treatment program and are looking for a step into independence without completely leaving support and healing behind.
IOP at Sage
When working through our intensive inpatient program at Sage Neuroscience Center, the process begins with a medical and psychiatric evaluation. This evaluation allows us to understand where you are beginning your journey mentally and physically. From here, you and a provider will discuss what might be the best course of action to follow for you as a unique individual.
You will always have a say in your treatment protocol.
Some specific treatment options available to you are:
- Nutrition training
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness training
- Trigger identification
- Chemistry of addiction training
- Boundaries and impulse control training
- Family and couples counseling
There are many more specific and individualized options here at Sage, and your healing program will depend entirely on your history, addiction experience, and your goals for recovery.
Who Benefits From IOP?
Anyone struggling with substance use disorders or addictions can benefit from our intensive outpatient programs. Substance use disorders are defined as any situation in which a person’s brain is unable to stop them from using a substance.
These substances include:
- Prescription medication
- Nicotine
Once an addiction is formed to one of these substances, it can be difficult and dangerous to attempt to quit on one’s own. Our programs give people experiencing addiction a safe space and stable routine in which to access the support needed to escape their impulses. These programs rewire the brain to be able to better avoid substances that were previously irresistible.
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Aftercare Support Groups
The third main service offered by Sage Neuroscience Center is our therapy and aftercare support group services. These services are meant for anyone who has gone through addiction recovery programs, either with us or elsewhere, and is looking for a stable, reliable, supportive place to continue their sobriety and avoid relapse. We believe that having support after the initial recovery process is crucial to long-term health and wellbeing and keeps our community from experiencing relapses.
Benefits of Aftercare Support Groups
Recovering from substance abuse disorder is not a finite process. A person may have to deal with sobriety challenges throughout their lifetime. In the weeks and months after going through an intensive care program, many people often feel alone or intimidated by their new life. Our aftercare support groups give them a structured support system to help them manage their new post-recovery life and to give them a community that understands their experiences. Many people who experience addiction are better able to maintain sobriety because of the relationships, tools, and trigger management that they develop in our aftercare support group.
Lessons of Aftercare Support Groups
Because aftercare support groups provide you with a network and community, it’s entirely common to learn unique lessons in these groups that you may not learn during your outpatient care. Our aftercare support groups are full of individuals in all stages of recovery, many of whom experience addiction differently than you do. Others’ insights often reveal important lessons and tools that may not have come up during an outpatient program. These tools may bring your recovery to the next level and make the journey easier for you.
The community to be found here is also incredibly precious. As you learn to adapt to a substance-free life, there will be individuals that fall away from your life in response. In support groups, you can form new relationships with strong foundations, with people who understand what you’re going through.
You can expect the following benefits from participating in long-term support care:
- Additional resources after IOP
- Recovery goal tracking and encouragement
- Trigger management skills
- Relapse prevention
- Tips for making the most out of sober life
- Strong, lasting relationships based on values, not substances
Aftercare Support Group Structure
Our aftercare support group meets weekly on Wednesdays from 4-5:30 p.m. The meetings are facilitated by a specialist from our clinic, and you are free to listen to others’ experiences and share your own.
