As opioids are being increasingly prescribed for chronic pain conditions, the number of individuals who have opioid related problems leading to opioid use disorder is growing. While the use of opioids for acute pain or pain related to terminal conditions has been long accepted, their long term use for pain related conditions can lead to problems. While many people consider only the physiological effects and withdrawal symptoms of opioid use, at Abilene we are aware that it is the psychological withdrawal symptoms that are generally hardest for individuals to withstand. These withdrawal symptoms are also more long lasting and less noticeable. However, our skilled staff is well versed in the recognition of the importance of opioids to many individuals in maintaining positive self-esteem and confidence in many situations and their belief that they cannot function normally without it. Thus, while we focus on the physiological aspects of the disorder, withdrawal and the potential need to alternative pain control methods we also focus heavily on what the substance has come to represent for each individual and how best to replace its function with a more adaptive way of seeing the self-based on real attributes as well as a more strength based manner of the individual’s view of their functional capacity.
Why Seek Treatment for Opioid Use at Abilene?
At Abilene our largest goal is to get to know you as a complete person with unique gifts and resources in addition to obtaining the needed information related to your difficulties. We feel that we are only able to work with you to develop the best treatment plan for your individual needs if we are able to see you as a whole person not just as someone with a substance abuse problem.
To that end, we conduct comprehensive assessments which include psychiatric evaluations, clinical interviews leading to the process of intensive diagnosis and a clinical evaluation which builds on the interview and diagnostic information to help us begin formulating potential treatment options for you. We are also well aware that opioid use problems almost never occur in the absence of other difficulties and understand the importance of assessing psychiatric co-morbidity. We do not believe that only problems which meet criteria for a formal diagnosis are targets of intervention. If you have difficulties or issues that fall outside the range of a formal diagnosis but are resulting in distress and/or worsening your opioid use problems we believe these factors are just as important to assess and provide help for if we are to help you fully return to a normal, happy and satisfying life.
Program Philosophy and Benefits
We are dedicated to treating the whole person and either helping you begin the recovery process by helping build the strongest foundation possible for continued treatment or, in cases of acute problems, return them to their previous level of functioning and quality of life. We know that the only way to do this is through experienced, well trained and compassionate staff who are aware of more than just the symptoms related to a disorder. Additionally, we are aware that no one lives in a vacuum without the influences of others in their lives. While you may feel as if your friends and families have abandoned or withdrawn from you or you have withdrawn from them we are firmly committed to helping you reestablish relationships in your life and learn methods and strategies to expand your social network. Support is critical in the recovery from a substance abuse problem and that means support while taking part in one of our programs as well as when you leave us and return to your home, community or family. We invite and encourage others in your life to participate in your healing and also help them cope with whatever issues they may have related to your disorder. This will promote the rebuilding of healthy relationships and a shared knowledge base about the disorder and treatment for everyone involved. We are also committed to continuity of care and have different levels of treatment you can utilize until you feel ready to move on and focus on care across the developmental spectrum when doing family work.
Treatment Approaches for Opioid Use at Abilene
At Abilene we have a number of levels of therapeutic components to help you recover from your substance abuse problem. We have created the most comprehensive approach to treating substance abuse disorders in order to address the variety of potential issues and co-occurring problems that individuals may experience and in recognition that every person we help is unique with unique needs when it comes to treatment.
We have a number of “tracks” or “Programmatic Elements” developed to focus on the different places individuals may be in their recovery process and to address specific issues or additional issues involved in the individual’s disorder. These include
- Detox – We have a special team to help with detox if you are still using the substance at a level that requires this process. While we don’t believe in using medications to substitute for the drug you want to stop taking, we will use medications to treat certain symptoms such as anxiety or some of the physical withdrawal symptoms you may experience. We also recognize detox does not only involve ridding your system of the substance but that in doing so, it often brings up fears resulting from psychological addiction related to doubts of how well you will be able to function across areas in life without using the substance. This is addressed during the detox process as well as afterwards.
- Substance Abuse Track – You will begin to take part in the therapeutic activities in this track as you near the end of the detox process or as soon as your treatment team feels you are ready to do so.
- Psychiatric Co-morbidity - This special track addresses co-occurring substance abuse problems and psychological problems. While it may seem overwhelming to address two serious problems that may have been effecting you for a long time, or distressing due to your not being aware of other difficulties since the substance use problem masked other symptoms, we can help you deal with both problems in a safe and supportive environment.
- Medication management/education – For some individuals, medications may be needed past detox to treat specific symptoms related to the substance use disorder or to treat other conditions that you are also experiencing. We carefully monitor, manage and educate you about the medications you are prescribed and help you watch for any side effects that could lead to additional distress or substance abuse relapse.
- AA/NA – We utilize the 12 program and have AA and NA meetings available for those who would benefit from them.
- Didactics – We strongly believe in the importance of education throughout the treatment process and provide multiple opportunities for you to gain knowledge about your condition, treatment and other topics that may be helpful. Increasing your understanding of your disorder and gaining the ability to see it accurately so you can accept your strengths is critical in your recovery process.
Specific therapy approaches for opioid use include a number of different types of methods and techniques shown to be effective for leading to symptom reduction and overall improvement.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – This treatment approach is aimed at restructuring or replacing negative or inaccurate thoughts related to your substance use and other difficulties if applicable and replacing them with more adaptive thoughts that lead to increased resiliency.
- REBT – Substance abuse problems are often exacerbated by strong emotional states or attempts to self-medicate in an effort to avoid acknowledging perceived treatment failures attributed to an inherent weakness. REBT is used to improve emotional regulation and acceptance of the problems and recovery process through techniques enabling the individual to view these aspects accurately so they can be worked through.
- Family therapy – We are strong believers in including family members and other significant others in the individuals life in the recovery process. We use formal and informal time to help the family re-form as a unit through education about the individual’s condition, treatment and what to expect after they are discharged. Helping support the family members acknowledge and process through their specific issues related to their loved ones substance abuse problems are the driving forces behind family therapy.
- Group Therapy – We use a small groups approach, designing groups as applicable for the individuals currently in the program. Some groups are process groups where individuals can work through their issues while obtaining support and validation from peers who have similar problems, while others are skills based such as coping skills training or relapse prevention. We have a number of groups running at any time and individuals can work with their treatment team to determine which ones would best meet their needs.
- Individual Therapy – We recognize there are times when individuals need one on one time to work through issues they prefer not to share with peers or family members. We provide opportunities for each person to have one on one time with a therapist or case manager so they can express whatever is causing them distress in a more private manner.
Continuing Care – What Comes Next?
At Abilene we are committed to ensuring that we can provide you with whatever level of treatment you may need. These needs may change over time or you may be discharged from one of our programs but find the need to return to deal with issues you weren’t aware of during your initial treatment. We are dedicated to being there for you whenever you need us. Therefore we provide several levels of treatment.
In addition to inpatient programs that provide the highest level of intervention and safety measures for those who need this, we also have two intensive outpatient programs that provide a variety of services throughout the day without the restrictions of an inpatient program. Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) provide multiple groups and opportunities to consult with staff members through-out the day. Additionally, informal time is provided to allow you to interact with others, to reinforce and improve social skills used for forming relationships. We also have a traditional outpatient clinic that provides therapy appointments with our trained therapists. The outpatient clinic is also available to individuals who have not been in one of our other programs, underscoring our commitment to meeting the needs of the community of which we are proud to be a part.