Abilene Treatment Centers

Abilene, TX, overall, is a wonderful place to live in. However, just as everywhere else in the country, it has its own fair share of problems, including that of drug and alcohol abuse. While an addiction is considered to be a chronic mental illness, it is also one that impacts not just the sufferer but also the immediate family and the wider community as a whole. Furthermore, it also affects both the criminal justice and the health care systems. As a result, public health officials all over the country, including in Abilene, are looking for solutions to improve the quantity and awareness of available treatment options.

Statistics on Substance Abuse in Abilene, TX

One of the main issues in Abilene is that it is the worst in the state with regards to child abuse and neglect. In many cases, this is strongly linked to substance abuse. Furthermore, figures surrounding levels of drug abuse between 2012 and 2016 have gotten progressively worse, with increasingly high numbers of people needing treatment.

If you currently have a drug or alcohol problem, help is available for you in Abilene, TX. You could consider, for instance:

• The Abilene Regional Council
• The Serenity Foundation of Texas
• The Addiction Hope Treatment Program

Getting Help for a Drug and Alcohol Problem in Abilene, TX

People who are in the grips of an addiction are usually in strong denial about having such a serious problem. So much so, in fact, that they will rarely seek out help themselves. Instead, they either hit rock bottom or they have been urged to go through some sort of intervention that shows them that they cannot continue living that way. At that point when they finally accept that they need treatment, they must start with a period of detox.

During the detox process, the body becomes clean and the physical addiction is broken. This is a highly uncomfortable period, characterized by strong withdrawal symptoms that can be hard to manage. Due to the increased risk of overdose if the patient returns to substance abuse at this point, it is vital that detox is done under medical supervision.

After the physical addiction has been broken, there is the mental addiction that is still in place. It takes lengthy and intensive counseling and therapy to be able to move on from this. Treatment is offered in inpatient or outpatient rehab, where patients take part in individual and group counseling. If at all possible, family therapy is also provided, during which time people can mend broken relationships and rebuild their support network. Rehab usually takes at least 30 days, although longer treatment may also be recommended. Every addiction story is unique, and so is every treatment plan.

Following rehab, recovering patients must be offered an aftercare program. Again, this must be tailored to their specific needs. It can be as intensive as moving into a sober living facility with regular but random drug tests, to something as simple as having someone to call if the going gets tough. Relapse is a common part of recovery, and aftercare programs are designed to minimize the impact of relapse and, eventually, even help to avoid it completely.