Addiction or dependence on a substance is an acutely complex area of mental health. Luckily, there are plenty of substance abuse counselors and rehabs in Kentucky to help you start down the road to recovery.
While any form of addiction is treatable, you’ll likely need some type of professional help if you’re suffering from substance abuse disorder.
Counseling is a central part of ongoing therapy for substance abuse issues. Today, we’ll outline just some of the different therapies you might find with various Kentucky rehabs. Firstly, though, how can you tell if you’re running into problems with drink or drugs?
What Are The Warning Signs Of Substance Abuse?
Picking up on drug and alcohol abuse outside of a clinical setting and defining it can be tough. By that, we mean that different people view drinking and using drugs in different ways.
For some, using any kind of illegal drug or even alcohol with the primary purpose of altering your consciousness constitutes abuse.
Others consider abuse to be characterized by a raft of negative consequences including any of the following:
- Blackouts
- Illness
- Impulsive spending habits
- Legal problems springing from drinking (DUI, auto accidents)
- Letting your social and professional obligations slide
- Loss of interest in regular activities
- Memory loss
- Physical injury
- Relationship problems
The above warning signs are disturbing but how does someone move from simple abuse to addiction and dependence?
Signs That Abuse Is Turning Into Addiction
The more you use a substance, the more likely it is tolerance will build. You’ll need more of the drug to achieve the same high. Not only does this cost you more, but you’ll also cause exponentially more damage to mind and body.
Whether it’s physical or psychological dependence, there are some commons signs that abuse could be turning into addiction.
Here are some classic manifestations of chemical dependence:
- Avoiding everyday activities
- Binging on drugs for hours or even days on end
- Constant need for the substance throughout the day
- Dismissing any signs of concern from loved ones
- Failure to meet obligations
- Feeling unable to quit using the substance
- Hiding drug use from friends and family
- Increased tolerance so you need to consume more of the drug to get the same effect
- Searching out the company of drug users while severing social ties with non-users
- Withdrawal symptoms without the presence of the substance
So far, so good. How about a formal definition, then?
We have recently been looking in great detail at alcohol use disorder. See if you’re one of the 17 million Americans with AUD in our look at the stages of alcoholism.
DSM-5 (fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) recognizes substance abuse disorders stemming from 10 classes of drugs:
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Cannabis
- Hallucinogens
- Hypnotics
- Inhalants
- Opioids
- Sedatives
- Stimulants
- Tobacco
An active use or dependency on any of these substances is expressed as substance use disorder. You can check out the criteria right here based on the same 11 questions posed to someone suspected of having alcohol use disorder.
If you or a loved one find yourself in the grips of drug abuse, dependency, and addiction, what can you do?
Luckily, while the road to recovery is seldom straightforward, there’s plenty of help out there in the form of rehabs in Kentucky with substance abuse counselors ready to point you back on the straight and narrow.
Therapy Can Help You Overcome Addiction
To maximize your chances of success, look for a counselor specializing in addiction and recovery. A specialist will virtually always be more effective than a generalist.
To begin with, a counselor will help you overcome initial cravings and struggles by setting you challenging but attainable goals. This usually follows medical detox.
Once you are sober and your body is free of the toxins, your therapist can guide you to explore the cause of your addiction. Knowing why you habitually use drugs can be invaluable when you want to leave them alone.
Coping strategies will help you when you’re faced with inevitable cravings for your drug of choice. Substance abuse counselors can also help you to set long-term goals so you remain motivated as you stay sober. This part of therapy typically involves getting you to accept full responsibility for your actions while simultaneously releasing any guilt you feel. You’ll also get some assistance when it comes to rebuilding shattered relationships.
From cognitive behavioral therapy to motivational interviewing along with supplemental support from self-help groups, you can pursue a broad spread of effective therapies as an outpatient. Residential rehab is normally a wiser bet if you’re seriously addicted to drugs. We’re happy to offer all this and more at Landmark Recovery.
Substance Abuse Counselors: Different Modalities Of Treatment
When you’re looking for help from rehabs in Kentucky, you’ve got a range of options at your disposal.
We won’t be breaking down every type of therapy but we’ll double down now on several different treatment modalities by category.
Behavioral Therapies
US treatment centers make the most use of behavioral therapies.
With behavioral therapy, you’ll learn how to better understand the reasons for your risky behavior while developing sound tools to help you cope with triggers and temptations.
Some of the most common behavioral therapies include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- The Matrix Model
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) helps you to focus on reducing the problematic behaviors that come hand-in-glove with substance use disorder.
One of the prevailing themes of CBT is assessing when risky situations are developing then using coping strategies like self-control or avoidance to minimize the chance of relapse.
CBT is widely used by substance abuse counselors to treat a range of addictions including:
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- Marijuana
- Methamphetamine
- Nicotine
The toolbox of skills you’ll acquire through CBT will help you to recognize then change poor behaviors, and also to deal with the problem at its very source.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Do you have problems regulating your emotions?
Have you ever considered self-harm? How about suicidal thoughts?
If so, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can be a highly effective form of therapy. You’ll learn how to accept uncomfortable thoughts, behaviors, and feelings.
You’ll also practice relaxation techniques – yoga, for example – so you become increasingly aware of your thoughts and emotions. By developing stronger and more controlled breathing along with muscle relaxation, you’ll find it much easier to cope with destructive thoughts and cravings for your drug of choice.
DBT is a therapy proven to treat multiple disorders that co-occur with addiction such as:
- Eating disorders
- Mood disorders
- Personality disorders
- Self-destructive behavior
The Matrix Model
Commonly used to help treat stimulant addiction, the Matrix Model is a framework that should help you to achieve and maintain abstinence. This modality is typically used for patients struggling with cocaine addiction or meth addiction.
If your counselor makes use of the Matrix Model, they’ll be drawing on a range of tried-and-true therapies designed to safeguard against relapse.
You can expect your therapist to encourage your family to get involved. Sessions include the use of worksheets and manuals. Your therapist will play the combined role of coach and teacher.
Be aware that the Matrix Model involves drug testing.
Motivational Therapies
After behavioral therapies, motivational therapies are the second most popular form of treatment in US rehab centers.
You’ll learn to find the motivation within required to sustain long-term sobriety.
Motivational therapies routinely incentivize sobriety. It’s commonplace to undergo this form of treatment alongside behavioral therapies.
Here are the most popular forms of motivational therapy:
- Community Reinforcement
- Contingency Management and Motivational Incentives
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy
Community Reinforcement
The community reinforcement approach (CRA) is most frequently used in an outpatient setting.
You can expect:
- Family rewards
- Recreational rewards
- Social rewards
- Vouchers
Research shows that CRA can help with addiction to:
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- Opioids
CRA typically lasts for 6 months with individual counseling sessions once or twice weekly.
During these sessions you will:
- Build social support networks
- Develop hobbies
- Learn skills to minimize substance abuse
- Pursue vocational counseling
You can expect twice-weekly drug tests with a negative test rewarded with vouchers.
The goal of CRA is to help you stay sober with the skills in place to enjoy long-term recovery.
Contingency Management And Motivational Incentives
Contingency management and motivational incentive approaches can help you to reinforce positive behavior with clear-cut rewards.
These therapies usually supplement other modalities in an attempt to strengthen your defenses against addiction.
Contingency management along with motivational incentives can help you to stop using:
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- Marijuana
- Methamphetamine
- Nicotine
- Prescription stimulant pills
Vouchers are used to reward abstinence. If your drug screen comes back clear, you’ll get vouchers for food, retail goods, and movies.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy
Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) is a type of motivational interviewing intended for substance abuse.
MET helps to allay your doubts and uncertainties about treatment in general and stopping drug use in particular.
Instead of teaching you how to change, the underlying goal of MET is to gently encourage change.
Many studies have shown MET works well if you’re addicted to:
- Alcohol
- Marijuana
- Nicotine
Following an initial assessment, you’ll receive up to four counseling sessions. After eliciting motivational statements from you, your therapist will help you to better cope with dangerous situations.
While undeniably effective, MET should not be your sole approach to treatment.
12-Step Therapy Programs
Your therapist might well suggest you engage in a 12-step recovery program like Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous.
These programs work if you’re struggling with addiction to:
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamine
- Opioids
To successfully participate in a 12-step program you’ll need to:
- Admit you have no control over the disease of addiction
- Surrender yourself to a higher power. Note: This does not need to be a formal religion but can be any higher power you desire
- Actively take part in group meetings
Finding Rehab In Kentucky
If you’re laboring with substance use disorder and you’re considering a Kentucky rehab, Landmark Recovery has a broad spread of treatment modalities for you to choose from.
You’ll generally start of with medically-assisted detox to help you get through the initial stage where you could experience severe withdrawal symptoms.
If you proceed with residential treatment, you’re likely to undertake CBT or some other form of behavioral therapy.
Once you’ve finished up your program, you might then move to an outpatient program while attending support groups.
No two journeys to sobriety are the same so what should you do when you’re ready to change?
What To Do Next
Here at Landmark Recovery, we’ve got state-of-the-art facilities in Kentucky to help you down the road to lasting sobriety. If you or a loved one are looking for rehabs in Kentucky, call us today at 888-448-0302. We’ll be happy to let you know how our qualified and caring substance abuse counselors can work with you to maximize your chances of sustained sobriety.
Choose Recovery Over Addiction
We're here 24/7 to help you get the care you need to live life on your terms, without drugs or alcohol. Talk to our recovery specialists today and learn about our integrated treatment programs.
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