Connecticut Addiction Treatment Resources
Connecticut has a population of over 3 million people, ranking it the most-populated state in the United States. Hartford, the capital, and four other cities have populations with over 100,000 residents. Although only ranked 48th in geographical size, it is one of the country’s most densely populated areas and one of the original 13 colonies. Known for its harbors, beaches, and historic sites, Connecticut is also recognized for its education and healthcare systems.
Unfortunately, even this recognition for its focus on the welfare of its citizens has not exempted the state from the substance use problem sweeping the nation. 94% of deaths involved an opioid (fentanyl, heroin, or prescription opioid pain reliever). Fentanyl, an opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, has become an explosive issue, and the problem is growing quickly. Like other places in the U.S., addiction to alcohol and other substances is also widespread.
Despite being now labeled as an illness, substance use, which is as prevalent in the small towns and suburbs as in the cities, still carries a stigma. Connecticut is working to provide education, resources, and support to those struggling with drug and alcohol problems. Like heart disease or diabetes, addiction is a chronic illness that doctors can treat.
Getting Help in Connecticut
The Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) promotes three core values: compassion, genuineness, and professionalism. It also encourages agencies to treat patients with fairness and integrity. Various treatment options are available to residents of the state and to residents of other states who want to leave their triggers behind and focus on recovering in a new setting.
Addiction is a progressive, relapsing disorder that gets worse over time if not treated. Behaviors include compulsive actions, loss of control, and continued use of a substance regardless of the consequences. The misuse of alcohol, legal or illegal drugs, and tobacco is the leading cause of early death, disabilities, and preventable conditions in the U.S.
Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Connecticut Cities
Granite Recovery Centers
The philosophy of DMHAS is to help individuals in recovery gain skills for living a meaningful life and contribute positively to their communities. The department also believes that recovery stems from hope and can happen in various ways, including from support by peers and friends, social networks, and personal relationships. Other concepts for growth include addressing trauma, promoting respect, and involving the community.
At Granite Recovery Center, we focus on meeting you where you are and helping you get where you want to go. We know that every person is different, and we tailor our treatment to suit the plan that works best for you. Here are some ways we can help:
Residential Treatment Centers
Residential treatment centers provide the most intensive programs for those in recovery. Individuals struggling with alcohol or drugs enter on an inpatient basis. There, they sleep, eat, and live for varying lengths of time, ranging from a few weeks to a year, depending on the needs of the person and the severity of the addiction. Besides necessary medication, counseling, and support, residents may receive other services, such as computer training or GED classes, to make the next step easier when they leave the facility.
Partial Hospitalization Programs
The partial hospitalization program is a little less intense than inpatient treatment. These programs permit patients to spend the day in treatment and return to their homes and families at night. Sometimes inpatients transition to this level of treatment to get additional support to ease their re-entry into the outside world. This plan also suits people who want help with rehab and recovery but who can’t attend inpatient rehab or who need less support and guidance.
Outpatient Treatment Programs
Outpatient treatment programs are less rigorous than inpatient or partial hospitalization, but this concept works well for people who can’t be a part of involved treatment plans or for those who need less help to deal with their substance use. People who have graduated from either inpatient or outpatient treatment, or from both, may also choose an outpatient program to monitor their success and to help them maintain their sobriety.
Sober Living Houses
Sober living homes provide residents with a place where they can live and get well in the company of other people who are trying to achieve the same goals and who can provide mutual support.
Aftercare Programs
Aftercare programs help to prevent relapse and encourage recovery by providing group meetings, long-range guidance, 24/7 telephone support, and group events for participants.
What to Look for in a Treatment Facility
An article in U.S. News and World Report lists six steps to take when choosing a drug treatment program:
- Talk to a medical and/or mental health professional and ask for an assessment and recommendation.
- Make sure the facility can deal with co-existing conditions, such as PTSD in veterans.
- Research rehab treatments before deciding if the treatment they offer is best for you.
- Find out if the center uses prescription medication to treat addiction or if it uses an abstinence model.
- Look for centers that have been in business for several years and that have a good track record.
- Don’t assume expensive programs or luxurious facilities will always have the best care.
Choosing a medical facility with a philosophy and a treatment plan that fits your personality and belief system will make the process easier and will improve your chances of success. Another important factor is your insurance plan. Always check with your provider to see what benefits you qualify for and how much they will cover.
Why People Choose Granite Recovery Centers
Green Mountain Treatment Center sits on a wide tract of land overlooking peaceful New Hampshire lakes and the White Mountains. With separate programs for women and men, it features a team of clinicians who specialize in individual therapy, experimental and specialty therapy, small process groups, motivational interviewing, trauma therapy, and DBT and CBT modalities.
Medical detox operates on the principle that addiction and dependence occur over long periods of time, affecting organs during addiction and withdrawal. Trained and licensed professional staff members help patients cope with unpleasant effects of withdrawal that accompany medical detoxification.
Group therapy, an integral part of recovery, reduces the isolation and the fear that patients sometimes experience in individual therapy by giving them a chance to learn from others.
New Freedom Academy, also located in tranquil New Hampshire, is a 20-bed facility where clinicians lead men and women through the first stages of recovery and help them with their fears and anxiety. It also provides a lower client-to-clinician ratio and a closer working environment with care providers than what is available at most other facilities. Participants in the residential treatment program incorporate holistic activities like meditation, yoga, and physical exercise into their daily routines.
When Your Loved One Doesn’t Want Help
If you’re concerned about a loved one who is in denial about his or her addiction, you may need to take the first step. An intervention is a well-planned meeting, usually with a medical or mental health professional or an experienced intervention specialist and family and friends. Allow each person to describe behaviors that have hurt him or her personally or that have hurt the addict. The group then presents a plan for action, followed by individual statements of the consequences if the behavior continues.
While interventions can be helpful, they can also make situations worse when they are not carefully executed. Someone must be available for support to help the person get into treatment and to discourage relapse afterward. It’s also important not to include participants who are critical of the recovery process or unwilling to offer support. Likewise, everyone must be willing to follow through with consequences if the addict refuses help.
Help Is Available
The first step to a successful recovery is admitting that help is needed and being willing to ask for it. Granite Recovery Centers knows how to lead the way.
Directions from Hartford
Green Mountain Treatment Center is located in Effingham, NH and is the premier inpatient drug rehab in New England, commutable from most points including Connecticut. Our residential rehab and detox center provides a mountainside respite from the city, while still conveniently accessible by car ride (approximately 3.5 hours). NFA Behavioral Health (Canterbury, N.H.) provides another option for inpatient drug rehabilitation (but on a smaller scale) in the mountains of bucolic New Hampshire, and is also only approximately 2.5 hours from many Connecticut points. We also have NFA Behavioral Health in Salem, which is a partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient program. This facility hosts multiple clinical, evidence-based tracks for substance use disorder and mental health conditions.
If you have questions about our drug rehabilitation centers near Connecticut, please reach out at (855) 712-7784. We can help.
