South Portland Addiction Treatment Resources

South Portland features a long history built on shipping, fishing and building ships. Getting to know this city means starting at the water. For example, Bug Light Park, which is named after the lighthouse that guards it, is known as the site where 30,000 workers turned out 244 Liberty ships during World War II. The shipyard was decommissioned at the end of the war, but it led to a significant boost to the region. Today, the city is part of the Greater Portland region in Maine, and it’s filled to the brim with recreational opportunities.

Unfortunately, the Pine Tree State suffers from an epidemic of drug and alcohol addiction, and South Portland is no different. 480 drug overdose deaths occurred in Maine in 2019, and 14% occurred in South Portland. It’s believed that Maine suffers harder than most other states because opioids and narcotics are easily accessible in the region.

As the epidemic worsens, it’s becoming clear to many drug-addicted Mainers that it’s time to seek treatment before it’s too late.

How and Why to Get Help for Drug Addiction

Most people who struggle with substance use disorder also struggle with another physical or mental health concern, including either short-term or chronic issues. It’s also likely that their loved ones are struggling to deal with the addiction.

Before a person can admit that there is a problem to treat, it’s important to know how to recognize the symptoms of drug dependency as well as how to seek help for obtaining sobriety. Further, it’s important for friends, family members and other loved ones to have some time to heal, too.

Symptoms of Alcohol or Drug Dependency

A person who struggles with addiction to drugs or alcohol may exhibit several symptoms that are evident to others, including:

• Being intoxicated with increasing frequency
• Struggling with memory and cognitive function
• Developing problems with school or work, possibly dropping out or losing a job
• Sleeping irregular hours, sleeping more frequently or otherwise being lethargic, tired and unwell
• Stealing valuables or money to buy more drugs
• Only agreeing to attend a social event if alcohol or drugs are available
• Getting intoxicated to make a social event easier to handle
• Avoiding social functions specifically to use drugs or drink alcohol
• Becoming sad or angry when asked about drug use
• Showing poor hygiene and a neglected appearance

It’s also important to note that those who struggle with an addiction behave differently when sober compared to when they’re intoxicated. Under the influence, someone dependent on a drug may take serious risks with their own life, or they may otherwise say or do hurtful things. Loved ones worry about the potential disaster of these behavioral problems.

Top Reasons Help Isn’t Sought

Until they’re ready to get help, someone who struggles with an active addiction will do whatever they can to avoid treatment. The disease excels at rationalizing decisions and creating fake scenarios that disguise the reality that hurts too much. An addicted mind does whatever it can to distract from real-world problems, up to and including convincing a person that no help is needed. The truth is that they’re in denial, avoiding shame or scared.

Denial

Addiction thrives most freely when the mind is in denial. By its very nature, addiction cloaks the mind and keeps a person from realizing the source of their problems. Even if they realize that the world is driving them to harmful behaviors, and even if they know that turning to drugs and alcohol is not the best way to cope, they may still not realize that drugs and alcohol are the main cause of the problems they’re dealing with now.

For example, a person may use drugs after losing their job and believing that their boss was a wicked person who wanted to show off their own power, but the drug user may not realize that their addiction put them in a position to lose their job in the first place. Rather than seeing the drug as a problem, someone suffering from addiction sees it as a relief.

Shame

Even once the barrier of denial has passed, many people dealing with an addiction struggle with shame due to the well-known stigma of addiction and rehab. Shame is a very powerful emotion that causes great pain, which not only makes it a barrier to getting help, but it also can further drive someone to drug usage, especially if the person begins to believe that it is not worth anyone’s time to treat them, leading to the belief that there is no reason to stop drugs now.

Fear

The thought of having to go to rehab creates a true, palpable fear in some people of what the process may entail. After all, recovery is not a quick test one passes and gets over; it’s a lifelong commitment that requires a person to choose sobriety daily. It is a physically and emotionally demanding process to detox, and it takes courage and determination to enter a rehab facility at all. Therapy further unearths feelings that were buried deep years ago, which can add a whole new dimension of pain and difficulty to someone who is no longer able to turn to drugs to numb the feeling.

All of this fear is multiplied for someone who has previously gone through rehab but has since relapsed and become dependent on a drug. They fear that they’ve already let their loved ones down too far, and they may fear that they’ll be let down themselves.

Types of Treatment Near South Portland

In South Portland, Maine, and its surrounding areas, there are several types of addiction treatment interventions, therapies and programs to treat substance use disorder and co-occurring conditions. Some forms of treatment are traditional methods, like cognitive behavioral therapy, and others are more holistic and focus on the entire person. These complementary treatments include yoga, meditation and other practices.

Inpatient Centers

At a residential rehab center, South Portlanders can live at the facility for at least 30 days and up to a year. As a 24/7 patient, a client has access to various resources throughout the day and night. These arrangements allow residents to leave their real-world worries behind and focus exclusively on recovering from addiction by physically keeping them away from normal stressors.

These facilities often operate out of picturesque campuses intended to promote recovery, healing and quiet reflection. They’re staffed with licensed, caring professionals with experience treating drug and alcohol addiction. Peers who also live in the facility provide a consistent, relatable source of support.

Outpatient Centers

Those who cannot take the time off work or school to live in an inpatient facility for several months can access outpatient care facilities. As these programs provide many of the same services that their inpatient counterparts do, outpatient facilities are also a good choice for those transitioning back to real-life settings after living at the clinic. The services provided by outpatient facilities include counseling, which may be in a group or individual format. Clients can also usually access additional mental health services.

Though both outpatient and inpatient clinics can treat drug and alcohol addiction, the former is best for those who do not suffer from a severe form of dependency on a substance. Because patients don’t have to live at the facility for outpatient treatment, such programs tend to cost less. This makes them the practical choice for those who cannot afford a stay at a residential clinic and whose insurance will not cover the cost.

It is also important to note that outpatient programs vary in duration and frequency between facilities. Some clinics require their clients to attend several hours of treatment each week, and others only expect to see patients once or twice a week for quick follow-ups.

Behavioral Therapy

Regardless of the choice between inpatient and outpatient rehab, both types of facilities commonly provide behavioral therapy. This treatment gives patients the space to change their attitudes and learned behavior concerning drugs, improve their skills with healthier coping methods and safely undergo other forms of treatment.

Evidence-Based Programs

Because addiction is such a complicated disease with extensive consequences, there are many facets involved in treating it. Some components focus exclusively on stopping the use of the substance. Other services include employment training, giving patients the ability to return to the workforce and become productive members of their family and society.

These evidence-based programs allow patients to become aware of the situations that might cause them to relapse. To combat these triggers, patients are taught other ways to cope with the stress of dealing with those otherwise unavoidable situations, and practicing these methods promotes healthier habits.

Maine also offers several medication drop boxes for disposal to help curb the problem of substance addiction.

Type of Rehab Facility

Those who suffer from more severe forms of substance use disorder often require partial hospitalization or otherwise costly inpatient treatment. Other people can manage their normal life schedule with the help of an outpatient facility, and that method costs much less. In either case, an admissions counselor can help figure out which method of treatment will provide the best chance of recovery for each patient. Though money may be a concern for many, it’s also important to get treatment in the right setting to prevent relapse and the long-term costs associated with it.

Location of Rehab

Clients who need to get as far away from real life as possible for recovery can look into luxury drug rehabs for a total change of scenery. Many rehabs are isolated in the mountains or overlook the ocean, and they allow residents to engage in holistic programs and recreational amenities. Of course, the more amenities a rehab offers, the more it will cost to attend. There are local, government-aided rehabs that cost little-to-no out-of-pocket costs to the client, but many of these facilities have waiting lists.

Green Mountain Treatment Center

Operated by Granite Recovery Centers, Green Mountain Treatment Center offers a residential inpatient treatment program based on the 12-Step Program. The facility offers 75 beds to men and women 18 and older who undergo traditional evidence-based therapies along with additional holistic programs, such as meditation and yoga. Located in serene New Hampshire, the rural facility provides buffet-style meals and an onsite gym that residents can access at all hours.

Specialties

• 12-Step Program: Clients complete daily AA or NA work as each personalized treatment is based heavily on the 12-Step Program. Likewise, all therapy sessions follow guidelines from “The Big Book.”
• Detox: Licensed professionals supervise patients who require monitored detox either with or without medication.
• Dual Diagnosis: After the initial assessment, the onsite medical staff can examine the patient and dual-diagnose another disorder that may be present, such as bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety. These issues often occur alongside addiction to a substance, and the diagnosis allows staff to personalize addiction treatment going forward.

New Freedom Academy

Another Granite Recovery Center facility, New Freedom Academy is a smaller campus located in Canterbury, New Hampshire. Treatment here is accessible to South Portland, Maine, residents.

New Freedom Academy provides adults 18+ with gender-specific treatment based on the 12-Step Program. Like its sister facility, New Freedom Academy employs a team of experienced medical professionals for round-the-clock care, including nurses, psychiatrists, licensed drug counselors, clinicians and recovery support staff.

In addition to traditional evidence-based therapies, clients have access to EMDR, adventure-based therapy, 12-step meetings, life skill classes, yoga and continuing care planning.

Getting help for drug addiction in South Portland is possible today.