Lowell Addiction Treatment Resources
Lowell is tucked into the northeastern corner of Massachusetts in Middlesex County. It’s home to the Lowell National Historic Park, the Whistler House Museum of Art and the Boott Cotton Mills Museum. When Lowell residents aren’t strolling through picturesque New England parks, they might be found cheering on the River Hawks at Tsongas Center or attending live concerts at Lowell Memorial Auditorium.
Although it has many attractions, with more than 100,000 residents, the city is also experiencing a growing epidemic with drug and alcohol misuse. In the 2017 fiscal year, more than 2,000 people received alcohol and drug treatment services in Lowell. More than 2,800 people were admitted to Lowell inpatient drug treatment centers during that same fiscal year. Most patients were between the ages of 26 and 50, and most were unemployed at the time of admittance.
Heroin is the primary drug used in the Lowell area. More than 55% of inpatient residents identified it as their primary drug in 2017. Alcohol is the second leading drug of choice with more than 30% of inpatient residents identifying it as their primary addiction.
If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin dependence, excessive alcohol use or misuse of any other substance, now is the time to reach out for help. If you haven’t discussed your addiction with family and friends or it has become a family secret that no one wants to talk about, understand that you can get better if you take that first step by admitting you have a problem that you can’t solve alone.
Substance abuse is a disease that is spreading across the country and around the world. You aren’t alone in your struggle, and there are resources that can help you safely and permanently recover from drug and alcohol use.
Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers
Once you open up and let someone know that you need help overcoming an addiction, it’s time to look into the many detox and treatment centers available in the Lowell area. While the city of Lowell has limited options for inpatient treatment programs, there are highly effective drug and alcohol treatment centers available in nearby cities, including some just north in New Hampshire.
Whether you want to stay close to home or you decide that getting a clean start somewhere new will do you good, you have the following drug and alcohol treatment options in the Lowell area.
Drug and Alcohol Detox Centers
Medical detoxification is a short-term program designed to clear drugs and alcohol from your system. These programs deal specifically with physical dependence and aren’t adequate to ensure sobriety in the long term. The goal is to safely work through the initial withdrawal symptoms that naturally occur when you stop using a substance on which your body has come to depend. Granite Recovery Centers provides medical detoxification for people who do not need immediate medical intervention, are not a danger to themselves, and are capable of self-evacuation in the event of an emergency.
Detox programs of 90 days or longer are the most effective, and you should move immediately into a long-term treatment program upon completion. There are Lowell detox programs that cater to specific substances, including heroin and alcohol.
Are you tempted to detox alone or under the supervision of a loved one? That may seem like the easiest, fastest and most affordable solution, but it isn’t the best option for your long-term sobriety. Medical detoxification programs ensure your safety while allowing you to transition smoothly into a long-term care program to lower your risk of relapse.
Drug and Alcohol Outpatient Services
Once you successfully detox, you may choose an outpatient treatment service if there are obstacles that prevent you from entering an inpatient treatment program. You will work directly with trained professionals who have valuable resources to guide you toward a lifetime of sobriety, but you will have the ability to live at home full-time. Some programs also incorporate group therapy and alternative treatments that may reduce your risk of relapse.
Outpatient treatment programs aren’t as structured or supervised as inpatient programs. They require more motivation, determination and accountability on your part. Make sure you have a strong and well-informed support network at home if you decide to seek this type of treatment.
Note that some outpatient programs are designed for people who have already completed a rehab program. They’re designed more for maintenance and ongoing support than developing a strong foundation of recovery after detox. Communicating openly with program administrators will ensure that you use the right services at the right time in your road to recovery.
Drug and Alcohol Inpatient Treatment Services
Inpatient treatment programs allow you to live within the treatment facility along with other people working toward recovery. You’ll benefit from a structured environment with immediate access to trained professionals who understand addiction and recovery. You may also make lifelong friends with people who understand your journey firsthand.
While you may still need to deal with some aspects of life outside the treatment facility while you’re a patient, you will have less stress than you would with an outpatient program. You’ll learn how to live according to a schedule that makes your daily life more predictable and easier to manage. The length of inpatient programs can vary, and many centers will personalize your program to your individual needs.
Drug and Alcohol Partial Hospitalization Programs
Think of partial hospitalization as a middle ground between inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. You spend your days immersed in the treatment environment while returning home in the evening. You may consider that an alternative to inpatient services if you have a family you cannot completely leave for months at a time.
Partial hospitalization is also a step-down option after you complete an inpatient program. It gives you more support than going directly home with a less structured outpatient program.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers
Look for a dual diagnosis treatment center in the Lowell area if you have a diagnosed medical or mental health condition that coexists with your addiction. These secondary diagnoses may or may not be directly related to or a result of your addiction, but it’s important to receive treatment for all of your issues simultaneously. Mental health conditions are the most common dual diagnosis focus because they have a direct impact on the recovery process and vice versa.
Selecting a Alcohol and Drug Rehab Center
Alcohol and drug treatment centers are now more specialized than ever. There are gender-specific programs that may allow you to feel more comfortable discussing sensitive topics. Other programs offer wilderness immersion so that you heal and grow through nature. You may also select a treatment option that is specific to the substance you no longer want to use. Family-focused programs are also available.
Use the following checklist to make sure you consider every factor involved in selecting the right Lowell rehab center:
- Location – Some people find it helpful to break from the location of their addition, starting fresh in a new city or state. Others need to stay close to home to benefit from their established support system. You should also consider the environment within each optional facility if you choose an inpatient rehab program. Some programs are more structured than others. The outdoor scenery and living space can vary as well.
- Holistic vs. Clinical Programs – Traditional rehab centers will offer individual and group therapy, but you can now benefit from centers that offer a more holistic approach. Perhaps you would benefit from exercise classes, art and craft sessions, meditation and time spent in the sweeping landscapes of beautiful New Hampshire or Massachusetts. The addition of simple programs like yoga and classroom education can make a significant difference in your rehab experience.
The ideal rehab center for you or your loved one will have the right blend of affordability, environmental compatibility and effective programming. You want to feel comfortable opening up about the details of your substance abuse and life within the treatment environment, so take the time to consider the pros and cons of each rehab center close to the Lowell area.
Tips for Successful Recovery
After you complete your drug and alcohol detox and rehab programs, you will eventually resume daily life from the comfort of your home. That allows you to continue relationships with friends and relatives while working, reaching life goals and implementing new skills that you learned in rehab. You’ll feel more independent and motivated for the future, but you should also remain aware of the pitfalls that come with the stress of daily life.
The more connections you have to the addiction recovery community, the less likely you are to stumble into a relapse. Use the following tips to settle into a life of sobriety in Lowell:
- Actively participate in local Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous programs, also known as AA and NA. You should attend meetings on a routine basis to maintain a focus on recovery. Attending events outside of traditional meetings may help you develop lasting friendships with other Lowell residents who are trying to make a difference in their lives.
- Continue the lifestyle habits that you developed while in rehab. For example, you may want to find yoga classes in Lowell if yoga or mediation was a part of your healing strategy while in recovery. The same applies for any dietary alterations, sleep habits and communication practices that you learned in detox and rehab.
- Take advantage of educational programs, workshops and 12-step meetings offered by your rehab center for program graduates. You may have completed the program, but many rehab centers will still consider you part of the family. They may offer occasional events or routine programs designed to keep you in touch with the professionals who helped you take those first steps into sobriety.
It takes time and effort to recover from substance use disorder. If you don’t have a strong network of support in your family and friends, take full advantage of the rehab resources available in your community. Venturing outside of Lowell to surrounding cities or into New Hampshire will extend your opportunities to connect with people and programs that can change your life.
Accepting that you cannot overcome your substance misuse issues alone is the first step down a fulfilling road to recovery. The second step is to connect with a detox program and commit to medical detoxification. You have a life of success and health ahead of you, and we encourage you to take these first two steps today.