Drug Addiction Treatments in Massachusetts

Choosing to seek help for drug addiction is the first and hardest step toward sobriety. If you or a loved one struggling with addiction know that the time is right for getting sober, then there are several quick drug addiction treatments in Massachusetts that can help you get back to living a healthy life. 

 

Residential Treatment

There are several short-term drug addiction treatment programs that each last up to 30 days. These programs provide acute care for people requiring intensive support to stop using drugs or alcohol. These Massachusetts drug addiction treatment services include:

 

• Acute Treatment Services (ATS)
• Transitional Support Services (TSS)

 

Acute Treatment Services

ATS encompasses detox programs that are monitored by medical professionals. Here, patients receive 24-hour nursing care, access to a medical director, and monitoring of withdrawal symptoms. 

 

People eligible for ATS must be 18 years or older and at risk for acute withdrawal from drugs or alcohol. Those at high risk include homeless individuals, intravenous drug users, pregnant people, and those with chronic medical conditions. 

 

Transitional Support Services

Sometimes, quick drug addiction treatment services in MA need to include a safe, structured living environment to help people continue their sobriety after detox has taken place. TSS serves people who have completed ATS and who feel (or their providers feel) they need additional support to continue recovery. 

 

To be eligible for ATS, one must be a legal adult and referred by a Massachusetts-funded ATS program, a homeless shelter, or a social worker. 

 

Long-Term Residential Treatment

Sometimes, even if a person has completed initial detox and treatment, longer-term support is necessary. For people who are recently sober, medically stable, and who desire a structured residential treatment program to continue their health journey, Massachusetts provides several options. These include:

 

• Recovery homes
• Social model homes
• Therapeutic communities
• Specialized residential services for women, families, and youth

 

Recovery homes are safe, sober residences that provide a structured, therapeutic environment for those recovering from their drug or alcohol addiction. The community is encouraged to interact with and support each other, and the staff provides ample resources, employment opportunities, and self-help groups. 

 

Therapeutic communities are highly structured—a level above recovery homes. Here, recovery is encouraged on the path of a structured program, and the residents take an active role in their treatment. Eventually, they become positive role models for new residents. 

 

The social model emphasizes the conjunction of case management, peer counseling, and a sober living environment. Residents help each other recover in a culture of support, positive modeling, and open dialogue. Social model residents are also expected to be active in their communities. 

 

Each of the above models has specialized care for pregnant and postpartum women and their babies, including access to doctors and medical appointments. However, there are also specialized residential services for women wanting care directed toward their particular situation. 

 

There are also specialized services for families—including homeless families—where the group can stay together while any number of them are recovering. Youth programs are targeted toward teens between 14 and 18 years old who need short-term residential care to strengthen their sobriety. These include counseling, educational and recreational programs, and medical and diagnostic services. To be eligible for this program, the teen must be experiencing life dysfunction because of their substance abuse. 

 

Prevention Options

Not only are there plenty of quick drug addiction treatments in MA, but there are also prevention services. Some of these include programs that provide education and healthcare resources to community residents, programs that focus on high-risk populations, and greater organizational coalitions that work with larger community systems. 

 

For example, the Massachusetts government supports Regional Centers for Healthy Communities (RCHCs), which address alcohol, tobacco, and drug use prevention through education and youth development programs. RCHC events and efforts target drug availability, community norms, and local and state regulations regarding drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. They work to change Massachusetts policies, support and strengthen law enforcement, provide education, and communicate with the citizens about the needs and realities of life. 

 

Conclusion

The Massachusetts government provides ample resources for those looking for drug addiction treatment in MA. No matter the person’s life stage, family dynamic, or type of drug addiction, there is a program available to detox, get sober, and maintain the journey toward a healthy life. Some programs do have eligibility requirements or need to have a referral from another program or healthcare professional, however, but there is always help available in some form. 

 

 

[author] [author_image timthumb='on']/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/img-ed-480x572.jpg[/author_image]  [author_info]Reviewed by Ed Lepage, Executive Director

Ed Lepage completed the drug and alcohol certificate program at the University of Massachusetts Boston and has been working in the substance abuse dependency field for the past seven years. He has also worked extensively in peer recovery-based programs offering “real-world experience” to those that suffer from substance use dependency. Full Bio [/author_info] [/author]