For those battling an addiction to drugs or alcohol, the decision to get sober is an important milestone on the road to recovery. However, quitting drugs or alcohol leads to questions about the best way to achieve that goal. The options can range from professional drug detox programs, quitting drugs at home with professional support, or even quitting drugs cold turkey.
Michael’s House has provided treatment and support to individuals struggling with substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health issues for over thirty years. Call 760.548.4032 to learn how we can help.
Detox May Be the First Step to Quitting Drugs and Alcohol
Many people start their journey of quitting drugs or alcohol with detox, which is the process of removing these substances from the body and experiencing the initial withdrawal symptoms.
For many drugs, including alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opiates, this step should only be done under the supervision of a medical professional. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and even deadly if not properly monitored and managed, so it’s not something you should attempt to do on your own.
If you’re considering quitting, talk to a medical professional about your options for detox before you try doing it on your own. Even if you plan not to do inpatient rehab, detox might be something you’ll need to do at that type of treatment center.
Alternatives to Rehab
Once you’ve figured out the detoxification process, there are many options for recovery that don’t involve going to an inpatient treatment center. Some of these options include the following:
Meetings
One of the most well-known options for people getting sober is attending local sober support meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), or other similar 12-step programs. These meetings are usually held weekly at public buildings like churches or schools, and though they may vary in format, they often follow the same general rules and guidelines.
Alcoholics Anonymous and its sister programs are intentional about ensuring that any member will feel comfortable walking into any meeting around the world. Meetings may be open or closed and address a specific population, and topics and specifics may vary, but the overall format remains consistent.
These meetings are a safe space for people in recovery to be around others in their shoes, hear and tell individual stories, successes, and failures, and have a robust support system around them on their road to sobriety. They usually follow a 12-step program, so you will intentionally walk through recovery with the group.
Therapy
Individual counseling or therapy is another way to work toward recovery from alcohol or drug addiction. Therapy will help you get to the underlying issues contributing to drug use, including any mental health issues you may have. Many who struggle with addiction also struggle with some mental health conditions as well, and if both aren’t treated, recovery from either will be much more difficult.
Therapy offers many benefits, including:
- Improved self-awareness and understanding of triggers that lead to substance use
- Increased coping skills and strategies to manage cravings or difficult emotions without using substances
- Strengthened connections with supportive family members, friends, or others in recovery who can provide encouragement and guidance on the journey toward sobriety
- Greater insight into underlying mental health issues that may be contributing to the substance use disorder, allowing you to develop a tailored treatment plan for long-term success in recovery
Therapy can give you insight into the nature of your addiction and tools for achieving and maintaining sobriety. The more you know about your addiction, the easier it will be to overcome it.
An Outpatient Treatment Center
If you cannot go to inpatient rehab but are looking for something more intensive than individual therapy, an outpatient program may be the perfect middle-ground for you. Such programs offer many of the same benefits and treatments as an inpatient treatment center but allow them to be consolidated into a few hours daily.
Outpatient programs often include a combination of group and individual therapy and teach valuable skills for recovery and relapse prevention. While the flexibility can be a great benefit, one drawback is that aside from the daily sessions, you may still be living the same life you lived before you were sober. This can make it tough to stay on track with your sobriety.
Fortunately, many outpatient programs connect with sober living homes where you can also live during treatment. These homes can provide a positive, sober environment for people to live in while they attempt to establish or maintain a sober lifestyle. Most of them are financed through fees from residents and allow people to stay as long as they like. The homes can range in terms of structure and requirements, so look around to find one that fits your specific needs and preferences.
Quitting Drugs “Cold Turkey”
You’ve probably heard the term “cold turkey,” which means suddenly stopping using a substance without outside help. For most people, quitting drugs or alcohol cold turkey is virtually impossible, and as mentioned above, detoxification can be extremely dangerous without proper supervision.
Contact Michael’s House for Addiction Support
Whether inpatient or outpatient, several hours a day or a few days a week, professional treatment offers many benefits for anyone trying to get sober.
A treatment center like Michael’s House offers integrated and evidence-based treatment methods that address the whole person and their unique needs. Michael’s House’s emphasis on co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions allows people to address any underlying issues that may contribute to substance use.
We offer both inpatient and outpatient programs for alcohol and drug addiction as well as mental health issues, with personally tailored programs aimed at meeting the specific needs of the individual. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, contact us at 760.548.4032 or reach out to us online.
