Substance use does not discriminate. Professionals such as lawyers, politicians, businessmen and women, doctors, and others in healthcare may find themselves struggling with drugs and alcohol. Drug and alcohol rehab programs tailored to professionals provide a higher level of care in a setting that is separate from people in treatment who aren’t professionals. To learn more about our professional rehab program, contact Vertava Health today at 844.470.0410.
Drug and Alcohol Treatment for Professionals
Addiction and substance use disorders can affect many different kinds of people, as substance use does not discriminate. Each year, millions of adults in the U.S. are affected by addiction or substance use, with more than one-third of those individuals also struggling with a co-occurring mental disorder.
Professionals, or people in professional positions in the workplace, are not exempt from addiction. The disease does not take into account a person’s social or work status, financial standing, or other economic factors. It impacts the lives of many people for a number of reasons.
People in professional positions, like those in the medical field or in higher business positions, have a lot of responsibilities. They also may endure quite a bit of stress daily and have an increased risk for substance misuse.
Repeated use of substances often leads to addiction, especially if the drug is already highly addictive. Once a professional becomes addicted, quitting substance use without the help of a formal treatment program can be difficult. Unfortunately, professionals may not be able to leave their position for an extended period of time to enter treatment.
However, many addiction treatment programs are available, including executive rehab programs or drug and alcohol treatment programs for professionals.
Addiction Treatment Programs for Professionals
Inpatient executive programs allow professionals to seek treatment in a private, secure environment while still working online or by phone as needed. However, they will receive the highest level of care in addiction treatment. Outpatient programs allow professionals to discreetly continue treatment after completing an inpatient program to ensure continued recovery success.
While there are many options for addiction treatment programs for professionals, the best will provide a number of components that are key to success in recovery, such as:
- Privacy
- Access to online work interaction
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Treatment from highly trained medical professionals
- Cooperation with a person’s workplace
- Intensive, highly focused short-term treatment
While the needs of each professional in addiction treatment may differ from those of the next, every person needs the skills and resources necessary to enter recovery.
Standard Addiction Treatment vs. Executive Addiction Treatment
Standard, inpatient addiction treatment programs are private by nature, with individuals attending treatment for a specified length of time. During treatment, they remain on-site at the drug and alcohol rehab center for the duration of treatment. They will also have limited access to friends, family members, and personal items.
Inpatient executive treatment programs tend to be even more private. Professionals need the insurance of an exclusive healing location and the secluded healing environment that allows for full immersion into addiction treatment.
Furthermore, many people entering an executive rehab program cannot simply walk away from their position for 30 days or more. Executive treatment allows professionals to log in online to participate in work duties when necessary while keeping the person remote so they can still focus the majority of their attention on healing.
Typically, rehab centers will allow access to work participation but encourage individuals to limit this participation and direct their attention to recovery. Such cooperation with a person’s workplace is not usually allowed in inpatient addiction treatment programs.
Most addiction treatment programs are intensive, but those for professionals are even more laser-focused. Professionals must accomplish the most comprehensive form of healing in a short time, so programs reflect this goal.
What Happens in an Executive Rehab Program?
Executive rehab programs often begin with detoxification. Some professionals may need medically supervised detoxification, as many have access to highly addictive drugs, particularly those professionals in the medical field.
Doctors may have access to some of the most addicting drugs in the industry, including benzodiazepines and prescription opioids. Times of high stress and workplace triggers may lead these individuals to recreationally use these drugs, which can quickly lead to dependence.
For those who need it, executive detoxification programs can help individuals taper off the use of such drugs and prepare for inpatient treatment. They will learn the skills and stress management techniques to manage addiction long-term. Medically supervised detox treats the physical aspects of addiction and should always be followed by a formal addiction treatment program.
How Long Does a Professional Rehab Program Take?
Inpatient executive rehab programs vary in length. The amount of time a professional will spend on treatment will usually be decided before treatment by a team of medical professionals, clinicians, and the patient.
Due to the higher level of treatment standards, seclusion, and numerous treatments offered, drug and alcohol treatment for professionals may be more costly than a standard inpatient program. However, many resources are in place to help a person secure treatment, including personal loans, private scholarships, and grants.
While some people may not be able to step away from work for longer than a few weeks, others may need long-term treatment to ensure a lasting recovery. Executive rehab programs help individuals get the treatment they need, at the pace they need, without sacrificing their personal lives in the process.
Once a person has completed detox and nears the end of their inpatient program, most drug rehab centers will provide them with local resources for aftercare, such as outpatient programs, access to alumni activities, and connections to foster a life of sobriety.
Which Treatments Are Used in an Executive Rehab Program?
In addition to access to work-related needs, such as phones, fax machines, and computers, people in executive rehab programs have access to a multitude of treatments for a comprehensive approach to recovery.
The exact types of treatments offered will vary by the professional rehab center, but some include:
- Adventure therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Life-skills courses
- Holistic treatments
- Family therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Wilderness therapy
Medications can be offered to help individuals taper off the use of drugs or to manage long-term withdrawal symptoms during treatment. This method is known as medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and is always paired alongside behavioral and other therapies for a well-rounded start to recovery.
Ultimately, an executive rehab program should help you get through withdrawal symptoms, learn to manage addiction, and acquire the skills needed to remain substance-free. Treatments used to accomplish these goals will depend on the individual and the rehab center they choose.
Keeping Your Job While Seeking Addiction Treatment
It may be appealing to a person in a professional position to look into outpatient programs or those which do not require them to leave home or work for treatment. These programs take place in community health centers, hospitals, and other locations, and the person attends treatment for a specified number of hours, certain days of the week for a number of weeks or months.
This arrangement may seem like the perfect fit for some. Still, it may not offer the structure and environment necessary to help an individual overcome physical dependence and learn to manage addiction. Addiction is a disease known to be plagued by relapse, which means treatment must be intense and focused, and outpatient programs do not always offer this level of intensity.
Some may be worried that they will lose their job while seeking addiction treatment, but there are ways to ensure you can keep your position and still get the help you need. Many workplaces have programs to ensure employees get the help they need to treat problems like substance use and addiction.
Seek Treatment at Vertava Health
If you’re looking for a professional rehab program, we can help. We offer a range of therapeutic options for executives. To learn more about our treatment programs, contact Vertava Health today at 844.470.0410.
