Kansas

Kansas Substance Use Statistics And Addiction Treatment Options

Drug and alcohol use can reduce a person’s quality of life and rob them of their health. Without professional care for a substance use disorder, the negative effects can become so severe that a person loses their family or destroys their career. An individual abusing drugs or alcohol can quickly become addicted or experience a fatal overdose.

Choosing a comprehensive addiction treatment program in Kansas that provides evidence-based care helps a person to improve their lives and achieve long-lasting sobriety. Kansas addiction treatment programs can assist a person through the entire recovery process, from detox to therapy and aftercare support.

Drug Use In Kansas And The Opioid Epidemic

The St. Louis Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration compiled a report on drug trends in the Midwest, including the Kansas City metropolitan area. This area includes Overland Park, Kansas City and Olathe. The report found that:

• Black tar heroin is the primary drug threat
• Supplies of heroin, opiates, and fentanyl continue to increase, as do fentanyl analogues
• Use of U-47700, or pink, is increasing as a substitute for fentanyl
• Most fentanyl in this region comes from China, though some is sourced from Mexico and the dark web

In addition to the dangers of this growing opioid epidemic, methamphetamine use is of rising concern in Kansas. Outside of the Kansas City metro area, meth poses the biggest problem for the DEA. Beyond meth, alcohol, cocaine and other prescription drugs like benzodiazepines and ADHD stimulant medications are frequently used.

Adults aren’t the only people affected by substance use in Kansas. From 20012 to 2017, the state’s Department for Children and Families saw a 42 percent increase in children removed from the home as a result of substance use. Cases involving meth more than doubled.

Alcohol Use In Kansas

Alcohol continues to be a problem for countless Kansas residents, including teens and young adults. Alcohol use can cause a variety of health problems, including mental health disorders, organ damage, and addiction. Alcohol addiction can be deadly without the intervention of a comprehensive addiction treatment program.

The 2015 Kansas Behavioral Health Profile found that:

• From 2009 to 2013, heavy alcohol consumption in Kansas increased
• In Kansas, men are more frequently heavier drinkers than women
• Individuals aged 18 to 24 engaged in heavy drinking at the highest rates
• College-aged individuals had the highest rates of binge drinking
• At various points, males had higher rates of chronic liver disease and fatalities caused by alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes than females

Preventing Drug Use In Kansas

The DEA’s 360 Strategy program strives to reduce the harm caused by drug diversion and use. This program is “a comprehensive approach tackling the cycle of violence and addiction generated by the link between drug cartels, violent gangs, and the rising problem of prescription opioid and heroin use in U.S. cities.”

To achieve these goals and other objectives, the 360 Strategy utilizes a community-based solution to form partnerships between:

• Community leaders
• Community-based organizations
• Faith-based organizations
• Schools
• Social service organizations
• State and local law enforcement partners
• Substance use professionals

The DEA also coordinates a National Take Back initiative. This event collects unused prescription and over-the-counter medications that could otherwise be diverted to the black market and contribute to drug overdoses and increased rates of misuse and use.

Kansas Addiction Treatment Programs

Finding Personalized Addiction Treatment In Kansas

Effective treatment does not follow a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy; rather, the treatment plan is adapted to a person’s unique needs and life circumstances. Individualized treatment plans increase a person’s chances of successful recovery.

Clinical Assessments

Clinical assessments are an evaluation that typically involves both an interview with a trained clinician and a physical exam. During the interview, the addiction specialist will ask a series of questions that help them create a personalized addiction treatment plan.

This initial assessment should evaluate the characteristics of the substance use and the impact addiction has had on a person’s life. These questions may include:

• What is the drug of use?
• How often and in what amount is the substance used?
• How is the drug used (is it injected, smoked, snorted or taken orally)?
• How long has the person been abusing the substance for?
• What behavioral or social factors led a person to substance use?
• How has substance use affected a person’s life (what is the impact on employment, education, and relationships)?
• Does the person have a co-occurring disorder, like anxiety or depression?
• Does the person have any health or medical problems?
• Has the person been to rehab before?
• Will a medical detox be necessary?

Addiction treatment therapies are more successful when this assessment information is used to design a treatment plan that fully addresses the ways addiction has disrupted a person’s life. Participating in an individualized addiction treatment program better prepares a person to cope with the unique circumstances they face during their recovery.

Kansas Drug And Alcohol Detox Programs

The longer a person uses a drug, the greater the toll it takes on their body. For many individuals, this chronic use leads to severe physical dependencies. This is particularly true with individuals who use alcohol, benzodiazepines or opioids.

Before a person can focus on the psychological aspects of addiction, their body needs to heal and start finding its natural equilibrium. Detoxification helps a person’s body to purge the drug from its system so it can begin to stabilize.

A medically supported detox program reduces or prevents withdrawal symptoms and cravings, usually through the use of medications. Suboxone and methadone are frequently used to treat heroin- or opioid painkiller-dependent individuals. These medication-assisted treatments may be continued beyond detox for individuals who would benefit from additional support during certain periods of recovery.

Kansas Inpatient Drug Rehab Programs

Overcoming the mental and emotional elements of addiction can be an intensive process. Kansas inpatient drug rehab programs create a therapeutic community where this goal is more attainable. The most effective programs address the behavioral, social, legal and vocational aspects of addiction with a person-centric focus.

Inpatient drug rehab programs incorporate a variety of therapies. Most offer recreational activities and personal time so a person can pursue personal growth and emotional development. Many programs provide nutritional guidance and physical fitness activities to further promote physical healing and wellness.

Outpatient Drug Rehab And Sober Living Homes

Though some people find success in outpatient programs alone, these programs are also a resource for individuals in need of additional support after an inpatient drug rehab program.

Kansas outpatient and intensive outpatient programs help a person to step down from residential treatment. These programs provide a bridge between the highly structured care of inpatient treatment and the demands and challenges of independent life. Sober living homes can further strengthen an abstinent lifestyle during this transitional time, offering a sober residential community with increasing levels of responsibility and freedom.

Kansas Addiction Recovery Services And Aftercare Support

Once a person has successfully progressed through treatment, it’s critical that they continue to stay focused on maintaining their sobriety. The first days, weeks and months after finishing treatment can be an extremely trying time. This is when individuals frequently lose sight of their recovery goals and relapse back to using drugs and alcohol. Because of this, it’s important that a person use what recovery support services are available to them after completing an inpatient addiction treatment program.

Specialized Addiction Treatment Program Options In Kansas

Anyone seeking recovery from addiction has a wide variety of treatment options to choose from. Kansas drug rehab program options may include:

• Dual-diagnosis treatment programs
• Gender-specific treatment programs
• LGBTQ-friendly treatment programs
• Luxury treatment programs
• Professional and executive treatment programs

12-Step Treatment And Alternatives

Treatment plans may include a traditional 12-step plan or a more holistic alternative. Both of these may be offered in inpatient and outpatient programs.

Some people who seek 12-step treatment prefer faith-based programs that bring religious aspects into treatment. Not every 12-step program incorporates medications and evidence-based treatments into their program, while others do. Certain programs may offer 12-step meetings while relying more heavily on evidence-based treatments, such as medications and behavioral therapies.

Alternatives to the 12-step program are growing in popularity. These programs are frequently grounded in a mind-body-spirit approach that addresses the mental, physical and spiritual components of addiction. Treatments may include research-based behavioral therapies, complementary therapies or a combination of both.

Kansas Addiction Treatment Therapies

Behavioral therapies, or psychotherapies, are critical components of all research-based addiction treatment programs. A person will likely have an opportunity to engage in individual therapy sessions, allowing them to address personal areas of their life that need attention. Examples of research-based therapies include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Motivational interviewing

Group therapy sessions and family support programs help people to improve their communication skills while working to heal relationships with loved ones. These sessions help to build coping and relapse-prevention skills that protect a person’s recovery after they leave treatment.

A growing number of treatment programs in Kansas are offering clients an engaging variety of complementary therapies. Examples include:

• Adventure therapy
• Art therapy
• Biofeedback
• Equine therapy
• Holistic therapies (acupuncture, massage and yoga)
• Pet therapy
• Mindfulness and stress-management practices
• Wilderness therapy

Many treatment programs provide their alumni with access to aftercare services. This type of ongoing support helps keep alumni focused on the important recovery skills learned in treatment.

Kansas Addiction Treatment Program Length

Research shows the best treatment outcomes occur when treatment lasts three months or longer, however, treatment may be shorter depending on a person’s personal circumstances. In addition to 90-day programs, Kansas residents may have the option of programs that last 28-30 days, 60 days or 120 days, or even those that last a year or longer.

Finding Addiction Treatment In Kansas

Recovery is a process, the success of which is dependent on many factors. From start to finish, it’s important that a person utilize any resources and programs made available to them to obtain care that best meets their needs.

Certain individuals and their families may need help beginning this process. A professional interventionist can provide guidance for families as they strive to get a loved one into treatment. This service can be especially useful when a person is struggling with denial and refuses any pleas to seek help.

Once a person has selected a treatment program, the next step is to establish a financial plan to pay for treatment. To offset personal out-of-pocket payments, a person can consider treatment-specific financing options, scholarships and grants and insurance coverage. Kansas insurance providers that may cover addiction treatment include:

• Aetna
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
• Humana
• Medica
• Sunflower Health Plan
• UnitedHealthcare

Traveling For Addiction Treatment

The disease of addiction often strikes close to home—in a person’s neighborhood, at local hangout spots, with friends, with coworkers. This familiarity can turn a hometown into a landmine of triggers and opportunities for relapse.

Those who seek help for addiction often expect or want treatment to be close to home, but leaving familiar environments to seek addiction treatment in a new city or state can lead to increased success in recovery. Being placed in a new environment where everyone is committed to the same thing—recovery—means a person can stay focused on what’s most important to them.

The benefits of traveling for addiction treatment include:

• Access to a wider range of high-quality treatment programs
• Privacy and anonymity
• Removal from distractions and triggers

When considering where to seek treatment, remember that the best treatment program for a person’s unique needs might not be right around the corner. Vertava Health offers effective, compassionate treatment in several states across the country, and we can help people find the care they need—wherever they are.