These individuals and their families can take heart in knowing that effective, compassionate help is available. Maine addiction treatment services can help a person build a fulfilling, drug-free life. These services may include professionally led interventions, medically supported detox, inpatient drug rehab, outpatient addiction treatment, and aftercare services.
Maine Substance Use Trends
Drug and alcohol use destroys the health and quality of life for far too many Maine residents each year. While many forms of drug use are responsible for this toll, the opioid epidemic has intensified the scope of the problem.
Individuals of all ages experience substance use, a fact that underscores the need for comprehensive addiction treatment options.
A 2015 report from the Maine Department of Health and Humans Services found that of individuals aged 18 to 25:
- Individuals in the 18-25 age group were more likely to use prescription pain relievers than those who are over age 26
- One in 10 misused a prescription pain reliever in their lifetime
- Five percent used cocaine within the past 12 months, compared to 1 percent of those over age 26
- Nine percent engaged in heavy drinking in the past 30 days, the highest rate of all age groups
- Thirty-two percent reported binge drinking in the prior month, the highest rate of binge drinking among all ages
Additionally, reports have shown that:
- Of all adult women enrolled in a drug rehab program in 2014, nearly 3 percent were pregnant
- Maine emergency responders administered naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug, to 829 people in 2014
- In 2014, individuals aged 30 to 34 had the highest number of fatalities resulting from substance use or overdose
- Fifty-eight percent of all individuals admitted to a treatment program had a co-occurring mental health disorder
- In 2012, 8 percent of pregnant women reported consuming alcohol
Drug Overdose Death Rates
Like much of the nation, Maine is experiencing rising overdose rates, many of which stem from prescription drug use.
According to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, drug overdose fatalities increased from 2011 to 2014:
- Overall drug-overdose deaths rose 34 percent, from 155 to 208
- Overdose deaths related to illicit drugs increased 341 percent, from 17 to 75
- Cocaine-related overdose deaths rose from 13 to 24, an increase of 85 percent
- Benzodiazepine-related overdose deaths rose from 41 to 70, a 71 percent increase
- Fentanyl-related overdose deaths rose from 14 to 43, a 207 percent increase
- Heroin- and morphine-related overdose deaths increased 533 percent, from 9 to 57
In 2014:
- Of all drug-overdose deaths, 89 percent involved a prescription drug
- One of every three overdose deaths involved benzodiazepines
- One out of four overdose deaths involved heroin or morphine
Maine Addiction Prevention Programs
Substance use in Maine can cause a variety of adverse health effects or lead to a fatal overdose. Key to preventing this loss of life and well-being are statewide prevention programs and access to individualized addiction treatment.
Maine Prevention Services is a collaborative effort between the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services. This initiative focuses on multiple health-related issues, most of which address substance use.
Focus areas for prevention services in Maine include:
- Substance Use Prevention: preventing underage drinking, marijuana use, and prescription drug use at any age
- Youth Engagement and Empowerment: preventing substance use and increasing youth resilience
- Mass-Reach Health Communication: reducing opioid and substance use and the negative health effects that accompany these behaviors.
- Maine also operates a prescription monitoring program, tracking all controlled substances and aiding providers in preventing prescription drug misuse and use.
Maine Addiction Treatment Programs
A person’s health, relationships, career, and academic goals can quickly be destroyed by a drug or alcohol addiction. Seeking professional addiction treatment is the best way to regain control of a life taken over by substance use.
High-quality drug and alcohol rehab programs emphasize an individualized approach to treatment. Treatment plans are customized to a person’s circumstances to ensure their needs are fully met. Maine addiction treatment services and programs may include some or all of the following levels of care.
Getting A Loved One Help: Intervention Services
A person doesn’t have to voluntarily seek treatment to obtain good results and drug-free life. Sometimes, it can be hard for a person to recognize that they need help. In these cases, support from family and friends can be a game-changer.
Loved ones of a person with a substance use disorder often struggle to show their friend or family member how their drug or alcohol use is hurting them. A professionally-led intervention can help all parties involved to recognize and achieve treatment goals.
An interventionist will plan the intervention, help family members research Maine addiction treatment options and make arrangements to get the individual to treatment.
Building An Individualized Treatment Plant: A Clinical Assessment
Every person who is in need of drug or alcohol rehab has different needs. These can include social, behavioral, medical or legal issues, in addition to the way the substance use has impacted their career or family life. A clinical assessment determines the severity of the addiction and takes all these needs into account to create a treatment plan that addresses all areas.
Drug And Alcohol Detox Programs
Maine medically supported detoxification programs address physical dependency, preparing the body for an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation program.
Medications are often provided to reduce or prevent withdrawal symptoms during drug and alcohol detox. Individuals who are addicted to opioid drugs may receive methadone or a buprenorphine-based medication like Suboxone.
Drug or alcohol detox is not a substitute for a full-spectrum drug rehab program. Addiction can deeply affect a person mentally, emotionally and behaviorally. Because of this, professional addiction treatment is often needed to address these needs and prevent future relapse.
Inpatient Addiction Treatment Versus Outpatient Treatment
When a person is struggling with addiction and decides to seek help, they may wonder whether inpatient or outpatient treatment will better serve their needs. The short answer is that there is not a single path to recovery that works for everyone. Instead, a person should pursue individualized treatment that recognizes and addresses their unique circumstances.
When compared to outpatient care, Maine inpatient addiction treatment typically offers more intensive treatments and therapies. This allows a person to dig deep into the issues underlying the addiction. Additionally, residential programs provide a sober living environment where they can safely work on their recovery.
Maine outpatient addiction treatment programs can work hand-in-hand with inpatient addiction treatment. When used as a step-down level of care after completing a residential drug rehab program, these services can help to minimize the risk of relapse while a person transitions to independence.
Protecting Sobriety: Aftercare Services And Sober Living
Recovery is an ongoing process that requires constant vigilance and commitment to recovery principles. It’s often helpful to participate in recovery support services such as alumni outreach programs and sober living.
Aftercare support may be offered as part of a person’s addiction treatment plan. Aftercare services may include alumni mentorship programs, relapse-prevention tools and assistance finding local community support services.
Once a person graduates from a drug rehab program, it’s time to apply the recovery principles they learned during therapy. During this period, some individuals may find it easier to maintain recovery by moving into a Maine sober living home. These drug-free environments offer support and accountability during this important transitional time.
Maine Addiction Treatment Therapies
Clients of Maine addiction treatment programs will participate in a variety of therapies designed to reduce dysfunctional behaviors and replace them with healthier ways of thinking and behaving, while also increasing life skills and teaching relapse-prevention techniques.
Behavioral therapies are frequently used to uproot the negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that fuel addiction, and these may include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Motivational interviewing
- Additional therapies that may be offered in Maine drug rehab programs include:
- Adventure therapy
- Art and music therapy
- Equine therapy
- Holistic therapies – biofeedback, acupuncture, yoga
- Pet therapy
- 12-step groups and 12-step alternatives
- Wilderness therapy
When used in combination with psychotherapies as part of a comprehensive addiction treatment plan, these therapies can boost a person’s self-confidence, improve relapse-prevention skills and develop vital interpersonal skills.
These and other therapies are sometimes paired with medications to prevent withdrawal, discourage substance use and decrease the risk of relapse, an approach is known as medication-assisted treatment. Suboxone and methadone are used in this way for individuals who are working to stay abstinent from opioid drugs like heroin, fentanyl, and prescription painkillers. Disulfiram (Antuse) and naltrexone (Vivitrol) may be used to decrease the likelihood of an alcohol relapse.
How To Pay For Maine Drug And Alcohol Addiction Treatment
For some individuals and families in Maine, the cost is an issue that prevents them from seeking the help they need. What some may not know is that multiple addiction treatment payment options are often available.
If a person has health insurance, their benefits may cover drug rehab, often including drug and alcohol detoxification services. They can call the number on the back of their insurance card or contact an addiction treatment specialist to verify health insurance benefits. Researching copays, coinsurance and deductibles allow preparation for any remainder not covered by insurance.
Health insurance carriers that may offer coverage in Maine include:
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Maine
- Community Health Options
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
In addition to out-of-pocket payments and insurance coverage, there are other payment options that may provide more financial flexibility so that those who need help can enroll in a treatment program.
These additional payment options include:
- Scholarships and grants
- Payment plans established with the treatment provider
- Private healthcare loan
- Sliding-scale fees
- Crowdfunding
- Assistance from loved ones
Addiction treatment admissions specialists are available to help individuals and their family go over these options.
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Finding Addiction Treatment Services In Maine
When a person seeks help for a drug or alcohol addiction, they often look for treatment centers that are close to where they live. However, the program with the right combination of high-quality therapies to meet their unique needs might not be around the corner.
The benefits of being willing to travel to seek addiction treatment include:
- More high-quality treatment programs than are available locally
- Improved focus on treatment and removal from environmental triggers
- Increased confidentiality
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.
