With 652,236 residents, Memphis has the second-largest population in Tennessee. Memphis is the county seat of Shelby County, which has the highest population of all the counties in the state.
In Tennessee, an estimated one out of six residents use opioids or is enrolled in an addiction treatment program. Overdose deaths from opioids have increased over the past several years in this region.
While opioid use is less frequent in Shelby County than in other areas of Tennessee, it still affects thousands of individuals and families. A key part of preventing overdose deaths and other health problems related to addiction is greater access to comprehensive treatment options.
Fortunately, in Memphis, a variety of addiction treatment services are available that can help a person achieve a healthier, sober life.
Addiction Treatment In Memphis, TN
The first steps toward recovery can be intimidating, but with the right combination of support, therapy and treatment services, this journey can be made easier. As a person continues to pursue and engage in individualized treatment that addresses their unique needs, the odds for a successful recovery increase.
In Memphis, the following services may help a person find recovery and succeed in treatment:
- Professional intervention services
- Medical detox programs
- Inpatient addiction treatment
- Outpatient addiction treatment
- Aftercare and alumni support services
Intervention Services
Not every person realizes that they need help for their addiction. Supporting a person as they come to understand the truth can be a powerful moment in a person’s recovery journey.
A professional Memphis intervention may assist a person and their family as they move toward this acceptance. Professional interventionists will help plan and carry out the intervention, in addition to helping a family select a treatment program.
Drug And Alcohol Detox Programs
When a person is physically dependent on a drug, it’s likely that they’ll become sick or go into withdrawal should they suddenly stop using it. This is especially true for people who are addicted to alcohol, benzodiazepines or opioid drugs.
A medically supervised detoxification program helps a person to adjust to sobriety so that withdrawal is made more comfortable and bearable. Medications will likely be used at this time to reduce or alleviate withdrawal symptoms in a safe way.
Inpatient Addiction Treatment
Memphis inpatient drug rehab centers offer residential treatment settings that offer the greatest measure of protection against harmful outside influences and triggers that could lead to relapse.
The most intensive treatment format, inpatient drug rehab gives a person an opportunity to discover any negative patterns within their life that may be contributing to the addiction. Through the aid of highly trained therapists in an individual, group or family setting, a person will begin to heal during therapy sessions.
Inpatient drug rehab programs may follow a traditional 12-step approach, while other programs combine research-based therapies with alternative treatments.
Some people feel more comfortable pursuing treatment in a specialized treatment program that recognizes and respects important areas, interests or lifestyle needs within their life. Specialized Memphis addiction treatment program options may include:
- Adventure or wilderness
- Dual diagnosis (for co-occurring mental health disorders)
- Equine or pet therapy
- Faith-based or religious
- Gender-specific
- Holistic
- LGBTQIA+ friendly
- Music or art therapy
As concerns surrounding the opioid epidemic in Memphis increase, comprehensive treatment for opioid use disorders is of rising importance. Medication-assisted treatment can be used to treat alcohol use disorders, and programs of this kind for opioid addiction can be a front-line defense against the opioid crisis.
Two evidence-based medications commonly used in these programs are Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) and Methadose (methadone). When used in combination with behavioral therapies, these medications can help a person obtain and maintain sobriety.
Outpatient Addiction Treatment
The role of outpatient drug rehab is different from one treatment plan to the next. While some people may not use outpatient services at all, this form of care may be used in the following ways:
- As a first-line treatment for mild to moderate addiction
- To fortify recovery skills after a mild relapse
- As a step-down program from inpatient addiction treatment
Aftercare And Alumni Services
While the foundation of a sober life may be successfully built-in treatment, the upkeep and nurturing that takes place after a person graduates are what maintains a drug-free life.
Forming peer relationships with others who are in recovery can boost a person’s morale, teach them new sober living skills and keep them accountable. One of the best ways to create these important relationships is in an aftercare or alumni support program.
In Memphis, a variety of aftercare and alumni support services may be available, such as:
- Job-skills training
- Mentorship opportunities
- Online recovery workshops and resources
- Peer-support groups
- Self-improvement classes
- Sober living homes
Addiction Treatment Program Length
From short-term to long-term rehab programs, the options for addiction treatment in Memphis may range from 30 days to a year or more:
- 30-day programs
- 60-day programs
- 90-day programs
- 120-day programs
- 6-month programs
- Programs lasting a year or more
Many people find that enrolling in a treatment program that’s out of town or out of state helps them to focus more fully on their recovery. These programs offer greater privacy and often provide higher-quality treatment options.
How To Pay For Addiction Treatment
One of the most important parts of the treatment planning process is building a strong financial plan. Though some people are able to pay for the entire amount of treatment themselves, many need additional help.
In Memphis, one of the best ways to make a personal contribution go further is by pairing it with insurance coverage, such as benefits offered by:
- Aetna Whole Health–Tennessee
- BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
- Cigna
- Farm Bureau Health Plans
- Humana
- UnitedHealthcare
For underinsured people or those without insurance, it can be helpful to examine other forms of assistance, including:
- Help from family and friends
- Medical credit cards
- Monthly payment plans
- Personal loans
- Scholarships and grants
- Sliding-scale fees
- Substance Use Trends In Memphis
Alcohol Use In Memphis, TN
From the years 2012 to 2014 in Shelby County, alcohol was used in the following ways by people aged 18 and older:
- 44.4 percent consumed alcohol
- 18.7 percent took part in binge-drinking episodes
- 5.8 percent struggled with alcohol dependence or use
In addition to this, 11.7 percent of Shelby County residents were heavy drinkers, a number that was higher than the state’s average of 8.5 percent.
Drug Use
Also from 2012 to 2014, seven percent of adults engaged in illicit drug use in Shelby County. At this time, over the prior year:
- 4.1 percent took pain relievers in a nonmedical way
- 10.2 percent used marijuana
- 1.3 percent used cocaine
In Memphis, the following opioid pain medications may be used in a manner that leads to dependence, addiction, withdrawal, and overdose:
- Codeine
- Actiq (fentanyl)
- Duragesic (fentanyl)
- Norco (hydrocodone)
- Vicodin (hydrocodone)
- Dilaudid (hydromorphone)
- Demerol (meperidine)
- Dolophine (methadone)
- Methadose (methadone)
- Duramorph (morphine)
- MS Contin (morphine)
- OxyContin (oxycodone)
- Percocet (oxycodone)
- Opana (oxymorphone)
Overdose Deaths
From 2013 to 2017, overdose death rates rose in Shelby County. Fatalities from opioid overdose deaths also steadily climbed during this period.
Opioid drugs that can cause overdose include heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid painkillers. Even though the total number of opioid overdose fatalities rose overall, deaths from heroin actually fell from 2016 to 2017.
Specifically, in 2017 in Shelby County:
- 207 people died from a drug overdose, a number that equals 22 deaths for every 100,000 people.
- 159 people died from an opioid overdose, a number that equals 17 deaths for every 100,000 people.
- 59 people died from a heroin overdose, a number that equals 7 deaths for every 100,000 people.
An influx of Mexican cartel drugs has caused overdose deaths from other drugs to rise across the state. Tennessee has witnessed an annual increase of at least:
- 50 percent for deaths linked to methamphetamine and other stimulant drugs
- 20 percent for deaths linked to cocaine
- Memphis, along with Nashville and Knoxville, are cities where cocaine overdose deaths run particularly high.
Treatment Admissions
In 2016, 2,134 people were admitted to a Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Use Services-funded treatment program in Shelby County. This equaled 15.24 percent of the 14,000 admissions statewide.
Out of all the regions in the state, Shelby County had the highest percentage of admissions for alcohol and heroin. The top drugs responsible for treatment admissions were:
- Alcohol: 36 percent of admissions
- Heroin: 22 percent of admissions
- Marijuana: 15 percent of admissions
- Cocaine (including crack): 14 percent of admissions
- Prescription opioids: 8 percent of admissions
- Methamphetamine/other stimulants: 4 percent of admissions
Signs And Symptoms Of Substance Use And Addiction
Knowing the signs of substance use and addiction can help friends and family members as they strive to get their loved one help. In some cases, a person may be in denial and not understand the impact their drug or alcohol use is having on their life.
Frequent drug or alcohol use can change the way a person’s body and brain functions, leading to the following indicators of a substance use disorder:
- Cravings
- Tolerance
- Dependence
- Withdrawal
Additional signs may become apparent. A person’s breath or clothes may carry a strange odor or they may use perfume, cologne, mints or gum to cover up the scent of alcohol or drug use.
Other physical signs may include:
- Bloodshot or glassy eyes
- Disheveled appearance
- Insomnia or sleeping excessively
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stumbling
- Tremors of the hands
Substance use can cause mood swings or symptoms of mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. While under the influence, a person’s judgment and ability to think may become impaired. In some cases, a person may become suspicious, paranoid or have hallucinations.
Drug And Alcohol Use In Memphis, TN
From legal drugs like alcohol to illicit drugs and prescription medications, the range of substances that are used in the Memphis area is wide.
Illicit Drug Use
Illicit drugs are illegal to purchase, possess or use. Some of the most addictive substances the country faces today, such as heroin and fentanyl, are illicit drugs.
Frequently used illicit drugs in Memphis include:
- Cocaine (including crack)
- Heroin
- Illicit fentanyl
- Marijuana
- Methamphetamine
- Synthetic cannabinoids (“fake weed”)
Prescription Drug Use
Prescription drug use begins in several ways, the most common of which is using a medication in a nonmedical way to self-medicate or to get high.
Commonly used prescription drugs that may be used in Memphis include:
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Ativan (lorazepam)
- Klonopin (clonazepam)
- Librium (chlordiazepoxide)
- Restoril (temazepam)
- Valium (diazepam)
- Xanax (alprazolam)
- Prescription opioid pain medications
- Prescription ADHD stimulant medications
- Adderall (dextroamphetamine/amphetamine)
- Concerta (methylphenidate)
- Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine)
- Ritalin (methylphenidate)
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)
Vertava Health adheres to the highest standard of care for the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. These comprehensive services are offered at multiple locations across the United States.
Contact Vertava Health today for more information on Memphis addiction treatment.
