Washington D.C. has an estimated population of over 630,000 permanent residents, with many more who travel into the area for extended periods for political work. The metro area is the seventh-largest in the country with 5.7 million people, and during the workweek, the population soars with an additional 1 million people coming in from the suburbs.
Life in the nation’s capital is fast-paced and often stressful. Social drinking is part of life for politicians and lobbyists. Substance use can lead to addiction, but those who are ready to seek relief will find that the area offers many addiction treatment options.
Addiction Treatment In Washington D.C.
The most effective treatment for addiction in Washington D.C. are programs that understand how complex addiction is. This complicated disease requires a continuum of care to address all issues underlying the disorder. By following the full continuum of care, patients with addiction will be empowered to enjoy a sober life to the fullest.
Intervention Services
The first step toward recovery for some people is an intervention. Individuals fighting substance use may need encouragement and help to become willing to embrace the recovery process. Professional intervention services in Washington D.C.can come alongside families to help reach out to loved ones and convince them to commit to seeking addiction treatment.
Drug And Alcohol Detox
Breaking free from an addictive substance can trigger painful and even dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Washington D.C. medical detox programs give patients a safe, medically supervised environment to go through this withdrawal process. Sometimes treatment providers use prescription medications to help patients manage the side effects of the detox process.
Inpatient Addiction Treatment
Inpatient drug and alcohol rehab in Washington D.C. is often the next step in the recovery process after detox is complete. These programs allow patients to live and receive treatment at the same facility. By removing patients from triggers, these inpatient addiction treatment facilities set the stage for a successful recovery.
Washington D.C. inpatient addiction treatments programs focus on meeting the unique needs of patients. Some specialized programs that may be available include:
- Gender-specific treatment groups
- 12-step programs
- Equine therapy
- Nature therapy
- Executive addiction treatment
- Luxury treatment facilities
- Co-occurring disorder care
- Spiritual or religious programs
Finding the right program for each individual’s unique needs is an important step in the recovery process.
Outpatient Addiction Treatment
After completing an inpatient drug rehab program, may patients will move on to an outpatient addiction treatment center. Some, due to financial constraints or milder addiction, will start with outpatient treatment.
Outpatient drug rehab involves visiting a treatment center for therapy and counseling while still living at home. Outpatient addiction treatment may include behavioral therapy to help train the individual to resist triggers and prevent relapse.
Aftercare And Alumni Support
Re-entering the world newly sober is one of the biggest challenges someone recovering from addiction will face, but Washington D.C. offers a number of aftercare and alumni support programs that can help. These may include:
- Support groups
- Sober living homes
- Job counseling
Length Of Addiction Treatment
The length of time an individual spends in addiction treatment will depend on the severity of the addiction and the type of treatment the individual pursues. The most effective programs are long-term programs that last at least 90 days. Sometimes, addiction treatment that spans the full continuum of care will last for a year or longer.
For patients who cannot afford to spend that much time in treatment, many centers have short-term rehab options. These will last from 14 to 60 days, depending on the program. Following up with aftercare and alumni services is critical with these shorter-term programs.
Paying For Addiction Treatment
Addiction treatment can be costly. Thankfully, most Washington D.C. insurance providers offer coverage for behavioral health, which will include addiction treatment. Some of the most common insurance providers in the area include:
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
- Delta Dental Insurance Company
- Dominion National
- Golden Rule Insurance Company
- Humana
- Independence American Insurance Company
Even the best insurance plan may not cover all of the costs of addiction treatment. Other options to pay for treatment include:
- Family support
- Crowdfunding
- Medical loans or personal credit lines
- Payment plans
Substance Use Statistics In Washington D.C.
Opioid Use
Washington D.C. has one of the highest rates of opioid deaths in the United States. In 2015, physicians in Washington D.C. wrote 70 opioid prescriptions for every 100 people.
Further statistics show the severity of Washington D.C.’s opioid problem:
- 209 opioid-related deaths in 2016
- More than twice the national average for opioid deaths
- 67 deaths related to heroin use
- 66 deaths related to prescription opioids
- 129 deaths related to synthetic opioids
Alcohol Use
Alcohol addiction remains a top concern for residents of Washington D.C. Compared to the states, Washington D.C. is ranked second for the percentage of adults who drink alcohol (65.9 percent) and first for the percentage of heavy drinkers (11.1 percent).
Washington D.C. also has the nation’s highest percentage of binge drinkers. Binge drinking is defined as five or more drinks for men and four or more for women at least one time per month. The binge-drinking rate in Washington D.C. is 25.5 percent of the population.
Cocaine Addiction
Washington D.C. continues to have a serious cocaine addiction problem, including addiction to crack. Of the 3,160 residents who went to addiction treatment in 2010, 521 were admitted for cocaine addiction. In 2011, 32 percent of all addiction treatment admissions in Washington D.C. were due to cocaine addiction.
Signs of Addiction
To get the right help for addiction, individuals and their families need to first be able to identify the signs of addiction. Some of the first signs of addiction may include:
- Personality changes
- Changes in speech patterns
- Irritability or aggression
- Defensiveness
- Poor ability to deal with stress
- Missing school or work assignments
- Secretive behavior
- Changes in sleep patterns
As the addiction progresses, families may notice:
- Withdrawal from family and social activities
- Inability to function without the substance
- Changes in weight
- Poor attention to personal hygiene
- Financial difficulties
- Loss of control over the frequency or amount of use
- A compulsion to use the substance
- No fear of adverse consequences
Common Addictive Substances Used In Washington D.C.
Substance use and addiction are serious problems in the nation’s capital. Some of the most common addictive substances used in Washington D.C. include:
- Alcohol
- Benzodiazepines
- Cocaine (including crack)
- Heroine
- Lortab (hydrocodone)
- Morphine
- OxyContin (oxycodone)
- Vicodin (hydrocodone)
No matter what substance an individual is addicted to, the solution is effective drug and alcohol treatment.
