Drug and Alcohol Detox in Biloxi, MS
Biloxi sits right on the Gulf of Mexico in southern Mississippi. It’s been one of the region’s gambling capitals for a long time, thanks to the numerous casinos. You have to stop and see the Biloxi Lighthouse if you’re in the area.
As nice as the city is, there is a problem. Drug use has become an epidemic in recent years, leading to increased rates of crime. Fortunately, there is help available for people trying to recover from addiction.
Biloxi Crime and Drug Use Stats
Three hundred and ten overdose deaths were reported in the state of Mississippi during 2017. Since then, drug abuse has only gotten worse in the area.
Opioids contributed to nearly 60% of the total overdose deaths in this time period. Part of the reason that there’s been such an epidemic is the number of prescriptions in the state.
Mississippi wrote 76.8 opioid prescriptions for every 100 people in the state. That’s almost 50% greater than the national average.
Even pregnant women have been struggling with addiction in the state. There were 2.4 cases of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome per 1,000 births in 2017. That means the babies were born dependent on opioid medications.
Even though things might seem bad, there’s hope. Biloxi has plenty of resources to support people while they’re going through recovery.
Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Centers in Biloxi
Alcohol and drug rehab centers offer several forms of help. You can decide which one is the best fit depending on your circumstances.
The most intensive level of care you’ll find would be at a residential treatment facility. These aren’t always easy for people to attend, though. So, you can attend an outpatient program or a support group, too.
Many rehab centers also offer support to people going through withdrawal. Medical detox can make it easier for people to get through the first stages of recovery.
Residential Treatment Programs
Residential treatment programs are one of the best places to start your recovery. You’ll spend time learning how to identify coping mechanisms and triggers. Learning how to identify them should help you develop new habits.
Most of the time, you’ll live at the facility while you’re receiving treatment. The length of your stay will vary by program and case severity. Some of them offer programs that last up to 90 days. However, it’s more common for them to last between 30 and 60 days.
Medical Detox
One of the toughest parts of treatment is getting clients through the first part. When someone stops using drugs, they may go into withdrawal.
Withdrawal occurs when the body becomes dependent on a drug to function properly. Quitting them can destabilize the body’s homeostasis.
The worst part of withdrawal is how painful and uncomfortable it can feel. That’s why medically assisted detox can be so powerful.
If someone is going through opioid withdrawal, methadone can reduce side effects. Other medications are also useful as part of the detox process.
Once you’ve finished detoxing, they’ll introduce you to the rest of their facility. You’ll work in groups and individually to complete therapies designed to support recovery.
Medical Assessments
The first thing you’ll do if you’re going through detox is a medical assessment. You’ll speak with doctors about how you’re feeling before going into withdrawal.
They’ll also check your vitals to see whether you’re in good condition. The doctor will ask about your previous medical history. Let them know if you have any co-occurring mental health disorders.
After completing the assessment, you’ll receive a custom treatment plan from the doctor. That’s when you’ll start the actual withdrawal process.
Length and Severity of Detox
The amount of time it takes to detox depends on several factors. Certain substances take longer to clear the system than others, so detox lasts longer as well.
Your usage also has a huge impact on how detox goes. If you’re a heavy user, withdrawals will be more severe than in a mild case. How long you’ve used substances also impacts your detox. The longer you’ve used them, the longer detox is going to take.
Withdrawal can cause a lot of uncomfortable side effects. However, medical support can help you make it through them without as much difficulty.
Most of the time, you’ll finish withdrawals within 10 days. Some cases may take longer to recover if they’re particularly severe.
What Substances Require Medical Detox?
Not everyone has to go through medical detox once they’re recovering from addiction. Some substances cause withdrawals more often than others.
Opioids and benzodiazepines are the most common drugs that require detox. Both of them build physical dependencies within the body. As such, stopping could put your body into a state of shock.
Speak to your doctor to see whether they believe you’ll need to go through detox. They’ll know if you’ve been using something that makes it likely.
Counseling and Therapy
The majority of the time you’re at a residential treatment facility, you’ll be in therapy. Each program uses a different approach to treating clients, so they vary.
Many of them use cognitive behavioral therapy as their main tool. This is a type of counseling that focuses on teaching people how to change the way they think. Changing thought patterns can make it easier to create new habits and destroy old ones.
Group therapy is a huge part of many programs, too. Working with others going through recovery can improve outcomes if you’re recovering yourself. These sessions will be led by a trained staff member. They’ll give everyone directions during the sessions. Then, everyone can participate in the sessions together.
A lot of treatment centers have expanded their services to include ancillary treatments. So, you might end up at a facility that offers equine therapy, for example. Some of them even have music therapy programs designed to support their clients.
Recovering from addiction is different for everybody, so what works for one person may not be as effective for someone else. Trying several different forms of therapy is a good idea if you’re not sure which would be the best. You’ll know after you’ve tried a few of them.
Partial Hospitalization
Not everyone has the time to attend a residential facility. If you’re limited by your schedule, partial hospitalization might be the best option.
You’ll stay at a hospital while you’re going through the withdrawal phase. Once you’re on the other side of that, they’ll let you go. You won’t have to stay at the facility during the rest of your treatment.
They’ll ask you to visit them several times a week to attend treatment sessions. These usually fit around your work schedule, so you can keep your job. Each session builds on the previous one. That’s why it’s so important to make it to all of them.
You can stay at home while you’re attending treatment as long as you’re making progress. Completing the program can take up to 90 days, depending on the case.
Outpatient Programs
An outpatient program is the least intensive form of intervention. You don’t have to live at the facility while you’re in treatment. Plus, you don’t even have to complete medical detox to start the program.
You can visit them when you’re not at work to complete therapy sessions. They’ll give you a protocol to follow as you go through the program. Following it will help you learn how to overcome cravings and identify your triggers.
Your treatment length depends on how severe your addiction is. Those with more severe cases have to attend treatment sessions for longer. If your case isn’t too severe, you can finish in as few as four weeks.
Ongoing Support
Another reason people use outpatient programs is to continue their recovery. A lot of clients choose an outpatient program after they’ve completed residential treatment.
A lot of evidence suggests that ongoing therapy has a huge impact on relapses. When people continue going to therapy, they’re less likely to start using again. Using an outpatient program as part of your recovery is a great way to support long-term success.
Recovery and Support Groups
Residential treatment facilities aren’t the only option available for people recovering from addiction. There are a ton of support groups designed to help addicts.
You can pick one that’s suitable for your situation. Most of them use similar approaches to help recovering addicts. You’ll build a network of supportive people to aid your progress by attending a group.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is one of the oldest support groups in the country. They’ve designed a 12-step program that’s helped a ton of people get through recovery. Working through the 12 steps can help you process your emotions while recovering.
Best of all, it’s free to join their meetings if you’re interested in them. Just look up when their next one is to visit one of them yourself. Their website lists all their active chapters in the country, so finding one isn’t hard.
Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous uses the same 12 steps as AA. However, this group aims to support people struggling with other addictions. If you’ve had issues with narcotics, this is a great group.
Creating a strong support group also facilitates long-term recovery. You can build one by going to support groups like Narcotics Anonymous. You’ll be able to rely on the other members to help you if you’re having a tough time with cravings. Of course, they’ll need you to support them if they’re struggling themselves.
SMART Recovery
SMART Recovery groups use a scientific approach to addiction recovery. Their goal is to foster four ideals in all their members to help them in recovery.
One of their main goals is to help people feel motivated to overcome their addiction. They’ve focused on how to manage cravings so you can avoid relapse.
Finally, they’ll work with you to discover a better work-life balance. Balancing your life can make it easier to stick with your recovery in the long run.
Al-Anon and Nar-Anon
Al-Anon and Nar-Anon are both great support groups. They are not going to let people know you’re attending sessions. So, you won’t have to worry about people finding out if you go to them. The rest of their program uses a similar approach to the 12 steps used by AA.
Starting Your Recovery
Recovering from an addiction is possible. You’ve got to have the right support while you’re going through treatment, and you can get over this if you’re willing to put in the work. Start by calling a rehab center to ask them about treatment options.
You can always call Defining Wellness Centers. We’ve built a program that has something for everyone. Call us today if you’d like to learn more about how we’re able to help.
