Are there resources to seek heroin rehab if you’re still working? Yes, of course. These services and resources exist because not everyone is able to attend a residential drug rehab. Even if money isn’t a factor, not everyone can just take a month or more off from work and family responsibilities. Not everyone needs residential rehab, either. Many people do just as well with outpatient treatment or IOP, which is Intensive Outpatient Treatment. Both allow you to remain in the community and go home every night. However, be advised that outpatient treatment requires a very high level of personal motivation to work. Also, if you have relapsed from prior drug rehab treatment, whether it be inpatient or outpatient, you may actually need more residential treatment, or at least IOP, for the best chance of long-term sobriety.
Detox Procedures
Whether you choose inpatient or outpatient treatment, you will need to undergo detox to rid your system of your drug of choice. In many cases, this can be done safely at home, especially for amphetamine and opioid dependence. In particular, opioid detox can usually be done at home with no problem. Medications specifically designed for opioid abuse can get you comfortably through the detox process, sometimes in as little time as a week to 10 days. The synthetic combination medication known as Suboxone has become the gold standard for opioid detox. This medication can be prescribed by the detox center’s physician and taken once a day at home. You can expect very, very good coverage for all of the most common withdrawal symptoms for opioids:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Insomnia
- Muscle tremors and restless leg syndrome
- Anxiety and depression
- Diarrhea
- Pain
- Stomach cramps
- Sneezing
The synthetic partial agonist narcotic in Suboxone, buprenorphine, curbs intense drug cravings quite well. With the above symptoms kept at bay, you should be able to go to work and perform your job duties as you normally would. If Suboxone doesn’t cover all the symptoms adequately, the detox center’s staff can either increase the buprenorphine dose or add other medications until you are comfortable. If you still need more relief, let the detox center staff know. There is another medication, the synthetic full agonist opioid methadone, which will stop withdrawal symptoms and eliminate drug cravings entirely.
If you’re dependent on amphetamines, cocaine or prescription stimulants like Adderall, you will probably find it very difficult to sleep and concentrate as you move through the withdrawal process. In many cases, amphetamine withdrawal can also be done safely at home with little discomfort. Withdrawal from this drug class typically causes depression, so special medications designed to relieve this condition will likely also be prescribed for you. All detox medications for any drug class will be given in slowly decreasing doses over time. The detox facility will let you know when the process is complete. At that point, you will be ready to enter outpatient rehab treatment.
Suboxone can be continued throughout outpatient treatment and beyond if desired or necessary.
Dependence on alcohol and benzodiazepines may be treated differently than other drug classes because withdrawal from these substances can be life-threatening due to the risk of severe seizures. Sometimes, detox can still be done safely at home. The drug treatment professionals at any reputable detox center will make the determination and tell you if your level of dependence or other health factors would make home detox too risky in your case.
Outpatient Treatment
This typically requires at least several hours several times a week of your time. Your attendance at outpatient treatment sessions is mandatory, so until you complete the program, you may have little time for much else other than work, outpatient treatment and family care responsibilities. IOP will require much more attendance time and will be much more emotionally challenging. Any kind of outpatient treatment will probably involve work you must complete at home. Random drug tests will also definitely be part of the program that will involve classes, group and individual therapy. There may also be required attendance at a certain minimum number of meetings of groups like AA, NA or SMART Recovery.
We Can Help
If you’re needing help with substance abuse but can’t attend residential treatment for any reason, we understand. Let us help you find the best kind of outpatient treatment for you in your area. Just call us at 833-610-1174 anytime. Our trained, compassionate counselors will be able to guide you to the best outpatient treatment for you in your area.