Addiction Treatment in Austin: Comprehensive & Compassionate Care
Understanding Addiction and Seeking Help
Addiction is more common than you think. According to statistics gathered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 40.3 million people in the United States had a substance use disorder (SUD) in 2020. Despite SUD and addiction being a major public health concern, only 6.5% of those millions of people sought treatment.
Reaching out for help can be as easy as making a phone call. However, stigma and other factors may make you reluctant to seek help for yourself or a loved one. Understanding what you can expect in addiction treatment can go a long way in reducing fear and anxiety. Luckily, Alpha Behavioral Health is here to help families in the Austin area who are struggling with addiction and substance abuse.
The Importance of Professional Addiction Treatment in Austin
Austin, Texas, is unique when it comes to addiction rehab and residential treatment. It’s situated in a major urban center, which serves a large number of people both within Austin and the surrounding area. Instead of having to travel to other major cities for treatment, many families have the convenience of receiving addiction treatment locally in Austin. Having localized services allows countless people who are struggling to find comprehensive and compassionate addiction treatment.
Treatment in Austin gives clients access to modern amenities and a community. Part of treatment is finding sober activities that provide joy, so having access to an abundance of exciting local sober activities is great for mental health and healing. The healing power of nature is also important. Although Austin is a city, it’s still close to the breathtaking beauty of the Texas wilderness. Alpha Behavioral Health utilizes adventure therapy as part of treatment, giving clients the best of both worlds regarding healing.
Perhaps what makes Austin special is the large number of professionals who tirelessly work to assist families living with addiction. With a large alumni network, it isn’t difficult to find acceptance and community.
The Scope of Addiction: Types and Challenges
Addiction is as varied as the people who struggle with it. Many substances are highly addictive, as they can change the chemical makeup of the brain. The brain is a highly delicate organ that relies on precise chemical balances for proper functioning. Substances, such as alcohol and drugs, hijack the reward centers of the brain and throw off this chemical balance. It quickly causes a cascade effect on the rest of the self, impacting physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Why people develop addictions is also varied. For the most part, addiction is a direct response to the pain a person is feeling. This is known as self-medicating, and it’s a behavior that many people engage in. For example, having a drink of alcohol to “relax” after a stressful day is a self-medicating behavior. People may also drink or use substances to forget about traumatic memories, to deal with chronic pain, or as a way to fit in with others.
Peer pressure is another driving factor behind substance use in adolescents and young adults. Genetics, family history, substance use normalization (such as drinking in movies), and environment can all play a role in the development of an addiction.
Common Substance Use Disorders
Some substances are more commonly abused than others, depending on factors such as age, environment, and social trends.
Alcohol, by far, is the most commonly abused substance. Its legality, easy access, and normalization contribute greatly to widespread use. Alcohol is normalized to the point that young adults entering college are often expected to engage in alcohol use as a rite of passage. Its commonality also means that young children are more likely to see an authority figure, such as a parent, engage in alcohol use. This is especially the case if they see their loved one use alcohol as a means to cope with stress. Alcohol addiction is common enough that 28.9 million people ages 12 and older had an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2O23.
In terms of drug addiction, opioid addiction, overdose, and abuse have become a national health epidemic. Opioids include a wide range of drugs that mimic or derive from natural substances found in the opium poppy plant. Many of these drugs are used for pain relief in the medical field. Some examples of opioids include morphine, fentanyl, heroin, and oxycodone. The 90s saw an overprescribing of opioids to treat pain, which resulted in addiction in many individuals. Opioids are known to be difficult to recover from and require careful medical detox and drug rehab to prevent lasting damage.
Besides alcohol and opioids, young adults may also abuse marijuana, prescription benzodiazepines, stimulants, methamphetamine, hallucinogens, and cocaine.
The Complexity of Dual Diagnosis
A dual diagnosis is when someone is struggling with two or more mental health disorders at the same time. Usually, this involves a substance use disorder or addiction, as well as another underlying mental health disorder. Some examples of commonly co-occurring mental health disorders are:
It’s difficult to tell what came first. However, both disorders must be treated simultaneously, preferably in a specialized treatment facility specializing in dual diagnosis treatment. This type of treatment combines specialized addiction treatments, such as alcohol rehab, with extensive mental health treatment.
The Impact of Addiction on Daily Life
Addiction can have a serious impact on an individual’s daily life. It can cause problems at work or school, causing you to flunk out or lose an important job. You will spend most of your time, money, and energy seeking, pursuing, using, and recovering from drug use. This leaves little time to socialize and do the things you once enjoyed, leaving your life feeling empty and hollow. Many may neglect their relationships, responsibilities, and more when trapped in the cycle of addiction. Addiction is isolating, pushing you away from your loved ones.
This is not to discount the toll on the physical self. You will find yourself feeling sicker and more prone to illnesses. Some addictions, like alcohol addiction, can permanently damage your liver. Other drugs, like meth, will damage your teeth and nervous system. Long-term use of alcohol and other drugs rarely leaves an individual’s body without long-term damage.
The social toll of addiction can leave you desperate enough to break the law. Theft, lies, and assault don’t just get you in trouble with the law; they also damage the relationship you have with your loved ones. Despite how dangerous addiction is, it’s never too late for you or a loved one to seek help.
Recognizing Addiction: Signs, Symptoms, and Impact
The specific signs of addiction can vary depending on the drug or substance. However, some universal signs can alert to serious substance abuse. For you, it’s important to be aware of your body and how it is feeling. What makes substance use and abuse so nefarious is that you might think you can stop at any time. Once you feel you need to stop, you might find it more difficult than you thought.
Some questions to ask yourself are:
- Do you want to stop or cut down on drinking or substance use, but when you try, you fail?
- Have you failed to fulfill an obligation at work, home, or school due to drinking or substance use?
- Are you continuing to drink or use substances, even when you know it’s harming your mental, physical, and social health?
- Do you experience withdrawal symptoms or intense cravings for alcohol or other substances?
- Have you avoided or given up activities you enjoyed in favor of drinking or substance use?
- Do you spend most of your time using, recovering from, and thinking about drinking or using substances?
Answering yes to any question above can indicate a serious issue with substance use. It’s one thing to recognize addiction in yourself, but how do you notice addiction and substance abuse in a loved one?
Identifying Substance Abuse in a Loved One
Addiction and substance abuse can be a little harder to spot in a loved one, especially if they are actively hiding it. However, substance abuse and use can quickly spiral out of control, no matter how well your loved one may attempt to hide it. A person can only keep up appearances for so long until substance abuse overtakes their life entirely. Pay close attention to your loved ones. Quick action and intervention can be life-saving.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Has your loved one started being more secluded or secretive?
- Are they ignoring long-time friends and family for new social groups?
- Have they been struggling with sudden and unexplained mood swings or irritability?
- Are they lying more often, or acting defensive?
- Do they look suddenly unwell, such as sudden weight loss or gain, poor sleeping habits, frequent illnesses, or poor hygiene?
- Have they lost interest in hobbies they once loved and enjoyed?
- Is their performance at work or school slipping?
- Are they engaging in risky or law-breaking behaviors, such as stealing, driving under the influence, or getting into fights?
Noticing any of these signs is not always indicative of an addiction, but it does denote a serious mental health issue that must be addressed. Saying yes to any of these signs indicates a serious need for intervention.
When to Seek Addiction Treatment
It’s time to seek help at an addiction treatment center when you or a loved one can no longer control their drinking or substance use. People will sometimes refuse help until they hit “rock bottom.” This is an instance where the consequences of their substance abuse are too much to ignore or deny. Getting into trouble with the law, flunking out of school, or losing a job because of substance abuse is a serious indicator that professional help is needed.
However, it’s always okay to seek treatment when you need help. The best time to treat an addiction is as early as possible. Even so, it’s never too late to seek professional assistance.
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Our Approach to Addiction Treatment at Alpha Behavioral Health
Alpha Behavioral Health is a recovery center that prides itself on providing comprehensive and compassionate care. With a blend of psychotherapy, psychiatry, and understanding, any family can find quality addiction treatment in Austin. It’s not just a rehab center. Alpha Behavioral Health is also a place for mental health treatment for commonly co-occurring mental health disorders, such as bipolar disorder. We help our clients discover their inner true potential, guiding them to realize how strong they are as individuals.
Our Philosophy: Holistic, Evidence-Based, and Compassionate
Holistic treatment involves treating the whole individual, not just their addiction or mental health disorder. This includes our physical bodies, our minds, and our spirits. Each part of ourselves works in tandem to influence our overall health. A person in poor physical health may feel depressed and hopeless. Someone with poor self-esteem may feel no reason to upkeep their mental and physical health. To address this, Alpha Behavioral Health offers customized treatment plans to treat the individual as a whole.
This can range from classical clinical psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Art therapy, wilderness therapy, life skill workshops, and individualized counseling are also part of holistic treatment. Learning to uplift themselves and care for their emotional and physical needs makes for spiritually strong individuals. This judgement-free and well-rounded care ensures long-term recovery.
Individual Needs and Personalized Treatment Plans
Everyone is different, and forcing people to adhere to identical treatment plans is rarely successful. Our Austin treatment center is equipped to help meet individual needs, ensuring you have access to the right treatment plan to kickstart your recovery journey.
Addiction Treatment Options: Levels of Care for Your Specific Needs
The first step to any treatment plan is detoxification (detox). This step utilizes medical professionals to oversee those undergoing detox. Detox is conducted safely, effectively, and comfortably for each client.
Next is inpatient treatment, also known as residential treatment or an inpatient program. This form of intensive care ensures that clients can recover in peace without being exposed to common outside addiction triggers.
Once inpatient treatment is complete, clients transfer to a partial hospitalization program (PHP). This offers structured support while allowing clients to begin preparing for life outside of treatment.
Depending on your needs, you may then transfer to an intensive outpatient program (IOP) or outpatient treatment. The difference between these two programs is the frequency of treatment to fully transition someone back to normal life. An IOP or outpatient program offers ongoing support with flexible care and various outpatient services, which increases the success rate of recovery.
The Full Continuum of Care: A Seamless Transition
Alpha Behavioral Health specializes in continuous and comprehensive care, ensuring success post-treatment and a smooth transition back to normal life.
Evidence-Based Therapies and Treatment Modalities
Clients receiving treatment at Alpha Behavioral Health can utilize a wide range of evidence-based therapies and treatments. These treatments are safe, effective, and backed by years of scientific data and research. Therapies and treatments at Alpha Behavioral Health are chosen in such a way that they can work in any addiction recovery treatment program. Some therapies will be more effective for an individual compared to others. This flexibility and comprehensive approach ensures that you and your loved one get the specialized treatment you need and deserve.
Some examples of therapies utilized at Alpha Behavioral Health include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy ( CBT )
- Dialectical behavior therapy ( DBT )
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Motivational interviewing
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Art and experiential modalities
The goal of the clinicians at Alpha Behavioral Health is not just to help their clients overcome alcohol and drug addiction. They work to build up their clients, showing them that they can be powerful and courageous. Peer support and connection are encouraged to assist clients in the healing process. This is often done through our specialty programs, such as the Alpha Launch Program. The goal is to create a robust peer network for relapse prevention and aftercare for each client.
Relapse Prevention and Aftercare Planning
It’s not just enough to treat the addiction. Clients must be given skills to aid their recovery journey and prevent relapse. Alpha Behavioral Health does so by helping clients build life skills for successful sober living. This is mostly achieved with the Alpha transitional living program, where young men forge the life skills they need in a safe, supportive environment. Alongside workshops, academic support, and career counseling, all clients have the tools they need to forge their future, free of addiction.
Why Choose Alpha Behavioral Health?
Families in the Austin area choose Alpha Behavioral Health because of our commitment to providing compassionate behavioral healthcare. We work with many insurance plans and insurance providers, helping you or a loved one get the care they need and deserve.
The well-being of our clients is important. Each client can expect a safe and supportive environment for healing. We work with families to offer healing beyond initial treatment, breaking the cycle of addiction once and for all. Alpha Behavioral Health can make a difference in your life. So take the first step in healing today.
Everyone deserves access to compassionate and comprehensive addiction treatment. To learn how Alpha Behavioral Health can help families living in Austin, Texas, call (855) 725-2744 today.