What is Rehab?

“Rehab” is a term for a program designed to help an individual stop using alcohol, drugs, and substances in general that are considered harmful to the body and mind. It is an all-encompassing term for different modalities of treatment, including different lengths of stays, therapies, and more, that all work together to help an individual with addiction or a substance use disorder remove the drugs or alcohol from their body and receive the therapeutic care they need in order to live a happy and healthy life without substances. There is not one single course of treatment that works for all. Your individual treatment path will vary based on a number of things, such as what substance you are dependent on, if you have co-occurring health or mental illness diagnosis, whether you can attend inpatient treatment or outpatient treatment, and more. It is important to work with a counselor, like those at Vegas Stronger™, to learn what type is best for your treatment and begin a rehab program that fits your needs.

Las Vegas, Nevada, is home to a diverse array of rehabilitation facilities that offer various routes to recovery from drug and alcohol dependency. While each program might feature unique treatment methodologies, the core journey towards sustainable healing generally encompasses three critical phases:

• Physiological Stage (Detox): This initial phase focuses on the careful elimination of all harmful substances from the individual's system, setting the foundation for a treatment journey free from the physical cravings of addiction.

• Behavioral Transformation (Therapy): A broad spectrum of therapeutic approaches aim to guide individuals towards a unified objective, regardless of the specific treatment regimen chosen. This stage is designed to foster a deep understanding and alteration of harmful behaviors, enabling individuals to comprehend the root causes of their substance use and to cease these patterns effectively and joyfully.

• Social Reintegration: Achieving lasting recovery from addiction and substance use disorders entails the adoption of new, healthy ways to interact with society without succumbing to old triggers related to people, objects, or actions.

Who Needs Rehab?

According to SAMHSA’s 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 41 million people over the age of 12 need help for a substance use disorder, but only 1.4% receive treatment. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer for who may need treatment for addiction or substance use disorder, it is as easy as understanding the major signs of those who should seek treatment:

• Physical dependence: Do you experience uncomfortable or even dangerous symptoms when you do not use it for a short or long period of time? These may include nausea, headaches, vomiting, sweating, or feeling sick. This may also include significant cravings that are intense and difficult to avoid. 
• Repeat Negative Consequences and Continued Use: Do you experience negative or uncomfortable situations from your use, such as fights with loved ones, DUIs, problems at work or problems getting to work on time, sickness, isolation, or more? Do you continue to drink or use despite these negative consequences continuing with your use?
• Impaired Control/Inability to Control: Do you drink or use for longer periods than you originally planned? Like drinking all night when you planned to go out for an hour, wanting to cut down or stop usage but never being able to, spending excessive time trying to locate, use, or recover from using the substance. 

Addiction is a chronic disease, meaning it gets worse over time. If you or a loved one are experiencing any indicators that there might be a need for drug or alcohol treatment, it is best to speak with an addiction counselor at Vegas Stronger™ to determine if action is needed now, before your symptoms get worse.

Varieties of Rehabilitation Facilities

Inpatient Care: Offers round-the-clock medical and therapeutic support within a hospital environment, catering especially to those battling severe addiction, concurrent disorders, or long-standing dependency issues, often as dictated by insurance coverage criteria.

Residential Care: This model provides a supportive, non-hospital environment where individuals live alongside peers in recovery under professional supervision, suitable for individuals at any stage of addiction.

Outpatient Services: Tailored for those who engage in treatment activities during the day but return to their personal environments afterward. The intensity of outpatient programs varies, ranging from occasional weekly sessions to comprehensive, daily interventions.

Regardless of the chosen treatment modality, all programs integrate various therapeutic techniques, professional mental health support, and resources for both clients and their families to navigate the treatment and recovery process successfully.

What Types of Treatment are in Rehab?

There are many variations of psychotherapies and behavioral therapies that are used by medical and mental health professionals all over the world in order to treat addiction and substance use disorders. These therapies all aim to do one thing: understand an underlying condition that has led to addiction and teach the client how to modify their attitudes and behaviors in order to 1) heal the pain and 2) stop using substances to numb. Therapies can beare often used alongside medications in order to help individuals remain in recovery for longer.

These are a few types of therapies used by addiction professionals, and at Vegas Stronger™:

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Contingency Management (CM)
• Family Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Twelve-Step Facilitation 
• Equine Therapy
• Canine Assisted Treatment
• Yoga
• Fitness 
• Nutrition Services

How Long Does Rehab Take?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has designated that treatment for addiction and substance use disorders should last at least 90 days in order for the treatment to be considered effective. What we know as drug and alcohol counselors, and many of us in recovery ourselves, is that the longer time you can spend in some form of treatment, alongside others in recovery, the higher your chances of staying healthy, happy, and substance-free. Lengths of stays will vary for different individuals and may include a combination of time(s) in inpatient, residential, and outpatient treatment. 

The Vegas Stronger™ Approach

At Vegas Stronger™, we advocate for a comprehensive, evidence-informed approach to addiction treatment, emphasizing the importance of addressing the individual's overall well-being to conquer addiction effectively. Our philosophy is encapsulated in our “13 Elements,” fundamental principles we believe are vital for recovery.

• Integrated Counseling and Psychiatric Care: We provide diverse group therapy options across different levels of outpatient care, including standard Outpatient Program (OP), Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), Mental Health, and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Our programs are ideal for clients who don’t necessitate medical detoxification or 24/7 oversight, yet we collaborate closely with local providers to facilitate detox services as needed.
• Comprehensive Case Management: Our case managers serve as vital links among clients, healthcare providers, and community resources, enhancing treatment outcomes through assistance in securing housing, medical care, employment, and other crucial services tailored to individual needs, thereby fostering an environment conducive to sustained sobriety.
• Medication-Assisted Recovery: Utilizing FDA-approved medications like naltrexone and buprenorphine in conjunction with counseling and behavioral therapies, we offer a clinical, evidence-based approach to improve recovery success rates, customizing medication plans to fit each client's unique requirements.
• Access to Primary Medical Care: Recognizing that many clients lack basic healthcare access upon entry, we ensure the provision of primary medical services during treatment, allowing clients to concentrate more effectively on their recovery journey.
• Housing Assistance: Secure and stable housing is a cornerstone of effective recovery, reducing stressors that might lead to relapse. We partner with local organizations to ensure our clients have a safe place to stay, directly supporting their path to recovery.
• Peer Recovery Support: Our peer recovery coaches, all of whom have achieved significant sobriety milestones, offer invaluable non-clinical support, assisting clients in gathering the resources needed for maintaining recovery.
• Enhancing Self-Image Through Wellness Services: Acknowledging the impact of self-perception on substance use, we provide access to salon services, fitness, and yoga classes, as well as nutritional counseling to help improve body image and support recovery efforts.