Treatment Plan for Substance Abuse

The first step of drug abuse treatment is the planning stage. At Northeast Addictions Treatment Center, located in Quincy MA, our treatment specialists will work with you to come up with a plan that is customized to your needs.

A customized plan is necessary because cookie-cutter treatment plans simply don’t work. Your substance use disorder is different from anyone else’s because no one has the same history as yours. The treatments that work best depend on your goals, support system, and drug history.

Planning happens after you’ve given our treatment specialist information about your condition, including your:

  • Recovery goals
  • Drug use history
  • Medical history
  • Mental health history
  • Family history

This information gives us a clear picture of what’s going on so that we can choose the right treatment strategy.

It’s important to know about the treatment planning process before you go into it. It’s our job to come up with a plan, but it’s your job to be involved. You’re more likely to have a good treatment outcome if you take part in the process from start to finish.

Contact us today to get a plan setup just for you!

#1: Name Your Problems

You can’t start planning your treatment without knowing what problems you’re tackling. The first step of treatment planning is talking about the problems you’re having.

It might seem obvious: the problem is substance abuse. But dig deeper: what problems are you having because of drug abuse?

They can include:

  • Legal trouble
  • Relationship problems
  • Trouble attending school
  • Trouble holding down a job

Be honest about the problems you’re having. Our caring staff is here to help you get through it, not to judge you.

#2: Write Your Goals

Once you have a list of problems that you’re having because of drug use, it’s time to create a list of drug abuse treatment goals.

That can include goals such as:

  • Attending school without missing classes this semester
  • Getting a job
  • Going to therapy
  • Making it through probation without breaking your conditions
  • Mending a relationship that you damaged by using drugs
  • Treating your co-occurring mental health disorders

Drug abuse recovery is more like a lifestyle change—in addition to healing the condition, you also have to address all of the problems that it’s caused.

Goals help you do this and they help you stay motivated to keep on track.

#3: Prioritize Your Energy

You can’t tackle a long list of treatment goals all at the same time. You’ll end up making a little bit of progress on each one, but not enough to meet the milestones you need.

Instead, look at your goal list and decide what order to achieve them in. What’s most important this month, doing better at school or getting a job?

Your most obvious goal is staying drug-free, but you can break a lot of ground in other areas of your life at the same time.

Focus on a single goal at a time. Each time you hit a new goal, it’s time to choose a new focus and keep it moving.

#4: Decide the Details

Now’s the fun part: your treatment plan is becoming an actual plan!

We will be at your side at each step of the way to help you decide how you’re going to meet those goals in the right order.

Ask yourself questions such as:

  • How can I stay on track to get a B in classes this semester?
  • How can I reach out to someone I hurt with my behavior?
  • What can I do to stay drug-free in a tempting situation?
  • Where can I apply for jobs that will work with my record?

Think critically about your problems and the best ways to solve them. And most importantly, talk through them! Our treatment team is there to help you find the answers to these questions.

#5: Hold Yourself Accountable

Accountability is arguably the most important part of drug treatment! After all, you can only benefit from your substance abuse treatment plan if you follow through.

There are many ways you can do this, including:

  • Contingency management therapy, which teaches you to stay accountable in exchange for incentives
  • Daily reflection to help you stay aware of where you’re succeeding and where you need more work
  • Regular check-ins with our care team

If you slip or don’t meet a goal, it’s not the end of the world. Treatment for drug abuse isn’t a straight line to recovery for most people. There’s some back-and-forth while you learn the best ways to manage recovery and treatment, and that’s normal.

The most important thing is that you hold yourself accountable by staying in treatment and trying different strategies to meet those goals. Commit to sticking with it and admit when you’re not doing your best (because everyone has those days, weeks or months) so you can do better.

Get Treatment for Drug Abuse

Now that you’re armed with information and know what to expect, there’s no better time than the present to start planning your substance abuse treatment.

Get a head start and Verify Your Insurance Policy to see how much of your treatment will be covered!

Written by
Northeast Addition Editorial Team

©2024 Northeast Addition Center | All Rights Reserved

This page does not provide medical advice.

Ready to make a change? Talk to a specialist now.