Maine Drug & Alcohol Outpatient Rehab Centers

Like the rest of New England and the Northeastern United States, Maine is facing a long-fought battle with substance abuse and addiction. The worst threats in the area include alcohol, heroin and prescription opioids.

Southern Maine has the unique benefit of being close to central New England cities outside of the state. If you live there (like most Mainers do, since it’s the most populous part of the state), then your outpatient options expand to cities in New Hampshire and Massachusetts that are drivable within an hour or two, like:

  • Portsmouth, NH
  • Salisbury, MA
  • Lynn, MA
  • Manchester, NH
  • Boston, MA

Maine and the rest of New England are committed to fighting drug and alcohol addiction by expanding access to evidence-based outpatient treatment. 

During outpatient treatment, you continue to live at home and tend to your responsibilities while you attend regular appointments to receive care. Your care may include therapy, medication, educational sessions and group sessions.

Outpatient care is the most flexible type of addiction treatment with options available for everyone, ranging from intensive partial hospitalization to several-times-a-week clinical treatment.

If you’re considering outpatient treatment in Maine, you probably have questions—and we have answers. Read on to learn all about alcohol and drug outpatient treatment in Maine:

Maine Alcohol and Drug Addiction Statistics

Even though Maine is small in terms of population, it faces a substantial problem with drug and alcohol addiction. Learn more about what Maine is dealing with in terms of substance abuse and treatment admissions:

Maine-Specific Drug Stats

The State Department of Health and Human Services reports on drug and alcohol statistics in Maine. The most recent publicly-available report (2015) says that:

  • Nearly 10% of Mainers between 18 and 25 reported abusing opioid pain medications in the past year
  • More than 10% of Maine high school students reported abusing prescription drugs in the last year
  • 24% of deaths from automobile crashes involved alcohol in Maine
  • 208 people died from drug or alcohol overdoses in Maine in 2014
  • 7 out of 10 overdose deaths in Maine involves an opioid
  • Drug overdoses are most common in Mainers aged 26 to 35
  • Alcohol overdoses are most common in Mainers between 46 and 55 years old

Maine Treatment Facts

The organization that reports on treatment admissions in Maine is the State of Maine Behavioral Health Office. The most recent publicly-available report (2011) says that over an 11-year period:

  • 250,099 Mainers entered treatment for drug and alcohol addiction total
  • 50% of Mainers seeking treatment had a dual diagnosis mental health disorder
  • 147,082 admissions were for alcohol
  • 27,442 admissions were for cannabis
  • 15,269 admissions were for OxyContin (the extended-release version of oxycodone)
  • 13,461 admissions were for heroin
  • 4,714 admissions were for other opioids
  • 4,117 admissions were for oxycodone

Maine Alcohol and Drug Outpatient Treatment Questions

If you’ve never been to outpatient rehab before, you probably have some questions about the process and what to expect. The more you know about the rehab process before you go into it, the more you can get out of your treatment experience. 

These are the questions you should be asking about outpatient treatment in Maine:

Where should I go to receive the best outpatient drug treatment in Maine?

You should go to the treatment center that best meets your needs. That means a treatment center that offers patient-focused treatment plans.

Look for an outpatient center that tailors every treatment plan to the patient’s individual needs. No two patients respond exactly the same way to any treatment, so it’s important to know that your treatment will be all your own.

How long is outpatient addiction treatment in Maine?

The length of your outpatient treatment program depends on factors such as:

  • The drug you’re recovering from
  • How long you used it
  • Whether you have a history of relapse
  • Your physical and mental health history
  • How well you respond to treatment

The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends that all treatment for drug and alcohol addiction lasts at least 90 days. Three months is the shortest period that’s proven effective, and you should attend outpatient for even longer if you can.

What should I look for in an outpatient rehab facility?

You should look for an outpatient rehab facility that uses evidence-based treatment. That means treatment that has been vetted by the scientific community and has been shown to be effective.

Some examples of evidence-based addiction treatment include:

  • 12 Steps rehabilitation therapy
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Dialectical behavior therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Medication-assisted treatment
  • Matrix Model therapy

Is addiction treatment necessary for recovery?

Yes, anyone who wants to recover from substance use disorder needs treatment! SUD is a lifelong disorder, and like other chronic diseases, it needs treatment before you can recover from it.

When you quit using drugs or alcohol without attending treatment, your risk of relapse is as high as 90%. Going to any kind of evidence-based drug treatment (including outpatient) reduces that risk by 40% to 50%.

How to Choose an Outpatient Rehab Center

Choosing an outpatient rehab center is one of the most important decisions of your life. Outpatient may be part of your life for months or longer, so it’s critical to find a good fit. Finding the best fit gives you a strong foundation for the rest of your recovery (and the rest of your life).

Luckily, picking the right outpatient treatment center is easy once you know what to look for. You don’t have to be an addiction expert to know what makes a rehab center the best fit.

Here’s what you should look for when you’re choosing a rehab center:

Accreditation

Accreditations mean that a third-party organization is overseeing the treatment center to make sure that they provide treatment that meets the minimum standard of care. Look for a treatment center that has accreditation from:

  • Maine Department of Health and Human Services
  • The Joint Commission
  • Shatterproof
  • LegitScript

Evidence-Based Treatment

Evidence-based outpatient treatment is considered effective by the scientific and medical community. Look for a treatment center that offers evidence-based addiction treatment, such as:

  • 12 Steps therapy
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Dialectical behavior therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Internal Family Systems therapy
  • Medication-assisted treatment
  • Motivational interviewing therapy

Customized Outpatient Programs

Choose a treatment center that creates each outpatient program to match your individual needs as a person. No two people living with substance use disorder have the same history, so tailored treatment is important for addressing every underlying issue that contributes to your addiction disorder.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

In the most recent report on treatment admissions in Maine, 50% of people who entered treatment for drug or alcohol addiction had a mental health disorder at the same time. 

It’s very common to live with depression, anxiety or other mental health problems while you’re dealing with addiction. Undiagnosed mental health disorders can hold your recovery back, even with the best treatment. That’s why it’s so important to choose a treatment center that screens for dual diagnoses and provides treatment on the spot.

Credentialed Treatment Professionals

It’s important to know that the treatment center you’ll be attending has credentialed and experienced treatment professionals on staff. That includes therapists, counselors, social workers, physicians, and anyone else who will take part in your outpatient care.

Continuum of Care

You should choose outpatient treatment that focuses on the continuum of care, or managing your treatment beyond your clinical visits.

The continuum of care means ensuring that you’ve undergone critical steps like detox and that you have an aftercare plan (or a plan for long-term treatment.) It also means making sure that you have enough support in areas of your life like work and relationships.

Family Programs

Your family and the people you live with are the most direct source of support that you have. Participating in family programs makes it possible for you to navigate the recovery process with your family members involved, which means they know how to support you better.

During outpatient, a family program can take place either in a therapy setting or in the home. It may include a combination of group counseling, therapy and educational sessions. In addition to being part of your outpatient treatment, family programs can be part of your aftercare too.

Selection of Treatments and Therapies

You should always choose a treatment center that offers a wide range of treatments and therapies. Most treatment plans include multiple treatments, and sometimes your treatment plan will evolve and change as your recovery progresses.

Choosing a treatment center that has a wide range of treatments and therapies available means that you have the best chance of getting a treatment plan that addresses all of your needs and history. While evidence-based treatment should be the bulk of your treatment plan, holistic treatment can help augment it.

Types of Outpatient Programs in Maine

There are a few types of outpatient programs available, so you’re sure to find one that works for you. You may move between programs during the course of your treatment if your condition requires it. For instance, it’s common to start with partial hospitalization and move on to regular outpatient rehab or 12 Steps when your recovery stabilizes.

The types of outpatient programs include:

12 Steps Program

The 12 Steps program is based on Alcoholics Anonymous, but it’s not just for people recovering from alcohol addiction. There are modified 12 Steps programs for people recovering from opioids and stimulants, as well as programs that welcome people living with any type of substance abuse problem.

You should expect 12 Steps to take the form of group therapy and community support. 12 Steps groups are tightly-knit and built around helping each other.

Your 12 Steps program can last as long as you want it to.  Instead of attending 12 Steps for a little while and stopping when your recovery is stable, most people who enter 12 Steps continue long-term to support their long-term recovery. 

Outpatient Rehab Program

A standard outpatient rehab program can look very different from person to person because your treatment will be tailored to your needs, down to the days you attend and how long.

During outpatient treatment, your care may include:

  • Substance abuse education
  • Counseling
  • Therapy
  • Holistic treatments such as trauma-informed yoga or acupuncture
  • Medication-assisted treatment

If your treatment plan includes medication like Suboxone or methadone, then your program may include regular blood screenings to measure the amount in your system.

Some people attend outpatient for 3 days a week, while others attend 7 days a week. Similarly, you can go to outpatient treatment for a few months until you reach stability, or you can attend for even longer to help maintain recovery.

To be effective, an outpatient rehab program should last at least 90 days, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Partial Hospitalization Program

Also known as a day treatment program or intensive treatment program, partial hospitalization is the most intensive form of outpatient treatment. In this program, you’ll attend treatment full-time for 4 to 8 hours a day, up to 7 days a week.

During partial hospitalization, you’ll receive evidence-based care that’s tailored to your needs and medical history. That care may include:

  • Addiction education
  • Counseling
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Dialectical behavior therapy
  • Internal Family Systems therapy
  • Medication-assisted treatment
  • Matrix Model treatment

Like other forms of outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization programs should last at least 3 months to get the full benefit from treatment.

Partial hospitalization is a good choice for many people, but especially those who have a complicated substance use history or a history of relapse. If you have struggled to get into recovery (or stay in it) in the past, then day treatment may be the right option for you.

Aftercare Programs

Your treatment journey isn’t over when you leave outpatient treatment for the last time. Participating in aftercare can help protect your recovery by reinforcing and supporting your ability to cope. 

Aftercare is different for everyone—it can take the form of a structured program (often called an alumni program) or it can be an unstructured plan that you build with your care team. It might include a combination of:

  • Counseling
  • Group therapy
  • Support groups
  • Medication-assisted treatment

For some people, continuing outpatient treatment is a part of the aftercare plan, especially if you’re receiving medication.

How to Use Your Insurance to Pay for Outpatient Treatment

If outpatient treatment is in your future, you’re certainly wondering how to pay for it. Many health insurance plans do cover substance abuse treatment. 

The biggest exception is short-term health insurance plans, which never cover pre-existing conditions like substance use disorder. But if you have long-term insurance through your job, Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, or the Healthcare Marketplace, then you’re most likely covered.

To find out the specifics about paying for outpatient treatment with your plan, you should call the Member Services phone number on your insurance card. 

Alternately, you can call Northeast Addictions Treatment Center and we’ll navigate the insurance coverage part for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Outpatient Treatment in Maine

It’s normal to have a lot of questions about rehab before you start outpatient treatment. In fact, the more you learn before treatment, the better you’ll adjust because you’ll know what to expect.

We did the legwork for you and found the most frequently asked questions about outpatient treatment in Maine:

What is outpatient treatment?

Outpatient treatment is a form of drug and alcohol treatment program that allows you to address your substance use disorder without checking into a hospital or an inpatient setting. 

Outpatient programs are an option for people who want to recover while maintaining their responsibilities, like work or childcare. With outpatient, you can build coping skills on a part-time basis without leaving your life behind. 

Do you need to go to detox before outpatient treatment?

Yes, you should go to detox before outpatient treatment. Withdrawing from drugs or alcohol is uncomfortable at best and dangerous at worst. In fact, withdrawing from alcohol or benzodiazepines can lead to life-threatening seizures.

When you withdraw from substances under the care of a detox team, you’ll stay comfortable and safe throughout the process with care that includes symptom management and round-the-clock monitoring.

If you haven’t gone to detox and want to start inpatient, Northeast Addictions Treatment Center can refer you to an outside detox program first.

How do you know if you need outpatient treatment?

You need outpatient treatment if you have substance use disorder and need help with recovery. The signs that you have substance use disorder include:

  • Neglecting your responsibilities
  • Lying about your whereabouts
  • Spending too much time using substances
  • Avoiding people you care about and activities you used to enjoy
  • Being unable to start your day without substances
  • Getting withdrawal symptoms if you try to stop using substances

What does intensive outpatient treatment mean?

Intensive outpatient treatment is similar to partial hospitalization or day treatment. It means part-time outpatient treatment that you attend for 3 days per week. These programs offer a balance between the round-the-clock care you get at inpatient and the flexibility you get as an outpatient.

Why Choose Northeast Addictions Treatment Center?

Northeast Addictions Treatment Center strives to provide the best quality of care in the Northeast region as well as the country.

We offer different levels of outpatient care, including:

  • Intensive outpatient
  • Day treatment or partial hospitalization
  • Outpatient rehab
  • 12 Steps

Our team of certified and experienced addiction professionals create each treatment plan to meet your individual needs and goals in recovery. Those credentials include:

  • Licensed drug and alcohol counselors
  • Psychiatric nurse practitioners
  • Masters-level clinicians and therapists

Our Quincy, MA outpatient treatment center is located minutes from Boston, making it easy to access from nearby parts of New England, like southern Maine and New Hampshire.

Written by
Northeast Addition Editorial Team

©2024 Northeast Addition Center | All Rights Reserved

This page does not provide medical advice.

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