Springfield, MA Alcohol and Drug Outpatient Rehab Centers

Springfield is called the City of Firsts because so many inventions have been invented there over the years, including machine lathes, basketball, and even cars. But it’s also the first place you should look when you’re thinking about inpatient rehab!

Located about 90 minutes from Boston, Springfield is within 14 miles of other city centers, including West Springfield, Holyoke, Westfield, and Southwick. That means your outpatient treatment network isn’t restricted to Springfield, but includes all the cities within commuting distance around it!

Opioids are especially problematic in Hampden County, where Springfield is located. In one recent incident, 94,000 bags of heroin were seized in Springfield in September 2020. Besides heroin, prescription opioids are also a leading issue in the area.

The drug problem in Hampden County (and Massachusetts at large) isn’t new—it’s been a problem for decades. That’s why today, there’s plenty of access to outpatient drug and alcohol treatment in the area.

The outpatient programs you can access in and near Springfield include:

Here’s what you should know about drugs, alcohol, and outpatient rehab in Springfield, MA:

The Bureau of Substance Addiction Services in Massachusetts reports on treatment statistics and opioid overdose deaths in Springfield, MA.

In 2017, there were 5,766 treatment admissions and 3,924 unique people who entered treatment in Springfield.

Of those, nearly half (48%) reported past-year needle use, and more than half (52%) had entered prior mental health treatment.

The primary drugs reported for treatment admissions in 2017 included:

In 2019, 70 Springfield residents died of opioid-related overdoses, either within the city limits or elsewhere. The same year, 101 opioid-related overdose deaths happened within the city limits, either Springfield residents or people who resided out of town.

Most people have plenty of questions going into outpatient rehab, and you’re probably no different! We’ve compiled the most frequently-asked questions about outpatient rehab in Springfield so you don’t have to do the work.

Read on to learn the answers:

Where should I go to receive the best outpatient alcohol and drug treatment in Springfield, MA?

The best outpatient alcohol and drug treatment is different for each person! But in general, you can ensure you’re getting the best treatment available to you by looking for a treatment center that:

Northeast Addictions Treatment Center meets all the criteria above at our Quincy, MA outpatient facility!

What should I look for in an outpatient rehab facility?

You should look for an outpatient rehab facility that offers care that’s tailored to you and your needs. That includes creating a custom treatment plan that’s based on factors like:

With all that information, your clinicians can build a treatment plan that addresses every aspect of your health and recovery! This kind of personalized care sets you up for the best start to your lifelong recovery.

Is addiction treatment necessary for recovery?

Yes, you need addiction treatment for recovery!

Your rate of relapse is up to 50% higher without treatment. In fact, people who try to stop using substances without treatment have a 90% rate of relapse.

Treatment (including outpatient treatment) is a critical part of setting up your lifelong recovery. It gives you much-needed stability and coping tools that you’ll bring with you long after your outpatient treatment program ends.

Wondering what types of outpatient rehab programs you might encounter in Springfield? There are 5 types of treatment programs, including:

Partial Hospitalization or Day Programs

Day treatment programs, also called partial hospitalization programs, are the most intensive level of outpatient treatment. In fact, they’re very similar to inpatient programs in structure–the difference is that you get to go home at the end of your daily session!

Most of the time, a partial hospitalization program requires that you attend on a full-time basis, which can be up to 30 or 40 hours a week. The session lengths vary depending on how many sessions you have per week, but 6 or 8 hours are common lengths.

During a day program, your session may include:

Partial hospitalization programs can be a good choice for anyone who’s recovering from substance use disorder, but they’re the preferred choice for people who have a complicated substance use history. 

If you’re stable enough for outpatient but still think you could benefit from extra structure and time in treatment, then day programs could be right for you.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that like all treatment programs, day programs should last at least 90 days to get the most benefit.

Intensive Outpatient Programs

Intensive outpatient programs are a bit less time-consuming than partial hospitalization, but they still represent a high level of care.

An intensive outpatient program is on a part-time basis, so the time commitment may be only 3 days a week or so, but it varies depending on what you need. The sessions tend to be half-time in length, too.

Because IOP programs take up less time than day programs, they can be a flexible option for people who want to work a part-time job on their off days or otherwise have time for their responsibilities.

Even though you spend less time in intensive outpatient than a day program, the care is similar. Your IOP care plan might include education, counseling and therapy, group therapy, and medication.

Like other programs, intensive outpatient programs should last at least 90 days. If you can manage attending treatment for longer than 3 months, then by all means do so!

Outpatient Rehab Programs

Outpatient rehab programs offer flexible, part-time addiction care to people who want to seek (or continue) treatment, but also need the time to maintain their life and responsibilities. Many people can’t stop working or leave their families behind to go to inpatient treatment, but outpatient rehab is an accessible option for everyone.

During rehab, you’ll go to regular appointments and get treatment like therapy, counseling, and medication.

You might be a good candidate for an outpatient rehab program if you’re relatively stable. If you have a history of relapse or a complicated drug use history, then a higher level of care like intensive outpatient or day treatment may be appropriate. Talk to your doctor (or your care team at rehab) if you think outpatient rehab is right for you.

To get the most out of your time in outpatient rehab, you should attend treatment for at least 90 days.

Medication-Assisted Treatment Programs

Many people continue using medication-assisted treatment long after they leave a structured outpatient rehab program. Medication can be a valuable tool to support your recovery by eliminating long-term withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

You might be a candidate for MAT if you are:

A medication-assisted treatment program consists of:

At first, your appointments may be every day, or close to it! That’s because in the beginning of treatment, it’s common to receive your medication at the clinic for each dose. As your recovery progresses, you might start taking small supplies of medication home so you can schedule your appointments farther apart.

The medications used in MAT for opioid use disorder include Suboxone, buprenorphine, and methadone. The medications used for alcohol use disorder are acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone.

There’s no time limit on how long you can use MAT. As long as it’s working with no complications, many people keep using medications to manage addiction for years!

12 Steps Programs

12 Steps is one of the most well-known recovery programs in the United States, thanks to its roots in Alcoholics Anonymous. Today, the groups typically welcome people who are in recovery from all substances, not just alcohol.

The most important elements of 12 Steps are:

There’s no specific time commitment for a 12 Steps program because most of them last indefinitely. They’re designed to provide lifelong support to people in recovery whether they’re in treatment or not. Many people attend 12 Steps for decades after entering recovery!

Aftercare Programs

No matter what types of outpatient programs you attended on the way to recovery, aftercare is an important part of your long-term recovery plan.

Aftercare ensures that you’re doing what you need to do to maintain your recovery, including self-care and continuing parts of treatment that worked for you (like therapy and medication).

Your treatment team will talk to you about aftercare before you leave outpatient rehab. Your aftercare plan may include:

We have good news: all long-term insurance plans are required to pay for outpatient addiction treatment since the Affordable Care Act was passed back in 2010.

That’s because the ACA bans insurance companies from making coverage decisions that discriminate against people with co-occurring disorders like addiction.

What does that mean for you? If you have health insurance through your place of employment, Medicare, Medicaid, or the Healthcare Marketplace, then you’re almost certainly covered for outpatient addiction treatment.

The specifics of coverage (such as treatment lengths, coverage limits, and network restrictions) depend on your exact insurer, as well as your plan. You can get that information by:

It’s normal to have a lot of questions before you enter outpatient treatment in Springfield. We’ve compiled the most popular questions and found the answers to them so you can educate yourself to the fullest!

The questions include:

What are the benefits of outpatient treatment?

Outpatient treatment opens up the possibility of recovery to people who can’t manage the rigorous schedule of inpatient treatment.

If you have children or work, then you probably hesitated before looking into addiction treatment, even though you know that you need it. Outpatient treatment provides flexible options so that you can get treatment without compromising your life.

Can you skip detox before outpatient treatment?

You shouldn’t skip detox before outpatient treatment. To get the most benefit from outpatient, you should stop using substances prior to entering. That should happen at a medical detox center where you can be monitored for complications and have your symptoms managed.

Your risk of relapse is much higher when you skip detox. Even though outpatient treatment doesn’t include detox, your treatment center or your doctor can give you an outside referral for detox. Use it!

Does insurance cover outpatient rehab?

Long-term health insurance covers outpatient rehab. If you have insurance through your job, the government, or the Healthcare Marketplace, then you’re probably covered. The exception is short-term or temporary policies, which don’t cover pre-existing conditions like addiction.

Is outpatient treatment safe during COVID-19?

The risks of untreated substance use disorder are high, so you should continue treatment if you can. Treatment facilities are increasing their cleaning and hygiene policies in light of the global pandemic. If you’re immunocompromised or have chronic illnesses, talk to your doctor before attending treatment.

Choose Northeast Addictions Treatment Center to start your outpatient journey at our centrally-located Quincy, MA facility. We’re located just minutes from Boston and its many suburbs, making it a convenient place to commute in for treatment.

Our inpatient treatment is compassionate and evidence-based, and we work with clinicians who have experience with the substance use disorder population.

The result is a comprehensive and intensive outpatient experience that’s tailored to your needs, giving you the best possible start to recovery.

Call us today or fill out our insurance verification form to get the process started!