Suffering a drug overdose and living to tell the tale is a wake-up call. Maybe you just recently quit using and started up again. Perhaps you intentionally overdosed. No matter what the background story is, there’s hope. Coming back is possible.
Overdosing on Drugs Can be a New Beginning
Accidental overdoses frequently happen when someone fresh out of detox falls into the trap of using again. They’re so familiar with their old dose that they don’t even think twice. However, because they went through withdrawal, their bodies are no longer able to process the dosages. This differential results in a medical emergency.
Another way of accidentally overdosing occurs when the purity of a substance is far greater than you realize. You frequently hear about these types of situations from heroin users. Intentionally taking more of a substance than you should is a different kind of overdose. You might do so to get high from prescription medications such as opioids or stimulants.
But no matter which way you overdosed, it gives you the opportunity for a new beginning. Detox and long term drug rehab that incorporates various types of addiction treatment can help you to overcome substance use. The goal is to fortify you before you return home to live on your own again. Your drug use, medical history, and overall health history allow counselors to customize a program just for you.
Relapse Prevention Counseling Works
Therapists use a range of approaches to work with program participants who survived an overdose. Strategies depend on whether they never entered rehab after detox, didn’t finish it, or lacked proper aftercare. In many cases, the failure to enroll immediately in rehab after detox leads to a return to using. Examples of therapeutic modalities in rehab include:
- Dialectical behavioral therapy for individuals who may not respond to CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)
- 12 Step recovery for people lacking peer support
- Life skills training to provide experiences that patients can monetize later on to support themselves
- Holistic treatments to emphasize whole-person care
- Trauma therapy that makes it possible to focus your attention on triggers and work through unresolved issues from the past
All of these treatment options work together for preventing relapse in the future. That said, it’s always possible to hit a bump in the road at some point—but remember that returning for more help is always possible as well.
Getting Help after a Drug Overdose
If you or a loved one survived a recent drug overdose, don’t delay getting help now. At Crestview Recovery, we can work with you whether you’ve been to rehab before or this is your first time. Getting back on track and moving forward with your life doesn’t have to be difficult. At Crestview Recovery, we treat a variety of addictions, including:
Reach out for help today by calling 866.262.0531!
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
