The right level of support can also change over time. What someone needs immediately after detox or residential treatment may be very different from what they need months or years later.

Professional Treatment

Depending on the severity and nature of a substance use disorder, treatment may range from outpatient counseling to more intensive programs, including intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, residential, or medically managed treatment.

If you're unsure where to begin, a primary care physician or addiction medicine specialist can help evaluate your medical needs, discuss treatment options, and determine whether medication may be appropriate. 

Individual Therapy

Individual therapy can provide a private setting to understand the factors contributing to substance use, develop coping strategies, recognize relapse warning signs, and address the underlying issues that can interfere with recovery.

For some people, therapy is the primary form of ongoing support. For others, it works best as one part of a broader recovery plan.

Some prescription medications can themselves become problematic, particularly when they are used regularly, misused, or combined with other substances.

Benzodiazepines deserve particular attention. Medications such as Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, and Valium can be helpful for certain conditions, but regular use can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal. Physical dependence is not automatically the same thing as addiction or a substance use disorder. Benzodiazepines should not be stopped abruptly when physical dependence is present. A medically supervised, individualized taper may be necessary, particularly for someone with a history of substance use disorder. 

I can help you understand the treatment and recovery options available to you and, when medical care is needed, help you identify the appropriate level of professional support.

Medication does not replace recovery work, but for some individuals it can make recovery more achievable.

Peer Support & Recovery Groups

Peer support can provide something professional treatment cannot completely replicate: connection with people who understand recovery from the inside.

There are many different approaches, and you don't have to participate in a particular type of program simply because it is the most familiar.

12-Step Programs

Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step fellowships provide free, peer-based support. AA itself describes its program as nonreligious, although spirituality is an important part of its approach and individual meetings may differ in how spiritual themes are expressed. AA also specifically provides resources for agnostic and atheist members.

SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery offers a secular, evidence-informed approach centered around motivation, coping with urges, managing thoughts and behaviors, and developing a balanced life. Meetings are available both online and in person.

LifeRing Secular Recovery

LifeRing is an abstinence-based, secular, self-directed recovery community. Its approach emphasizes sobriety, personal responsibility, and developing a fulfilling life without alcohol or other addictive drugs.

Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS)

SOS provides a secular, self-help approach to sobriety that emphasizes personal responsibility, rational thinking, and individual choice.

There are also other recovery communities and specialized support groups available. The goal isn't to find the "perfect" program. It's to find support that you can actually use and that fits your beliefs, needs, and stage of recovery.

Long-term recovery is easier when you don't have to do it alone. Your support system might include a therapist, physician, recovery group, sponsor or peer, family members, friends, or other people who understand what you're trying to accomplish.

We can talk about the options, identify where additional support may be helpful, and develop a recovery plan that makes sense for you.

Recovery is not one-size-fits-all. Finding the right combination of support can make all the difference.