what are rehab centers like?

[alqaedagirl]

hey everyone,
i'd like to ask all the people who've been in rehab centers for opiate addiction to tell me how these rehab centers are, what kind of medications they provide, and if they are effective.
thanks,
alqaedagirl.

[ashley80]

Alqaedagirl,
I have been in rehab for opiate addiction, but not inpatient. I have met many people who have been in inpatient rehab.

I believe that rehab centers are all different in their approach to detoxing opiate addicts. Many of them are 12-step based.

Some use suboxone, some use ultram or other prescription drugs to help you with the withdrawal symptoms. I have used suboxone to detox on an outpatient basis, and it is very effective at relieving WD symptoms. (but does nothing to help you stay clean once you stop taking it, of course)

Once you are opiate free, some centers will recommend Revia (sp?) which is a long acting opiate blocker.

Hope this helps some. Are you planning on entering a rehab facility?

Ashley

[alqaedagirl]

Ashley;
Thanks for your response, your info helped. I'm gonna do some reading about the medications you've mentioned.
Yeah, I plan on entering a rehab facility sometime soon. I'm looking for a rehab that would be right for me & meet my needs, but I cannot seem to find one. I'm looking for a in-patient, non-12 step, non-cold turkey & non-mental hospital type of facility that will give me enough medication to make me comfortable & then lower the dosage slowly. Also it's going to have to be a longer that 30-day stay for me, cause 30 days won't do it for me.
You see, I've been an opiate addict for almost 4 years now, and I've got clean a few times in between on my own, with the help & support of my boyfriend. The last time, I stayed clean for 14 months. And it wasn't untill like the sixth or eighth month that I started to feel better. The longer I keep using opiates, the harder it is for me to getting around to quitting. That's why now I do not think that it would be possible for me to do it on my own, to just wake up in the morning and say to myself: ok, starting today I won't shoot up no more, and I'll drink methadone or whatever...
Hey Ashley, may I ask you how long you've been an addict before entering rehab, and how difficult was it? (getting clean, & being in a rehab program?) Also do you know of any web sites that would recommend rehab facilities in my area?
Thanks for your help.
peace,
alqaedagirl.

[Paulie]

I just want to say, that for this addict, I thought I knew what was right for me, but after some sobriety I realized I did not have a clue. For me, I have to trust and listen to others that have come before me, others that are sober, try what works for them. My thinking what is right for me, would have me living in a car again like I was 9 years ago.

Just something to think about. If you want to get clean, do it, the more thinking the more using you might do.

Good luck to you.

[alqaedagirl]

Paulie;
You are right when you say that I should get clean as soon as possible, and I feel the same, and I believe I'm ready to do that. First, though, I need to find myself a rehab center to help me do that, because I can't get/stay clean at home anymore. However, I can't just go anywhere to get treatment. You have to know where you're going and what to expect.
Not long ago I heard of a rehab in my area & I was concidering going there. Later a really good friend of mine had told me that they know of someone that has been in that rehab center, and that the staff there had very sevierly mentally abused this person. So obviously I won't go there. f**k those kinds of 'rehabs' that torture people. They're F*cking lucky that I'm not posting the name of their rehab center all over the net .
Paulie; when you say that for you, you have to trust and listen to others that have come before you, you're right about that in a way as well. And that is exacly what I am doing: I'm asking people to answer any of the questions that I ask about rehabs, etc., because they have gone through what I am about to go through.
Thanks 4 your reply Paulie. &Thanks to the people who are helping me at this site.

alqaedagirl.

[Jane63]

Hi there,
It is best to do as much research as you possibly can when looking for a rehab center to enter into...get phone numbers and call them and discuss any questions you might have.
When I found the one that I thought was best for me, I just called and made an apt and went there that day, filled out the papers and entered...they put 2-Catapress Patches on my back {these help with leg cramps, BP, and ease alot of the WD's}...I was also given Klonopin for anxiety {every 6-hrs}, Melatonin {a natural sleep aid} at bedtime, Ultram {as needed} for pain, and vitamins each day. {I was weaned off everything before my departure, but kept both Catapress patches on for at least 10-days after I got home}

We were given our 3-meals a day {"hospital food" YUKKK!} and there was also a stocked kitchen there with healthy snacks {fresh fruit, sugar cookies, crackers, OJ and juices, even pop} that we could use at any time of the day or night! There was also a "smoke room" there and being a smoker myself, I was very thankful for this! They also had a shower room and a room with a hot tub {excellent for soaking cramping legs!!!} Another thing I thought was important was the fact that patients were allowed to make outgoing and receive phonecalls as a few of the places I contacted did not allow this! {Not a good idea in my opinion although I can understand why it is sometimes done that way}

Patients were asked to attend meetings...about 7- a day and spaced about 2-hrs apart and right up until 10pm in the evening in which they had a "patients only" meeting where all of us got together without any counselors/nurses and just chatted about how our day had gone and then ended with a prayer...very nice! At this particular place, these meetings are high priority and if you try to get out of attending them, you are most certainly harrassed by the counselors/nurses to get your butt out of bed and attend! {very agravating and especially if you are either sick or just plain out of it!!!} I, at first, was very angry about this, but later understood that with rehabs now being able to do what once took 28-days in only 4-5 days, they have to pack as much info into that short time frame as they possibly can to ensure a person gets the much needed info!.....On a personal note, they did pretty much leave me alone the first day as I must have made it clear to them that there was just no way I was waking up for anything....and the meetings I did attend I actually saw patients almost fall out of their chairs and even fell asleep with my head down on the table myself a few times! {nothing "strange" for rehab!}

In this rehab, we had both male and female patients on the same floor...be prepared to see alittle bit of everything....which personally, for this small-town girl was quite shocking and I must admit to having a few nightmares about some of the people and things I saw while there!

I packed very light {mostly PJ-type lounge clothing}...no stuffed animals {bummer!!!} and nothing to do that isn't addiction related as they gave me an NA book when I got there and I was expected to read that if I actually had the energy to do anything besides sleep, eat and attend meetings!

I was supposed to stay 5-days, but felt good enough to leave on the 4th day...also I missed my husband desperately and needed to get home to him as I just knew that I would be OK and surrounded by alot of love and support. Personally, I think that is the whole key to this thing...surrounding yourself with positive people who will support you...also, for myself, I was just tired...plain ol' tired of it all!! Took me awhile to realise that, but once I did, it just seemed that nuthing was going to stand in my way and here I am today...going on 38-days clean and feeling so much better...empowered!! Yes, it is "work", but it is really sooo worth it all...even the dreaded WDs and lowered energy levels that DO eventually pass...just keep looking forward and not backward, exercise, get your sleep, eat well, hydrate and stay focused!!

Well, hope this helps in some way! Sorry for the rambling, but at times my brain goes abit faster than my fingers will type! {LOL!} Good luck to you in whatever choice you make for your recovery!
Take care of #1!!!
Jane

[ashley80]

Alquaed:
I've been struggling with opiate addiction all of my life, although I did have a period of 15 years of abstinence and relative happiness and freedom.

My current addiction has been building up over the last ten years, slowly, but relentlessly. I started out as an occasional pain pill abuser, just when I could get my hands on it. Then I started working a bit harder to get my hands on it. But I still kept my use to weekends, and took frequent breaks from using.

In 2000, I discovered a way to get lots of opiates (which I won't go into here) and it went downhill pretty darn fast from there. I've had, at most, 7 months opiate free since 2000.

It took me ten years to get really bad, but I got there. I know four years seems like a long time, and I know what you mean about it being harder and harder to detox on your own. I gave up on that in January of this year, because I had been trying for six months and couldn't get even one day clean.

I've got to say, rehab is no magic bullet. And detoxing (as you have figured out by now) is the easy part. It's the months of low mood, insomnia, lack of energy, etc., that follow that make opiate addiction a b*tch to kick.

I never thought I would go the 12 step route. Not ME!! I've eaten THOSE words, lol.

My outpatient rehab has been the best thing I have EVER done for myself. I have met the most caring, wonderful people there. My first night, I came home and told my husband, I am NOT going back there! These people are NOT like me, and I'm not like them.

Turns out I was wrong. I'm more like them than I ever imagined. It's funny. At rehab last night, this guy who had spent much of his life in jail said to me, when I met you I thought you were a librarian and no WAY did you ever get high! Now I see that you are just like me! And it felt great to hear him say that.

OOOh, I'm rambling here. Anyhow, I've used the suboxone to detox on an outpatient basis. It's pretty painless, although there are lingering symptoms (ones that you are already familiar with) once you taper off the suboxone.

I don't know of any web sites - other than this one - where you can find rehab facilities. Just one word of caution, just in case, be careful of anything called Ultra Rapid Detox. I have heard some really bad things about that method.

I hope you find what you are looking for. I'm still struggling, I don't want to misrepresent myself as having any answers at all. I just know that even though I am a "difficult case" as my rehab doc puts it, I have found much hope in rehab and in the 12 step program.

I hope you will let me know how you are doing.
Ashley

[Paulie]

alquadeagirl -

I agree, you should definatley check places out first, and of course you should not go to places that you have heard bad things about. My point was, being the kind of addict that I AM, I could question myself right out of going, always finding something wrong with everyplace I looked into. You know what I mean?

So yes, of course, research is good and should be done, but don't over do it and not get help.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by alqaedagirl

Also do you know of any web sites that would recommend rehab facilities in my area?

Hi there algaedagirl.
Dan here, addict, and in Canada as well. When I started looking for a rehab last year, I did it exclusively on the net. There's endless lists available.
If you want, send me a PM and let me know which part of the country you're in.
I'll forward you any info I have for your area.
And welcome to SoberRecovery

[oxy-cleaned]

Dear Alqaedagirl:

Rehabs are like any other institution – there are good ones and there are bad ones. I would also recommend that you call the Admissions Offices of the rehabs you have in mind and ask your questions. The Admissions Office will be able to describe that facility’s various protocols and answer many questions you might have.

Some rehabs cater to the elite and wealthy, some are more accessible to the indigent, and some cater to everyone. I was in rehab with people from all walks of life: street junkies, lawyers, suburban mothers, court-ordered youths, doctors, people running from the law, CEOs, and even one woman who, in the outside world, was a psychiatrist who specialized in treating substance abusers! I did not meet one patient who was dangerous or threatening. Many of the staff were ex-addicts and ex-alcoholics themselves, including the doctor who treated me. Every staff member was compassionate and understanding. I could not have been more impressed with the kind care I received.

As soon as I entered the detox section of the rehab, the nurses gave me medication to lower my seriously high blood pressure (I was in bad mental shape), fluids (I was very dehydrated), and phenobarbital (to prevent seizures, as well as to help me relax and sleep). I was given a fast-acting and potent sleep-aid each night. They told me I would have to be 24-hours away from my last dose of opiates before they would begin my suboxone treatment. Since I had taken a mega-dose on my way driving to rehab, that meant 24-hours withdrawing in detox. The phenobarbital really helped during those 24 hours because it knocked me completely silly for 4-5 hours after each dose. However, when that sweet nurse came in and said, “Okay, it’s time, honey,� I was definitely ready for some relief. The suboxone eased the withdrawal immediately. The nurses dosed me with 4 mg every hour until they found my “maintenance dose,� which was 24 mg. During my first 24 hours on suboxone, I puked every 20-30 minutes and had the absolute worst headache of my life. But I would take those two side-effects any day over the alternative of withdrawing CT.

When I moved over to the rehab section of the facility four days later, I felt great! I was taken off of phenobarbital and was only allowed a sleep aid for the first three nights in rehab. I was given vitamins every morning. They keep you EXTREMELY busy in rehab. Your day consists of group therapy, one-on-one therapy, lectures, movies, NA/AA meetings, and lots and lots of good food! I had lost 40 pounds during the height of my addiction and was skeletal by the time I entered rehab. I gained 10 pounds back during my stay. My family was allowed to visit me on Saturdays. I met with a nutritionist and a psychiatrist. My therapist at the rehab counseled my family as well as myself. They teach you coping skills, how to deal with triggers and cravings, and basically how to live life on life’s terms. You are encouraged to cry and to laugh and to let go of the shame that has surrounded your addict self. It is powerful stuff to watch someone finally allow themselves to feel the emotions they have been trying to cover up for years. Rehab was simultaneously one of the best and one of the worst experiences of my life.

After 5 days at 24 mg of suboxone, they started lowering my dose each day. I took my last tablet the day after I got out. The suboxone had gotten me through the hell that is oxycontin withdrawal, but I still needed to face that final withdrawal from all opiates. Three days after my last dose of suboxone, I started that withdrawal. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being CT withdrawal), the withdrawal from suboxone was about a 3. I didn’t feel good, energetic, or healthy for about 45 days after that last dose, but I didn’t expect getting off of the drugs would be easy. On bad days, I focused on the overwhelming gratitude I felt for being free of the prison I had lived in for years, and it got me through.

My rehab experience was excellent and I hope your rehab experience is the same. Good luck!