Recovery can certainly be hard work. Thankfully, treatment for addiction in PA and the rest of the country has advanced by leaps and bounds over just the last decade. Admitting to a modern drug detox center can keep you safe and comfortable through what is the toughest part for most people—the withdrawal phase. But what comes next?
Making a Lasting Change After Drug Detox
Rest assured that you or your loved one can get through what tends to be the more physically demanding part of stopping drugs or alcohol. But what happens next? After all, people generally don’t enter addiction treatment unless a series of events (and oftentimes consequences) lead them there. Getting past withdrawal is key, but how do you ensure that you are able to hold onto your precious and hard-won sobriety? By now you know that some substantial lifestyle changes are in order.
It doesn’t necessarily matter how you reached a place where you developed a substance use disorder. The truth is, it can happen to almost anyone and in a dozen different ways. Whether you began with some moderate, seemingly manageable use that got out of hand or you unintentionally became dependent on a prescribed medication, it’s not important. No matter how the addiction began, you will need to make some meaningful changes in the way you think and behave if you want the best possible defense against a recurrence (relapse).
Finding Time and Space for Recovery to Take Root
You may have heard this before, but your recovery really must come first in your life if you want to hold onto it. That means more than simply getting a drug and alcohol detox for most people. What you do after you complete detox can have a substantial bearing on your success in recovery. If you are able to take an extended leave of absence from work or school, that will give you the most freedom to take care of yourself.
That isn’t necessarily an option for everyone, but it may be easier to accomplish than you believe. A law called The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) helps protect your job under certain circumstances, should you need a leave of absence. You or your loved one are entitled to time to heal and recover, just as sure as you could make the case for medical leave following an accident or surgery, attending drug treatment–receiving treatment for drug and alcohol addiction is a legitimate medical need.
What You Should Know About FMLA Leave for Drug Rehab
It’s not guaranteed that every person will be eligible for medical leave from work under the FMLA law. But, the FMLA has been used to help many thousands of people successfully hold onto their jobs while they complete drug treatment. The only ‘catch’ is that it is not paid leave (unless you have PTO you can use) and you need to meet a few requirements.
You need to have been a full-time employee at your place of work for at least one year and your company must have at least 50 employees within a 75-mile radius. The FMLA states that your employer must hold your job open for up to 26 weeks (until you can return to work). If they cannot give you your exact position back, then they have to provide you with something similar with the same pay.
In order to use FMLA to go to rehab:
- You must be a full-time employee for at least 1 year.
- You must have a legitimate medical reason (alcohol and drug treatment counts).
- Your company must have at least 50 employees in a 75-mile radius of your job.
- You must apply for FMLA leave through your employer (it isn’t automatic).
The Right Plan for You After Your Detox
So, the only real question is, what are you willing and able to do to protect your sobriety? After your initial treatment, you have a range of options to continue your addiction treatment after detoxing from alcohol or drugs.
We understand that not everyone is going to be able or willing to take 6 weeks or more off from work to go to a full-time alcohol and drug rehab program. But it’s always a good idea to explore all of your options.
Some possibilities for you after your detox include:
- Inpatient treatment: 24-hour stay in a medical alcohol and drug rehab.
- Partial-Hospitalization Program (PHP): Full-day addiction treatment, with evenings off.
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): Half-day addiction treatment, 3-5 times a week.
- Outpatient Program (OP): Usually one 30-90 minute treatment session, 1 time a week.
- Sober Living/Supportive Housing: Safe, sober temporary housing for PHP, IOP etc.
- Medication-Assisted Treatment: A therapy and medication regimen to control cravings.
With the exception of inpatient treatment and partial-hospitalization programs (PHP), it is possible to participate in any of the options above and continue to work or attend school full or part-time, if you need to. Many people opt for a treatment plan that includes several of these options.
Don’t feel like you need to figure out exactly what treatment is right for you, the discharge planning team at Innovo is here to help you make an ideal plan for your recovery after detox.
Innovo Detox is Committed to Your Success in Recovery
At Innovo Detox, we are deeply committed to the success of every person we have the privilege to treat. We will help you or your loved one develop a treatment and recovery plan that best suits their needs. Every person’s recovery journey looks a little different, but everyone deserves to get the most out of their treatment so they have the best chance possible at long-term sobriety.
If you have any questions about getting a medical detox for alcohol or drug addiction or treatment options after detox–Innovo Detox is here to help. One call to our confidential detox hotline is all it takes to get answers to your questions. You can reach us anytime at (717) 971-4566