Massachusetts Addiction Treatment Center Discusses the Positive Effects Residential Drug or Alcohol Rehab Can Have on the Lives of Patients

UNION, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / December 17, 2017 / Residential drug and alcohol treatment facility, Serenity at Summit, sees the difference that residential drug and alcohol treatment can make in the lives of their patients every day, and they want to share it.

When people are in active addiction, their lives are chaotic and full of negative consequences. Taking the steps to get sober and get out from under those negative consequences is a huge life change in itself. But Summit knows there is more to it than that. Attending rehab can provide patients with additional positive changes that may not have been considered.

They Make Friends that Last a Lifetime

It's common to feel nervous and uneasy when beginning inpatient rehab. But the truth is, patients all have a shared experience - the experience of substance abuse or addiction and the desire and willingness to make changes in their lives.

Inpatient programs typically use group therapy as one of their hallmarks of recovery. Doing therapy in a group setting has been proven to be an effective tool in addiction recovery, but it also has a side benefit. It allows patients to form bonds of friendship quickly without the worry that they will be judged negatively by anyone. And fortunately, the friendships forged during the challenging weeks of addiction treatment often last a lifetime.

Co-Occurring Disorders May Be Discovered

It may seem like this is a negative life change, but residential addiction treatment centers are some of the best places to begin to work through and receive treatment for disorders that commonly co-occur with substance abuse.

At least half of people who suffer from drug or alcohol dependency or addiction also have a co-occurring mental health disorder. It can be difficult to diagnose these mental health conditions as long as the patient continues to use or drink. However, once the patient has been detoxed from substances and has begun recovery, diagnosing and treating the mental health disorders alongside their addiction becomes much easier and more effective.

Patients Remember What It Is Like to Live a Life Without Drugs

Patients in residential rehab will begin to remember what living without drugs or alcohol is like. If they have been abusing substances for a long time, it may be hard for them to even imagine or recall what it was like before they started using. This is a life-changing event because they will realize that though it isn't always easy, recovery is possible, and they do have the ability to do it.