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Going to rehab at 90 days clean?

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GirlWhoWaited

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Nov 30, 2014
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Hi, y'all. I'm currently 43 days clean from my drug of choice, crystal meth. I received a scholarship to a rehab facility back when I was using heavily, but my bed isn't available until October. However, I have managed 43 days off meth thus far with few problems, and the only thing I use anymore is marijuana. I guess my question for you guys is if you see the benefit of going to inpatient rehab at 90 days clean or should I pass on the scholarship and let it go to someone who might still be in the thick of their addiction? Any advice is appreciated.
 
What kind of place is it? Most places I would say you are better off with outpatient and therapy or something, but if you've never been in treatment before it may be a good experience for you. That really all depends however what their approach to addiction treatment is. It is simply 12 Step based stuff you could just as easily get by going to meetings and seeing your own therapist, I'd say you are better off without going in patient. In patient is really only for those who are struggling to get sober, as opposed to maintaining their sobriety.
 
It's your call, but if you've managed 43 days clean, you can keep doing it on your own. :)
 
It's a 12 step facility on the Washington coast. That's kind of where I'm at, I have been to treatment for an eating disorder twice before so any kind of coping strategies they can teach me I have probably already learned. My family is really pushing for me to go (for obvious reasons- they are nervous about my sobriety) but i think I will present the, with a compromise and start looking into IOP facilities closer to home.
 
That soundsounds like a better plan given your background. Good luck OP!
 
If I were in your situation I would still go inpatient. This is an opportunity for you to escape regular life stress and just focus on resolving your issues. You will have access to doctors and specialists who are knowledgable about substance abuse and mental health, and may learn more about yourself which would be invaluable to your continued recovery. Treatment for an addiction is different than treatment for an ED, also, if the treatment for the ED resolved the underlying issues then you probably wouldn't have been using meth. I think you still have much to work on, and I think you have a golden opportunity to do so...take advantage of this time and the gift that has been given to you - make the most of it. Utilize it to get healthy, consider this opportunity as added insurance to your new found sobriety. Good luck and great job on your time sober!!!
 
That is assuming the treatment provider is even capable in treating an ED. Most are not.
 
toothpastedog said:
That is assuming the treatment provider is even capable in treating an ED. Most are not.
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That's kind of my point - she's been to treatment twice for an ED...if that treatment were truly successful she would not be using meth. Perhaps addiction treatment will be a different perspective and will focus on the underlying issues prompting some of the self destructive behaviours. She said she learned coping mechanisms to deal with the ED, but I suspect they just focused on that one aspect of her life. She has multiple issues that need to be addressed and most likely a variety of tools to cope with life.

While there are some similarities between ED's and addiction, there are some glaring differences as well. What was left unaddressed in the ED treatment can be the focus during addiction treatment. Also, many addiction treatments are well versed in co-occurring ED disorders, along with other MH health diagnosis.

I think she would get much more effective treatment impatient rather than outpatient so she doesn't have other distractions. She has a lot going on, and being able to address everything in a safe environment give her the best chances at success. I realize that inpatient treatment isn't the most convenient option but I think the potential gain for a healthy life makes that inconvenience a small price to pay if it means she is happy, healthy, and functional for the rest of her life.

If she forfeits her scholarship in favor of intensive outpatient she may hve too many distractions and may not be able to focus enough to get to the root of her issues. If that's the case she may spend years in the relapse cycle, which is devestating. If she doesn't learn the coping mechanisms required life will always be a constant battle, and she may not get this opportunity again. Just my opinion.

When I tried intensive outpatient it was stressful and painful having to focus on my issues. I was not in a 24 hour controlled environment and eventually the stress of confronting my demons broke me and I relapsed, and relapsed hard. I continued intensive outpatient for an additional 4 months just getting sicker and sicker because I was using in the evenings to escape the what I was dealing with during the day. In the end it did more harm than good for me, and unless somebody has identified the underlying issues and has already made some progress with them, it can be a huge trigger for self destruction.
 
I do tend to agree with Moreaux but to the OP, Girl who waited - I have to wonder did you ever have a pysch doctor and perhaps test for ADD and ADHD symptoms are similar to what might feel like relief on Meth it takes total honesty similar to a program if you intend on making the most out of it.
Or perhaps a simple issue that can be helped with an SSRI, SNRI, or anti anxiety med. The reality is that if you were great methamphetamine user you have probably had significant changes in your brain chemistry. UP/Down-Regulation of D receptors which I would suggest staying away from anti-dopamine antipsychotics however talk and listen to a doctor. Think things through because there's a lot more to your life than in the post. Are you employed? Living on your own, or with other users? Perhaps make a Pro /Con list. GOOD LUCK, don't wait too long
 
I would go..... rehab isn't only about staying clean... you are gonna make friends, learn about addiciton, learn about what drove you to use, how to cope and prevent yourself from losing control in the future.... Some of the best memories in my life are from rehab, i just got out 3 months ago..... I met my girlfriend in their, and i ate amazing food... I learned that I can have fun even without weed
 
Moreaux said:
That's kind of my point - she's been to treatment twice for an ED...if that treatment were truly successful she would not be using meth. Perhaps addiction treatment will be a different perspective and will focus on the underlying issues prompting some of the self destructive behaviours. She said she learned coping mechanisms to deal with the ED, but I suspect they just focused on that one aspect of her life. She has multiple issues that need to be addressed and most likely a variety of tools to cope with life.

While there are some similarities between ED's and addiction, there are some glaring differences as well. What was left unaddressed in the ED treatment can be the focus during addiction treatment. Also, many addiction treatments are well versed in co-occurring ED disorders, along with other MH health diagnosis.

I think she would get much more effective treatment impatient rather than outpatient so she doesn't have other distractions. She has a lot going on, and being able to address everything in a safe environment give her the best chances at success. I realize that inpatient treatment isn't the most convenient option but I think the potential gain for a healthy life makes that inconvenience a small price to pay if it means she is happy, healthy, and functional for the rest of her life.

If she forfeits her scholarship in favor of intensive outpatient she may hve too many distractions and may not be able to focus enough to get to the root of her issues. If that's the case she may spend years in the relapse cycle, which is devestating. If she doesn't learn the coping mechanisms required life will always be a constant battle, and she may not get this opportunity again. Just my opinion.

When I tried intensive outpatient it was stressful and painful having to focus on my issues. I was not in a 24 hour controlled environment and eventually the stress of confronting my demons broke me and I relapsed, and relapsed hard. I continued intensive outpatient for an additional 4 months just getting sicker and sicker because I was using in the evenings to escape the what I was dealing with during the day. In the end it did more harm than good for me, and unless somebody has identified the underlying issues and has already made some progress with them, it can be a huge trigger for self destruction.
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While I have hadone a largely positive experience at one place I did 30 days in patient at, I also had horrible experiences at the 3 other places I did inpatient at (none where qualified to treat me, admired they didn't treat mental health issues, yet said I should still do their treatment anyways - that kind of malpractice type inpatient care is more the norm than the exception in our country). All the outpatient experiences I have had were far, far more beneficial.

If she could find a good place tof go inpatient I'd be all for it, but chances are the place that gave her the scholarship isn't. She needs to research the hell out of it to make sure they are even qualified to treat her. Just because she got a scholarship does not mean they are qualified to treat her, and if they are not they could very well cause more harm to her leaving her worse off just as well as better off.
 
toothpastedog said:
While I have hadone a largely positive experience at one place I did 30 days in patient at, I also had horrible experiences at the 3 other places I did inpatient at (none where qualified to treat me, admired they didn't treat mental health issues, yet said I should still do their treatment anyways - that kind of malpractice type inpatient care is more the norm than the exception in our country). All the outpatient experiences I have had were far, far more beneficial.

If she could find a good place tof go inpatient I'd be all for it, but chances are the place that gave her the scholarship isn't. She needs to research the hell out of it to make sure they are even qualified to treat her. Just because she got a scholarship does not mean they are qualified to treat her, and if they are not they could very well cause more harm to her leaving her worse off just as well as better off.
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Perhaps, but there's no guarantee that there is a good outpatient facility in her area either. I think she could research the facility prior to check in or if she checks in she will know early on if the inpatient facility is not going to be beneficial she and could leave. I think giving advice to not try inpatient just because there are bad facilities in this country is harmful, particularly when nobody has done the research on this specific facility. While your experience does give you some insight, it is largely your experience and not hers. Alternatively, I had the opposite experience than you where inpatient was helpful and outpatient was detrimental...using your logic who is right then, or should nobody do inpatient or outpatient because they may have a bad experience? We both know that is not the correct answer ;)

Personally I think she should try it as worst case senarios it gets her out of her current environment and still gives her the opportunity to focus on her issues. I think she needs to do her own research as she is the only one who can truly determine if a treatment style will be compatible with her predicament.
 
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Exactly, anecdotal advice is merely anecdotal advice, not evidence. That is why it is so important for her to thoroughly investigate the place. She should interview the staff, see if they have a qualified doctor and therapist, how often she will see the doctor and therapist, interview her potential case worker, go to a day of program with the other clients and take a tour to get a feel for what it is actually like before making any committed decisions on what she is going to do.

What is not mere anecdote is that the state of treatment, both outpatient and inpatient, in this country is very, very poor. This is why I am so strongly requesting caution on her part. Generally places that give full scholarships are not know for being the best treatment providers.
 
toothpastedog said:
Exactly, anecdotal advice is merely anecdotal advice, not evidence. That is why it is so important for her to thoroughly investigate the place. She should interview the staff, see if they have a qualified doctor and therapist, how often she will see the doctor and therapist, interview her potential case worker, go to a day of program with the other clients and take a tour to get a feel for what it is actually like before making any committed decisions on what she is going to do.

What is not mere anecdote is that the state of treatment, both outpatient and inpatient, in this country is very, very poor. This is why I am so strongly requesting caution on her part. Generally places that give full scholarships are not know for being the best treatment providers.
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I agree. The inpatient facility I went to twice was only interested in making a profit so there were too many residents for the number of counsellors, and only one doctor on staff. I saw him for five minutes and he didn't even look at my file - he just said "you're depressed, I'm going to put you on Prozac." I asked him why, as I was already on Effexor and the last time I took Prozac I attempted suicide. I knew it wasn't the best place, but it was better than what I was currently doing. I also knew resources were stretched thin there so I was absolutely selfish and stayed in the staff's face asking questions and forcing them to continuously consider my situation and make recommendations.

Though it wasn't the best, I made the best of a bad situation and fought for my recovery. Being there allowed me to focus on my issues, and removed me from a using environment so I could dry out. Of course I knew it was crap going, and I had researched what o wanted to focus on beforehand. I was just desparate and didn't have many options ;)
 
When I was desperate and didn't have many options when I first went to treatment my family and I ended up getting manipulated by a shady addiction counselor into my going inpatient at a particular rehab.

As neither I nor my family had a clue what we were doing when it came to treatment, and we were both desperate for my getting help, I agreed to whatever I though the (so called) professional recommended. In retrospect he was probably getting a kickback for the referral (a very common practice in the still as of yet largely unregulated industry).

Long story short, the rehab, which admitted to me they couldn't even treat my mental health issues yet still said I should enroll (which should have been a huge red flag, but like I said I was desperate), end up "assigning" me am AA sponsor (and I never drank, I was a heroin user) who ended up drugging me and date raping me after I completed their measly program.

Such exploitive, inappropriate and predatory practices and behaviors are not at all uncommon within the 12 Step community and recovery moment/industry, and hence why I urge the OP caution. Not all 12 Step communities are bad, some are better than others, just as ever recovery center is not necessarily bad. But sorting out the bad from the good is a very, very difficult task for someone who doesn't already have a lot of experience with them.
 
Damn, you went through Straight jane? That is fucking hardcore. Did you read Maia's book about the tough love industry? Really fucking good, though you clearly know all about it already. When I think of how fucked up the recovery moment gets I think of Straight, KIDS, WWASP, Synanon, etc. Fucking disgusting.
 
I never went to any of those shitholes. What happened to me happened through a rehab in Pasadena, CA. It employed a lot of the Synanon style, "game" like methods though. If I didn't know better (and actually I don't), I would guess that a number of their "therapists" were trained at Synanon. It is called the Gooden Center. Not the worst rehab in the world by any means, but very far from what I would consider a good one either. Very "old school" tough love style 12 step bullshit.
 
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