Substance Abuse Counseling & Treatment in Mountain Brook, AL

Early intervention services are a precursor to treatment. They are designed for adults or adolescents who are at risk of developing a substance use disorder but do not display any diagnostic criteria to be admitted to rehab.

During early intervention, treatment focuses on the risk factors that predispose the person to drug addiction and educates the individual about the negative repercussions of drug misuse.

The duration of early intervention services greatly depends on the patient’s understanding of the perils of substance use and whether he or she makes behavioral changes to avoid the path to drug addiction. Patients are closely monitored for symptoms that indicate they need a higher level of treatment.

Outpatient treatment requires patients to attend regularly scheduled meetings. This level of treatment allows patients to carry on with their routine while receiving face-to-face services with addiction or mental health professionals. It is ideal for people who have jobs or a strong support system at home, and it typically costs less than other levels of treatment.

Level I care includes evaluation, treatment and recovery follow-up services. It addresses the severity of the individual’s addiction, helps implement behavioral changes and ameliorates mental functioning. Patients may transition to the first level of treatment from a more robust program. Level I is also a stepping stone for people who are not ready or willing to commit to a complete recovery program.

The second level of treatment can accommodate medical and psychiatric consultation, psychopharmacological consultation, medication management and 24-hour crisis services. The program is affiliated with other levels of treatment in the continuum of care and provides support services such as child care, vocational training and transportation.

This program comprises counseling and education about mental health and substance use issues. Patients are referred to psychiatric and medical services if addiction specialists deem it necessary. However, intensive outpatient programs cannot treat unstable medical and psychological conditions.

Unlike intensive outpatient programs, where the patient has to be referred to outside psychiatric and medical professionals, partial hospitalization provides direct access to those services along with laboratory services.

Level III of the continuum of care provides residential substance abuse treatment. This level of treatment is typically appropriate for patients who have functional deficits or require a stable living space to help with their recovery.

Treatment and assistance are provided around the clock, and the facility is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The patients may live on site or in a living facility in close proximity to the drug and alcohol treatment center so nearby services are readily available.

At this level, services focus on teaching recovery skills, preventing relapse and improving emotional functions. Professionals also help people relearn essential life skills that will benefit them personally and professionally after treatment.

Level III.1 treatment includes:

• Outpatient substance abuse services

• A structured recovery environment

• 24-hour staffing

• House meetings

• A community that promotes living skills.

This level of treatment requires the facility to be fully staffed and equipped with treatment services.

Also called extended or long-term care, this treatment program provides a structured environment and medium-intensity clinical services. It is designed for patients who have been deeply affected by substance abuse, including those showing temporary or permanent cognitive deficits.

Robust treatment is offered at a slower and more repetitive pace to help the patient overcome mental impairments such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, traumatic brain injury or intellectual disability associated with drug use. This level of treatment provides

Ongoing case management with services including housing, vocational needs, transportation and continued self-help meetings. It aims to assist patients with societal reintegration.

This program is designed for individuals who have multiple issues and have had a series of unsuccessful interventions. The issues may include substance use disorders, criminal activity, mental disorders, impaired functioning and difficulty adapting to societal norms. Level III.5 caters to people with chaotic, nonsupportive and abusive relationships.

Medically monitored treatment is directed toward individuals with functional deficits such as withdrawal risks, medical issues or emotional issues that prevent the person from progressing in the recovery process.

Facilities offering level III.7 treatment provide 24-hour professional evaluations, observation, medical monitoring and addiction treatment.

Out of the four levels of treatment, level IV is the most comprehensive and intensive. It offers 24-hour medically directed evaluation, care and treatment, including daily meetings with a physician. The facilities are usually equipped with the resources of general acute care or psychiatric hospitals and offer substance abuse treatment that also addresses co-occurring disorders.

The last level of treatment focuses on stabilizing patients and preparing them for transfer to a less robust level of care for continued monitoring as they progress toward recovery.