Today’s guide explores what to expect from drug and alcohol rehab in Boston (MA). If you decide to initiate your recovery from addiction in The Bay State, you’ll have almost 300 facilities to choose from.
Discover what happens during inpatient or outpatient therapy at a Boston rehab for the following addictions:
- Alcoholism (alcohol use disorder).
- Drug addiction (substance use disorder).
- Prescription medication addiction.
Background of Boston
Boston is the state capital of Massachusetts, and it is also the most populous city in one of the oldest settlements in the United States.
Faneuil Hall – a waterfront marketplace – draws over 20 million visitors each year. Boston is also a center of academic and scientific excellence. Boston is home to Harvard and MIT, as well as almost 5,000 start-ups.
Boston is an inclusive hub with households reporting the highest levels of philanthropy in the nation. Additionally, you’ll find 55 inpatient rehabs and 106 outpatient rehabs in Boston. In the state of Massachusetts, there are almost 300 drug and alcohol rehabs for those looking to commit to recovery.
Boston Substance Abuse Statistics
The top five substance use disorders treated in Massachusetts are as follows:
- Alcoholism: 49,399 individuals were admitted to rehab in Massachusetts.
- Heroin addiction: 20,894 individuals were admitted to rehab in Massachusetts
- Opioid addiction: 4,245 individuals were admitted to rehab in Massachusetts
- Marijuana addiction: 3,455 individuals were admitted to rehab in Massachusetts
- Cocaine addiction: 1,385 individuals were admitted to rehab in Massachusetts
The City of Boston reports that over 11% of Boston residents have some form of substance use disorder.
NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) reports that 88% of fatal overdoses in Massachusetts involved at least one opioid.
Dual Diagnosis
Dual diagnosis, also known as co-occurring disorder, is a clinical descriptor for the co-occurrence of an addiction and a mental health disorder.
Some of the most common addictions associated with dual diagnosis include:
- Cocaine
- Marijuana
- Alcohol
- Heroin
- Meth
- Opioid painkillers
- Heroin
- Fentanyl
- Benzodiazepines
- Z-drugs
Some of the most common mental health disorders associated with dual diagnosis include:
- Major depressive disorder
- Anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Schizophrenia
The most current data from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) for 2020 in the United States indicate that:
- 17 million adults had co-occurring disorders with a substance use disorder and AMI (any mental illness). This represents a dramatic increase from 9.7 million U.S. adults with the same co-occurring disorders in 2019.
- 5.7 million adults had co-occurring disorders with a substance use disorder and an SMI (serious mental illness) in the same year.
The addiction or the mental health condition may present first with co-occurring disorders. Almost always, integrated and coordinated dual diagnosis treatment offers the most favorable route to recovery from both conditions.
Addiction Treatment in Boston
Those who need drug and alcohol addiction treatment in Boston will find that programs draw from the following evidence-based interventions:
- MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment)
- Behavioral Therapy
- Motivational Therapy
MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment
MAT is proven effective for treating both alcohol use disorders and opioid use disorders.
The FDA approves the following medications for treating alcohol use disorders:
- Disulfiram
- Acamprosate
- Naltrexone
The FDA approves the following medications for treating opioid use disorders:
- Buprenorphine
- Methadone
- Naltrexone
The medications used in MAT can reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms and cravings during the detoxification stage of recovery.
When MAT is administered throughout ongoing drug and alcohol addiction treatment in Boston, this should inhibit the subsequent abuse of addictive substances, encourage ongoing abstinence, and reduce the likelihood of a relapse.
Your Boston treatment team might also administer medications to alleviate the symptoms of:
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Seizures
MAT is most effective when supplemented by counseling and psychotherapy.
Behavioral Therapy
The most common behavioral interventions offered in Boston rehab centers are:
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
- DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) is a form of talk therapy or psychotherapy that is effective for the treatment of addictions and mental health disorders.
Working closely with a therapist, you will explore and identify what triggers you to use addictive substances. This will heighten your awareness of potential roadblocks to your recovery.
Additionally, the therapist will guide you to create and implement healthier coping techniques, equipping you with the skills to cope with everyday stressors in your recovery more robustly after rehab in Boston.
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) is a subtype of CBT that was initially used to treat BPD (borderline personality disorder). DBT is now more widely used to treat the following conditions:
- Alcohol use disorder
- Substance use disorders
- Mental health conditions
- Dual diagnosis
You will work with a licensed therapist and learn to become more accepting and more tolerant of emotional distress in life. In DBT sessions, you can learn how to harness relaxation techniques rather than relying on addictive substances.
Motivational Therapy
You will find that may drug and alcohol rehabs in Boston will supplement evidence-based talk therapies with motivational therapies, such as:
- CM (Contingency Management)
- MI (Motivational Interviewing)
- CRA (Community Reinforcement Approach)
CRA (Community Reinforcement)
CRA (community reinforcement approach) is often used as a component of outpatient addiction treatment. Sessions are scheduled twice weekly for six months. Regular drug screens are a part of the community reinforcement approach.
Through CRA sessions, you can:
- Reduce the likelihood of subsequent substance abuse.
- Develop new and healthy interests.
- Build a sober support network.
- Connect with appropriate vocational development and counseling services.
CRA can be useful for treating these addictions:
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- Opioids
CM (Contingency Management)
CM is the abbreviation for contingency management, a form of motivational therapy that rewards positive behaviors – negative drug screens, for instance – with small gifts such as vouchers.
CM is particularly effective for the treatment of addictions to:
- Marijuana
- Alcohol
- Meth
- Opioids
- Prescription stimulants
- Cocaine
Motivational Interviewing
MI (motivational interviewing) involves an ongoing and collaborative conversation between you and a credentialed therapist.
Instead of adopting the stance of an expert, the therapist encourages you to implement behavioral changes predicated on your personal goals and values.
By engaging with motivational interviewing sessions, you should:
- Increases your motivation to make behavioral and lifestyle changes.
- Create healthy coping mechanisms.
- Boost your commitment to making those changes.
Addiction Treatment: Levels of Intensity
ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine), lists five levels of addiction treatment on a continuum of care as follows:
- Early intervention.
- Outpatient therapy.
- Intensive outpatient programs or partial hospitalization programs.
- Inpatient therapy (residential rehab).
- Intensive inpatient therapy.
The most popular forms of inpatient rehab in Boston are:
- 30-day residential rehab in Boston
- 60-day residential rehab in Boston
- 90-day residential rehab in Boston
Inpatient addiction treatment in Boston is usually advisable for:
- Moderate or severe substance use disorders.
- Co-occurring disorders.
- For anyone with volatile home environments.
You will stay at an inpatient Boston drug and alcohol rehab for the duration of treatment.
Research suggests that many mild addictions respond favorably to intensive outpatient treatment. Most best Boston rehabs will offer these outpatient programs:
- OPs: outpatient programs
- IOPs: intensive outpatient programs
- PHPs: partial hospitalization programs
Outpatient addiction treatment in Boston is usually advisable for:
- Mild substance use disorders.
- Transitioning from inpatient rehab in Boston.
- A flexible and cost-effective approach to addiction recovery in Boston.
Activities in Boston
Addiction is a chronic and incurable brain condition. That said, most addiction respond positively to evidence-based treatment. Recovery is not a single event, but rather on ongoing chain of events including detoxification, rehab, and aftercare.
At one of the best Boston rehabs, you can take advantage of the behavioral interventions and pharmacological treatments outlined above. Additionally, you can access counseling in both an individual and group setting.
Most Boston rehabs will also provide supplementary activities and therapies, such as:
- Music therapy
- Art therapy
- Animal-assisted therapy
- Nutritional therapy
- Exercise programs
- Acupuncture
- Climbing
- Hiking
- Cycling
- Surfing
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
- EMDR therapy
- Tai chi
- Yoga
- Massage
- Biochemical restoration
Drug Rehab FAQ
Does Boston accept Medicaid?
Yes. If you are a resident of Massachusetts with a very low income and you require health insurance, you can apply for Medicaid. 80% of rehabs in Boston accept Medicaid.
Are there outpatient programs in Boston?
Yes. There are 283 outpatient rehab centers in Massachusetts, according to American Addictions Center.
What areas have the highest concentration of treatment centers in Boston?
You can find drug and alcohol rehab centers located throughout Boston and Massachusetts, especially in:
- Boston
- Quincy
- Worcester
- Warwick
- Springfield
What can you do in Boston?
Boston is home to numerous museums and historic sites, including the Museum of Fine Arts and the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. Faneuil Hill attracts millions of tourists each year. In addition to the many world class universities and claw chowder to die for, you’ll also find plenty of outdoor space where you can connect with nature during the early phase of addiction recovery in Boston.