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Connecticut Addiction Treatment
Connecticut, the southernmost state in New England, has the highest median household income in the U.S. as well as the highest per-capita income. In general, residents of the state are well-educated and have a longer-than-average life expectancy, which translates to a high ranking in the national Human Development Index. Despite all these advantages, Connecticut has a significant substance abuse problem.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Overdose Statistics for Connecticut
In 2018, the national rate of deaths due to opioid overdoses was 14.6 per 100,000 people. Connecticut’s rate was 27.5 per 100,000.
The rate of deaths among people with opioid prescriptions nationally was 4.6 per 100,000. In Connecticut, that rate was 6.4.
Additionally, the above national averages decreased just over 4% between 2017 and 2018. However, the corresponding statistic in Connecticut remained the same.
Heroin use was the most commonly reported issue among people seeking treatment for drug use disorders in Connecticut in recent years. More than half of those who sought help for addiction cited heroin and opioids as their drugs of choice. Prior to 2015, alcohol was a more common addiction than opioids among Connecticut residents checking into treatment centers.
In 2016, the state’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services treated more than 60,000 people in its substance abuse programs. The median age of these patients was 42, and 69% were male and 30% female.
Factors That Contribute to Connecticut’s High Rates of Substance Abuse
Another daunting statistic is that accidental opioid overdoses increased 40% among Connecticut residents between 2015 and 2018. Such numbers are significant, but fortunately, help is available throughout the state.
Some of the factors that increase your risk of substance use disorder include:
- Addiction in your family
- Co-occurring mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety
- Friends with substance use disorder
- Lack of family supervision or guidance
- Abusing at an early age
- Using an especially addictive substance like fentanyl or heroin
It doesn’t seem to matter if you live in an urban center like Hartford or a rural town like Norfolk. A look at the overdose statistics for Connecticut bears out that people in all areas of the state are struggling with substance abuse. To meet this widespread need for treatment and rehabilitation, clinics are located throughout the state, so you won’t have trouble getting help.
It is a widespread belief that wealthy people are more prone to addiction because they have the money to buy drugs. It would follow from this belief that the country’s wealthiest states, such as Connecticut, would have the highest rates of overdose deaths. However, in Connecticut, high per-capita income goes hand-in-hand with a high level of education. Statistically, those with more education have less risk for substance use disorder. A 2013 SAMSA survey showed that 6.7% of adults with college degrees were illicit drug users while 11.9% of those who did not graduate from high school were abusing drugs.
The state has a unique combination of socio-economic factors that do not always line up with national statistics. What you should know is that as a wealthier state, Connecticut has more resources, both public and private, to help you beat substance use disorder.
In 2020, the state received a $6 million increase in federal funding over the previous year in a State Opioid Response Grant. It will put that funding into its opioid prevention, education, research and rehab support programs statewide.
In addition, the opioid task force in Connecticut has been working on a strong system to direct opioid users to treatment and provide them with follow-up support. If you are struggling with substance use disorder, Connecticut has resources and programs that will help. You just have to ask.
The state’s Mental Health and Addiction Services department offers a call-in phone line where you can speak with live people about your rehab options. The Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery has been using part of the federal grant to bring those with substance use disorders who have relapsed back into recovery care. The organization also sends trained coaches to hospitals to help substance abuse patients during their recovery.
How Connecticut’s Government Is Addressing the Opioid Crisis
Many people who develop an opioid addiction got started with prescription drugs. Since 1999, opioid abuse has become a widespread problem, and it had grown so rapidly that by 2016, the Centers for Disease Control published restrictive guidelines for physicians who prescribe opioids for pain relief in an attempt reduce the amount of opioids people are taking.
In addition, Connecticut is one of several states that enacted laws restricting the number of opioid doses a physician can initially prescribe. While some states set a 14-day limit, Connecticut has a strict limit of 7 days. Additionally, it is one among eight states that have established specific limits for prescription opioids for minors.
The Connecticut State Medical Society has formed an opioid committee. The physicians on the committee are working to create a standard of care for medical opioid therapy. Once it is completed, the group hopes that state lawmakers pass it into law.
This standard of care will incorporate prescription medication, psychotherapy and counseling in its approach to solving the opioid crisis. It will also contain recommendations for coordinating various agencies, health care clinics and rehabilitation facilities to provide the most effective treatment for people who are most directly affected.
One of the models that CSMC is following in formatting its standard of care is Rhode Island’s overdose action plan, which was put in place by the governor’s executive order. For the first three years that the plan was active, Rhode Island’s number of overdoses went down 14%.
Finding Effective Treatment for Substance Use Disorder
The state’s multi-pronged approach to substance abuse makes it a very good place to seek treatment. When you research treatment programs, you will find there is no lack of options in effective, informed substance use disorder care.
You should know right at the outset of your search for treatment that there is no one program suitable for all people. You’ll want to find a program that is reputable and provides individualized treatment for you. Be sure to ask questions when you check out any rehab facility, such as:
- Does it have a physical address and onsite tours?
- Does its website show real people rather than stock photos?
- Does it have credentials such as the Gold Seal for Behavioral Health from the Joint Commission Accreditation for Addiction Treatment?
- Is there a full-time, professionally trained staff?
- Does it address co-occurring disorders within its rehab program?
- Does it incorporate detox medication to address withdrawal symptoms?
- Will a medical professional be available during detox?
- Is the program based in evidence-based treatments?
- Does the program follow a set daily schedule?
- Are family members a part of the process?
- Does it offer discharge and follow-up planning?
You should also evaluate treatment programs according to your personal goals and lifestyle. For example, if you find that outdoor exercise is essential to feeling your best, make sure that the facility you are considering includes outside recreation in its rehab program.
Keep in mind that substance use disorder has both mental and physical components that an effective program must address. From medications that alleviate symptoms during detox to individual and group therapy, the best programs take a holistic approach.
Addiction treatment is a not one-size-fits-all solution to substance use disorder. To be effective, it must meet your individual mental, physical and behavioral needs. You should choose a program in Connecticut or a nearby state that fits you.
Types of Treatment Available in Connecticut
Each year, an increasing number of people seek substance abuse and mental health treatment in the state. More than 100,000 patients have received help for their addiction and co-occurring mental illness in government programs.
Given the breadth of the state’s substance abuse response, you can count on finding plenty of places in Connecticut, both public and private, where you can get the help you need for your substance use issues.
Some of them offer residential, daytime treatment and outpatient recovery plans. Others concentrate on a specific format of care depending on the substance. Your individual physical, mental and behavioral issues will in large part determine the type of program that will work the best for you.
Look for a treatment center with an established track record for success. Find out not only about the treatment program but also about follow-up later on. Once you contact a facility for an assessment, the health professionals on staff will offer recommendations for care. Before you make a commitment to any program, though, you should verify that the facility accepts your insurance coverage.
Green Mountain Treatment Center
As a part of the Granite Recovery Centers family, Green Mountain Treatment Center of Effingham, NH, welcomes patients from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island and beyond. Our holistic treatment programs include detox, recovery resources and lifestyle changes that are designed to help keep you sober long after you have left our facilities.
The features that make our programs uniquely effective include:
- Our commitment to compassionate care, innovation in treatment and accountability
- Our core values of integrity, excellence, innovation, respect and teamwork
- Our vision as a leader in quality addiction and mental health services
We tailor our programs to produce the best possible outcomes for our patients. For example, our gender-specific treatment options key into the differences in the ways that women and men become addicted, respond to treatment and maintain their sobriety. Women may be more comfortable and focused in a supportive, gender-specific treatment environment while men often find it easier to concentrate on recovery in a male-only environment.
We also incorporate elements of the 12-step system into our proven clinical therapies. Depending on your personal profile, your journey at Green Mountain Treatment Center or another of our facilities may include cognitive behavioral therapy, anger management, group therapy, one-on-one therapy and treatment for dual diagnosis such as depression and PTSD. Many people find it helpful to engage in meditation, yoga, fitness and other activities during their time in inpatient treatment.
Once you graduate from treatment and are ready to begin a sober lifestyle, we offer you ongoing support. One option that is open to you once you complete our program is residence in a sober living home. These residences provide you with a safe environment as you prepare to transition out of treatment. You will have the support of your peers and the stability you need to take your first steps back into a world filled with opportunities.
