Catholic Charities - Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Alcohol abuse in severe form is known as alcoholism. When a person suffers from alcoholism - or alcohol use disorder (AUD) - they cannot stop drinking despite negative consequences. They often need professional intervention to overcome the alcohol addiction. This is available through alcohol rehab in Maine, and treatment typically involves residential or outpatient programs providing detox, counseling, and long-term support.

Drug rehab in Maine is the process of helping someone learn how to live without the use of substances. Professional staff provide treatment to address the various issues of addiction. Methods often involve medication, counseling, and evidence-based therapies.

In Maine, dual-diagnosis rehabs typically provide comprehensive care to treat both mental health and substance abuse challenges. By integrating evidence-based therapies —like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and experiential therapy — addiction and medical experts can support you to improve mental health and achieve long-term sobriety. You’ll also learn vital skills to reduce stress and enhance your coping strategies.

Opioid rehabs specialize in supporting those recovering from opioid addiction. They treat those suffering from addiction to illegal opioids like heroin, as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone. These centers typically combine both physical as well as mental and emotional support to help stop addiction. Physical support often includes medical detox and subsequent medical support (including medication), and mental support includes in-depth therapy to address the underlying causes of addiction.

Outpatient rehabs provide a wide range of programs, services, and treatment schedules to accommodate clients’ unique and evolving needs. Many outpatient treatment centers offer evening, night, and weekend services to accommodate clients’ work and home schedules. Clients in outpatient treatment typically engage in multiple counseling sessions weekly, including group and family therapy. Many facilities also prioritize recovery-focused life skills training to support clients’ sustained sobriety and successful community reintegration. Medication assisted treatment (MAT) is also prevalent in outpatient care.

Drug and alcohol addiction often takes a heavy toll on one's body. Over time, a physical dependence can develop, meaning the body physiologically needs the substance to function. Detox is the process of removing drugs and/or alcohol from the body, a process that can be lethal if mismanaged. Medical detox is done by licensed medical professionals who monitor vital signs and keep you safe, healthy, and as comfortable as possible as you go through detox and withdrawal.

Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) enable clients to remain in or return to their community while receiving high-level treatment. Most rehabs offering intensive outpatient treatment require clients to commit to a minimum of nine therapeutic hours per week, though clients who need more robust care often receive up to 20 hours of service weekly. Treatment modalities vary, but generally include psychotherapy, recovery education, evidence-based holistic therapies, and medication assisted treatment (MAT) for alcohol and/or opioid addiction.

Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.

Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.

Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.