The New England Pipeline for drug smuggling runs through Massachusetts on its way to New York and points south. Massachusetts, therefore, has no shortage of illicit drugs like cocaine and heroin as well as club drugs and prescription drugs of every type. As a leader in drug prevention and reform, however, Massachusetts has instituted a number of programs aimed at treatment for minor drug offenders rather than incarceration. This in turn has led to the opening of 356 public drug treatment centers in Massachusetts, funded by money confiscated from drug operations.

These are not the only drug and alcohol rehabilitation and treatment options in Massachusetts, however. A number of private facilities exist as well, offering a wide variety of services. Massachusetts families must evaluate the relative merits of detox centers, inpatient programs, outpatient counseling, and residential treatment centers to determine which may be the correct option for their particular problem. Finding the correct course of treatment is critical to effecting a positive outcome. A poor rehab program can result in failure, discouragement, and a never-ending cycle of recovery and relapse.

Massachusetts drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers are available in most larger communities, but the level of service will vary. Detox centers often focus on managing the symptoms of withdrawal, which can be painful and severe enough to keep addicts from seeking help. Counseling centers may not be set up to deal with detox. Some programs outsource bits and pieces to various facilities, making continuity of care difficult. The best choice for any addiction treatment is through a facility that is staffed and equipped to handle all phases of recovery, preferably within its own walls.

It is natural to want to find a drug or alcohol treatment center in Massachusetts, close to home, but this may not always be possible. There are, in fact, many advantages to sending a loved one out of the local community for treatment. At home, the same stresses that may have contributed to the addiction are still there, while temptation lurks around every corner. Outpatient treatment can be a constant struggle to manage conflicting priorities, with “quitting” coming last.

Within the walls of a residential rehabilitation center, in Massachusetts or somewhere else, the addict is free to focus solely on recovery, in an environment that in no way encourages backsliding. The old enablers are absent, the distractions of work and family are gone, and the break with the old drug-driven lifestyle is complete. The process of self-transformation can begin, helped by counselors who know how to overcome denial and help the addict learn to resist temptation.

Whichever drug or alcohol treatment option you choose, the key is to begin, as soon as possible when you even suspect a substance abuse problem. Because of the highly-addictive nature of modern drugs, waiting can prove fatal, or make the problem much harder to treat. In Massachusetts, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers are so easy to find that there really is no excuse for not seeking help.