Under the big sky of Montana lies a long, long border with Canada and millions of acres of forest beloved of marijuana growers. Drug smuggling across the Canadian border means that Montana is not immune to the drug problems common in more populous states. Marijuana is the number one substance abused in the state, closely followed by meth and cocaine. Since Montana’s drug laws mainly focus on incarceration and enforcement rather than on treatment for low-level offenders, Montana families must be proactive in identifying a drug problem and getting help before an addiction problem is compounded by legal woes.

Drug and alcohol treatment programs in Montana are not exactly a new idea. Alcoholism in tribal areas has long been recognized as a major problem, which has now been compounded by growing drug abuse. Most larger communities in Montana support at least one rehab facility, while smaller towns may have a combination of hospitals and clinics which together may offer comprehensive treatment. Your local area may not have adequate facilities to treat the type and scope of drug or alcohol problem you are facing, so do not hesitate to look farther afield if necessary.

In fact, while it is natural to want to seek out a drug rehabilitation center in Montana, rehab programs are often more effective when the addict is completely removed from familiar surroundings. Inpatient care in a treatment facility away from the distractions and stress of work and family makes for a total break from old habits, old attitudes. Inpatient care for drug or alcohol abuse is often a requirement, anyway, at least in the short term. Withdrawal can be unpleasant, even dangerous. Managing the detoxification process while drug and alcohol residue is removed from the body is an essential part of the recovery program.

If your local Montana mental health clinic does not offer detox services, or if the detox center does not offer counseling, seek out a more comprehensive program, as the chances of a permanent recovery drop dramatically without a holistic approach to treatment. Whether a drug and alcohol treatment center is located in Montana or Timbuctu, it must offer three key elements of recovery: detox, counseling, and long-term behavior modification. No addict can beat the physical cravings while drugs are still present in her system; likewise, the emotional cravings do not generally go away after detox. The stresses that drove the addiction are still present, and addicts must be taught to identify and cope with them without the benefit of the drugs or alcohol. True, effective drug and alcohol programs recognize that treatment is a long and complex process which must be tailored to each individual.

Montana drug and alcohol rehabilitation and treatment centers in general offer choices to Montana families, but if you don’t find what you need in your local area, keep looking until you do. A poor program can set up a cycle of recovery and relapse that could eventually discourage all concerned from even trying. Don’t let that happen to you.