The City of Boston has a robust system of care for individuals, families, and communities affected by substance abuse. Programs are offered not only through the Boston Public Health Commission, but also through excellent treatment providers and programs throughout the city.
Navigating the substance abuse system of care and understanding types of treatment can often be confusing. For this reason, we have provided a list of the various treatment services available throughout the city. We’ve also provided short descriptions for each to help you better understand the services and supports that are available.
For help identifying which type of treatment is best for you or your loved one, please contact our Resources and Referrals Center.
For a full listing of treatment programs throughout the city, please visit our Directory of Citywide Services and Resources page.
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BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT |
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Behavioral Treatment helps individuals engage in their own treatment process through counseling. The purpose of behavioral treatment is to modify an individual’s attitudes and behaviors related to substance abuse, and increase his/her healthy life skills.
Behavioral treatments can also enhance the effectiveness of medications and help people stay in treatment longer.
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DETOXIFICATION |
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Detoxification is most often the first step in treatment for individuals who are addicted to opiates (heroin, OxyContin), nicotine, benzodiazepines, alcohol, barbiturates, and other sedatives. Detoxification is a process in which individuals are systematically withdrawn from addicting drugs in an inpatient or outpatient setting, typically under the care of a trained medical professional. In some cases, detoxification may be a medical necessity, and untreated withdrawal may be medically dangerous or even fatal. Detoxification is not designed to address the psychological, social, and behavioral problems associated with addiction, and therefore does not typically produce lasting behavioral changes necessary for recovery. Detoxification is most useful when it includes formal assessment and referral to subsequent drug addiction treatment.
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MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT |
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A number of treatment medications, including methadone, buprenorphine, and suboxone, have been found to help suppress the symptoms associated with withdrawal from opiates (heroin, OxyContin) and to relieve cravings.
When used with behavioral therapy, such as outpatient or residential treatment, this type of treatment can be highly effective in treating addiction and preventing relapse. |
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OUTPATIENT TREATMENT |
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Outpatient treatment is a type of behavioral treatment and includes a wide range of programs. Individuals regularly visit a clinic to receive services such as individual and group counseling and case management.
Some outpatient programs incorporate other forms of behavioral treatment including:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps patients recognize, avoid, and cope with the situations in which they are most likely to abuse drugs.
- Multidimensional Family Therapy, which addresses a range of influences on the drug abuse patterns of adolescents and is designed for them and their families.
- Motivational Interviewing, which draws on on the readiness of individuals to change their behavior and enter treatment.
- Motivational Incentives (contingency management), which uses positive reinforcement to encourage abstinence from drugs.
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RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT |
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Residential treatment is highly effective for individuals with a long history of substance abuse, involvement with the criminal justice system, or impaired social functioning. These are highly structured programs in which individuals live at the treatment program, typically for 6 to 12 months. Some residential programs specialize in providing services to women who are pregnant or have children.
Similar to outpatient treatment, individuals receive counseling and case management to help modify their attitudes and behaviors toward substance abuse and increase healthy life skills. This includes finding stable housing, employment, and other social supports to prevent relapse. |