CleanSlate Blog

Millions of Americans have already received $1,400 stimulus payments and more are on the way.

Last March when the pandemic began to spread quickly across the U.S., CleanSlate had to make some difficult decisions to ensure we could continue to treat patients long term. We must keep the lessons of the past year top of mind to ensure we continue to meet patients where they are.

No one could have predicted the events that took place in 2020. As if the opioid epidemic wasn’t a big enough challenge for our country, together we battled a global pandemic that caught everyone off guard. COVID-19 has led to dramatic loss worldwide and the economic and social disruption it caused has been devastating. The United States recorded the highest number of drug overdoses ever in a single year. Millions of people were forced into isolation, schools and daycares closed and many lost their jobs. Access to everyday staples like toilet paper and, for many, nutritious foods was limited. The list is overwhelming.

As health care providers, we frequently face challenges as we develop plans of care for our patients. These difficulties are often things beyond our control, such as social and economic factors. It is not often a global pandemic comes along and upends an entire health care delivery system.

In looking for the right treatment program that will best meet your needs on your road to recovery; you want to ensure you get the best care possible. Start by looking for a program that has gone through the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation process as all CleanSlate Centers have.

Alcohol dependence develops when you drink so much that your brain starts relying on alcohol to produce pleasurable chemicals. This can make you want to drink more often, even if there are negative consequences. At first, alcohol can cause the brain to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel happy. Over time, chronic drinking depletes the amount of dopamine in the brain, making the pleasurable feelings associated with alcohol fade. But at this stage, alcohol has taken over your routine and you no longer drink for pleasure. You are aware of the harmful effects, but you have lost control over your alcohol consumption.

Addiction treatment is provided in many forms with the two major program types being inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. Inpatient programs provide 24-hour care including housing, supervision and access to medical services. Outpatient programs offer flexibility to attend treatment sessions that fit the patient’s schedule and allow more time to focus on responsibilities such as work, school or taking care of loved ones while still receiving the support they need.

Addiction affects virtually every part of the body. However, the effects of addiction on specific parts of the body depend on how the substance is delivered. For example, an individual using substances intravenously will experience different health difficulties than someone struggling with alcoholism.

There are many misconceptions about addiction. Some of these myths are harmful and contribute to the stigma surrounding the condition. If someone you care about is struggling with the disease, it’s important to become as educated as possible about addiction to remove negative stereotypes and emphasize the importance of seeking addiction treatment. Here are six facts you might not know about addiction. 

Nearly 15 million people suffer from alcohol use disorder, and some of these individuals will never break their addictions. Many will even die from it. 

Suffering from an alcohol addiction can leave you in a place of hopelessness and despair, but you don't have to stay feeling this way. Instead, you can seek help from an alcohol rehab. 

Alcohol treatment programs come in many forms and styles, including outpatient treatment. If you're eager to learn more about outpatient treatment, keep reading to learn some of the basic principles and features of outpatient rehab.