Emily Rowe, LMSW, Author at Inner Voyage Recovery Center

FMLA for Rehab: Everything You Need to Know

Written by Emily Rowe, LMSW on September 6, 2022. Posted in Addiction Treatment.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in the United States provides job protection for employees who need extended time off from work, so they can maintain their benefits and job responsibilities. When serious health conditions arise such as substance use disorder, it’s critical that you take time off from work to get the help you need. However, taking time to attend drug rehab or alcohol rehab can be daunting, especially if you’re concerned about your job security. Learn more about how FMLA for rehab works and how you can benefit the most.

FMLA for Rehab: What is the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)?

The Family and Medical Leave Act was introduced to Congress in 1984 but didn’t pass until 1993 under Bill Clinton’s presidency. This important federal policy has helped millions of Americans take the necessary time off from work to seek professional healthcare, or to provide care for an immediate family member.
FMLA provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year while allowing you to keep your insurance group benefits (this can be up to 26 weeks for service member family leave). During these 12 weeks, your job is fully protected by law, so you may return to your employer with an equivalent job, pay, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment. Employers are not permitted to fault an employee (such as reduced pay) for using FMLA to take time off. An employer is also not allowed to interfere with your right to take FMLA leave.

Your job provides FMLA if it has these qualifications:

If you work for a private-sector employer, your company must have 50 or more employees in 20 or more workweeks.
Applies to all public agencies on local, state, and federal levels. A minimum number of employees is not required.
Applies to public or private elementary or secondary schools. A minimum number of employees is not required.
In 2008, military family leave provisions were added.
All employers must be covered by insurance.

In general, you must provide 30 days’ notice before taking FMLA leave. However, unforeseen circumstances for shorter notice are permitted, especially since you can’t always control the ups and downs of serious health conditions.

While the above qualifications are federal standards, some states have additional regulations to help employees and employers. For instance, 10 states currently provide paid FMLA leave. Many states have also created laws that serve businesses under 50 employees and employees who have worked less than 1,250 hours for the company. You can look up additional FMLA regulations based on your state.

Who Qualifies for FMLA?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employees can qualify for FMLA for the following family and medical reasons:

The birth and care of a newborn child to a spouse
Placement for adoption or foster care of a child
Care for an immediate family member (spouse, domestic partner, sibling, parent, grandparent, grandchild) with a serious health condition
Personal care for a serious health condition
Maternity

There are three different types of FMLA: continuous, intermittent, and reduced schedule leave. Continuous refers to an employee being absent for three consecutive business days while they seek medical treatment. Intermittent refers to an employee who needs to miss work in separate hourly, daily, or weekly blocks (typically used for ongoing treatment). Reduced schedule leave allows an employee to work fewer hours during the week to take care of themselves or a family member.

There are certain conditions you must meet on top of the above circumstances:

You must have worked for a minimum of 12 months, although these 12 months do not have to be consecutive (for instance, you could have taken other breaks and resumed periods of working).
You must have logged at least 1250 hours over the last 12 months. These hours are defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which establishes policies such as minimum wage and overtime pay.
You must live within 75 miles of your employer.

If you are unsure if you meet the above qualifications, check with your employer to determine your work tenure.

What Qualifies as a Serious Health Condition?

It might be confusing to determine what qualifies as a serious health condition since everyone is different and requires different levels of care. According to the FMLA law, a serious health condition is anything that prevents you from doing the essential duties of your job–whether that’s mental, physical, or both.

Examples include severe cases of mental health disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar. Physical health conditions include cancer, diabetes, pregnancy, and multiple sclerosis. This also applies to family members you need to care for who are dealing with these conditions.

Luckily, diagnosis and treatment are completely confidential, thanks to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Employees are not required to tell their diagnosis to their employer, but they must provide information indicating that their leave is due to a condition protected by FMLA.

For example, if your doctor said you needed to stay home for an extended period of time to take antibiotics, or you need to be hospitalized, this is information your employer should know. It’s important to have good communication with your employer, so you understand your rights to paid leave, and so your employer understands when you are able to return to work.

Does FMLA Cover Substance Abuse Treatment?

Yes, FMLA covers substance abuse treatment for an individual employee, or for an employee who is caring for a family member going through treatment. Addiction affects a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being and can severely impair someone’s ability to perform daily tasks at their job. It is a complicated disorder that requires multi-faceted treatment, and most treatment centers offer 30, 60, and 90-day programs.

FMLA for Alcohol Treatment

Under the FMLA, alcohol addiction is considered a serious medical condition as it affects the function of the brain and body. This means employees are eligible for 12 weeks of unpaid leave. Alcoholism can greatly impact an employee’s ability to work and can result in financial loss for companies as a result of absenteeism, loss in productivity, and employee health complications. Alcohol rehab in Atlanta is often needed stay abstinent for good.

FMLA for Drug Abuse Treatment

Similarly, FMLA covers leave for our drug rehab in Atlanta, as this is considered a serious medical condition. As stated earlier, FMLA does not protect employees from missing work as a result of drug abuse.

Do I need to take FMLA leave all at once?

No, you don’t need to use your full 12 weeks of FMLA leave all at once. You can take FMLA as a single block, or spread it out over multiple, smaller blocks of time. This is especially helpful for patients receiving ongoing therapy and treatment who may need to leave work early or reduce their hours on a daily or weekly basis.

For example, an employee undergoing surgery who needs three weeks off may take partial leave, or an employee doing outpatient rehab who needs to do weekly hospital visits will benefit from this model. Your employer is required to document periods of FMLA leave.

Can I use PTO (paid time off) during FMLA leave?

While FMLA leave is unpaid, you are allowed to use sick time, vacation time, or any other PTO days your employer permits, so that you can get paid on those days. You will need to follow the normal process of submitting PTO requests to take these days off. When you use paid leave for FMLA purposes, this time is still protected by FMLA policies. Using PTO may be a wise choice, especially if it’s toward the end of the year when PTO may reset.

How to Apply for FMLA

Applying to FMLA is a relatively straightforward process, provided that you and your employer meet the legal requirements to be able to use FMLA leave. Each employer is different, but there’s a general flow you and your employer need to follow to have FMLA leave approved.

Steps for Applying to FMLA:

Provide a 30-day notice to your employer when you plan to take leave. If you find out you must take leave sooner than 30 days, provide notice as soon as possible to your employer. You will not be penalized if you cannot provide a 30-day notice. However, it’s important to do it as quickly as possible to sort out your application and make sure you have time to find a treatment center.
Your employer is required to provide you with your FMLA rights and responsibilities. This includes your right to maintain health benefits, your right to return to your job, and a definition of the 12-month period your employer uses to keep track of FMLA time off. Failure to do so could result in a penalty of up to $110. They may also request a medical certification from a healthcare provider (see below).
If certification is requested, you must provide a completed form to your employer within 15 calendar days.
Your employer must notify you within 5 business days if FMLA has been approved. Once approved, you are permitted to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. When you return, your employer must keep you at your same job, or an equivalent job with the same pay, benefits, and responsibilities.

Covered employers must include information about FMLA in their employee handbooks, or provide this information to new hires. It is unlawful for an employer to deny an employee the right to exercise rights provided by the FMLA, or to discriminate against employees for choosing to do so.

If you’re overwhelmed with the application process, or simply need guidance, Inner Voyage can help you apply for FMLA and guide you through each step while you communicate with your employer. Our team is here to help make the process easier and stress-free.

What if my employer needs a medical certification?

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has developed certification forms for employees to fill out and provide to their employers. These forms can be printed or filled out electronically. Employers may also use their own forms, as long as those forms require the same basic information.

There are 2 main FMLA certification forms:

Form WH-380-E: This applies to an employee requesting leave for a serious health condition.
Form WH-380-F: This applies to an employee requesting leave due to a serious health condition of a family member.

There are also three different certifications of military family leave, which you can find on the DOL website. This includes the Qualifying Exigency from WH-384 and the Military Caregiver Leave of a Veteran. These forms cover basics including job title, work schedule, essential job functions, the type of care you or a family member is receiving, and the amount of leave needed.

Find Addiction Treatment Near Atlanta Today!

Inner Voyage Recovery Center is a full-service rehab and treatment center based near Atlanta, Georgia. However, we are more than just a Woodstock recovery center for patients–we are a team of professionals who care about the well-being of our patients and seek to break the cycle of addiction by providing healthy, lasting coping methods. We believe everyone belongs, everyone can heal, and everyone can lead a fulfilling life.

Inner Voyage was founded by Jeff Baucom who recovered from his own addiction to drugs and alcohol. Jeff’s philosophy is founded on the idea that true wellness begins with inner spiritual peace, which has mental, physical, and emotional factors. Many professionals at Inner Voyage are also recovered addicts, so they deeply understand the process of seeking treatment, withdrawal, and the joy that comes with living a renewed life. At Inner Voyage, you can begin a new journey of connection to yourself and others while breaking the cycles of addiction.

Inner Voyage provides 30, 60, and 90-day treatment programs that treat substance abuse for alcohol, heroin, opioids, cocaine, marijuana, prescription pills, and methamphetamine. We understand that no two addictions are the same, which is why we provide professional, personalized treatment to every individual. Our goal is to treat the underlying conditions and trauma that led to addiction in the first place.

By working with patients to get medical help and address these issues to deal with life’s daily stressors, as well as Christian recovery center options. Once done with treatment, our patients can safely return to work and home life armed with healthy coping strategies.

Finding the Right Treatment Program

Today, drug and alcohol addiction affects nearly 23.5 million Americans. However, only 10% of these individuals will receive the necessary treatment to attain and maintain sobriety.

At Inner Voyage, our treatment programs are flexible, so that every patient gets the exact care that they need. We offer partial hospitalization, inpatient treatment, intensive outpatient programs in Atlanta, residential programs, and recovery housing.

Additionally, we provide numerous counseling services to address the trauma behind addiction, including drug counseling, an adventure-based counseling program, CBT therapy, and faith-based counseling.

I am looking for a PHP program near me, can Inner Voyage help?

PHP treatment, an abbreviation for partial hospitalization programs, typically requires 5 visits per week depending on the needs of the patient. This type of program is more intensive than outpatient treatment and is recommended for individuals leaving rehab as an intermediary step, or for those undergoing withdrawal symptoms.

PHP is extremely effective when paired with additional services, such as therapy and community activities. If you’re looking for a Canton rehab center or Woodstock rehab center that provides PHP, Inner Voyage can help.

I am looking for IOP programs near me, can Inner Voyage help?

IOP refers to intensive outpatient programs for recovering addicts. IOP treatment requires less time commitment than PHP and allows patients to integrate back into their normal lives. Patients still receive medical and psychological care but can choose how often they’d like to go, and where they’d like to go.

IOP is recommended for individuals who have surpassed the withdrawal stage and do not need 24/7 monitoring, or those suffering from more mild addiction. It encourages patients to get back to their daily routines while being realistic about medical and psychological needs.

What is Adventure-Based Counseling?

Inner Voyage offers an interactive, engaging adventure-based counseling program to help patients thrive in immersive environments. Adventure-based counseling (ABC) utilizes group therapy to create experiential learning opportunities and group activities.

By combining nature, new challenges, and daring exercises, patients can get hands-on experience and overcome negative, self-defeating beliefs. Types of ABC include camping, rock climbing, kayaking, obstacle courses, paddle boarding, and white-water rafting. These outdoor activities can help people overcome mental and physical challenges by getting them outside their comfort zone, while guided by professional counselors and supportive team members.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Rehab Facility

Choosing the right program for drug and alcohol addiction can be overwhelming, especially when decision-making is impaired by the effects of substance abuse. There are a few factors to keep in mind when applying for FMLA and choosing the best addiction treatment program.

Time Commitment: When seeking treatment, it’s important to accept that proper care will require significant time commitment and intention. While the time commitment may be daunting at first, it is designed to help you thrive in the long-term, saving you time, money, and energy that otherwise would have been eliminated by substance abuse. The shortest rehab programs are 30 days, while longer programs are 90 days. Each program is personalized to a patient’s needs and may involve hospitalization or outpatient care.
Cost: While each insurance is different, they are required to cover mental and behavioral health services. Check with your employer and/or insurance provider to see what is covered under drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Most facilities also offer payment plans, rather than upfront costs.
Lifestyle: Choosing a rehab facility that’s right for you also comes down to lifestyle. At Inner Voyage, we take a full, comprehensive look at our patients’ needs to provide a spectrum of medical treatments and therapy. We can also provide a spiritual component to treatment, allowing patients to explore the deeper meaning behind their addiction and life purpose. Lifestyle also refers to whether or not you want inpatient or outpatient treatment, as each program provides different benefits and structures.

Begin Your Recovery Journey with Inner Voyage

If you are applying for FMLA leave and seeking drug and alcohol treatment, Inner Voyage Recovery Center has the tools to help you cope with addiction and return to a healthier lifestyle. Our team is also qualified to help with FMLA applications to make the process easier and stress-free.

Give our recovery center a call today.

Struggling with Sobriety? Here’s How to Safeguard Your Recovery in the Summer

Written by Emily Rowe, LMSW on September 6, 2022. Posted in Recovery.

If you’re struggling with sobriety, you’re not alone. The summer can be a tough time for people in recovery. As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, summertime can be a trigger for some. Whether it’s the increased temptation to drink at BBQs or the sense of loneliness that can come from seeing friends post photos of their vacations on social media, there are several challenges that can arise during the summer months. However, it’s important to remember that sobriety is a journey, not a destination, and there are plenty of ways to enjoy your summer without drinking or using drugs. At Inner Voyage Recovery, we’re here to help you stay sober and enjoy your summer.

Struggling with Sobriety: What Can Cause a Relapse

No matter how diligent you are in your recovery journey, there can still be setbacks along the way. The summer months are often home to these setbacks, and they could lead to a relapse if not handled correctly. There are some common factors that could contribute to a relapse, including stress, social pressure, isolation, boredom, and other unexpected triggering events. In order to handle these challenges that are often found in abundance in the summer, it’s important to discuss each of these triggers before finding healthy methods to cope with them.

Underlying Mental Health Conditions

Mental health conditions are often misunderstood. Many people think of them as simply bad moods or periods of stress that everyone faces. However, mental health conditions are real medical issues that can affect a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. On occasion, they can also cause physical symptoms. People with mental health conditions may feel the need to self-medicate to deal with their symptoms, which is why it’s important to find effective, healthy coping methods if you have an underlying condition.

Peer Pressure During Gatherings

It can be hard to resist peer pressure, especially when it comes to drinking or doing drugs. Part of the reason why peer pressure is so tough to resist is that it’s often subtle. For example, you might be at a party where everyone is drinking. Even if nobody is directly pressuring you to drink or do drugs, you might feel like you’re the odd one out if you don’t join them.

Peer pressure can also be more explicit too. For example, someone might offer you a drink and keep asking you why you won’t take it. If you’re not careful, peer pressure can lead to behavior that you’ll regret later. It’s important to remember that you always have the power to say no to anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, even if your friends don’t understand.

Fear of Missing Out

For many people in recovery, the fear of missing out (FOMO) can be a powerful trigger for relapse. After all, it can be difficult to watch others engaged in activities that you are no longer participating in, especially if those activities were once a central part of your life. The FOMO sensation can cause feelings of loneliness, isolation, and envy, which can lead to negative coping mechanisms such as substance use.

In addition, the fear of missing out can also lead to impulsive decision-making and risky behaviors. For example, someone may decide to go to a party where drugs will be present in order to avoid feeling left out. However, this can quickly lead to a slippery slope that ultimately leads to relapse.

It’s important for people in recovery to find healthy ways to cope with the common fear of missing out. This can involve attending social events with sober friends, pursuing new hobbies, or simply taking some time for yourself. By finding positive outlets for the FOMO sensation, you can help prevent it from triggering a relapse.

Visiting a Triggering Location

It can be difficult to avoid triggering locations, especially if they are highly visible or easily accessible. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks of visiting these places. For some people in recovery, visiting a triggering location can lead to a relapse. This is because triggering locations are often associated with past alcohol abuse or drug use. The sight, smell, or even sound of a familiar location can trigger intense cravings that are difficult to handle.

Additionally, these locations may also bring you into contact with familiar drinkers or drug users from your past. If possible, it’s best to avoid these temptations entirely by avoiding these places. However, if you need to visit one of these locations, it’s important to stay focused on your recovery and resist any temptations associated with them.

Boredom and Isolation

It’s easy to become restless and bored when you’re stuck at home day after day. For people in recovery from substance abuse, this can be a dangerous situation. Boredom and isolation can lead to a relapse, as people may turn to substances in order to ease their boredom or cope with their feelings of loneliness. It’s important to find ways to stay engaged and connected even when you’re not able to be around other people.

There are many online support groups and forums that can help you feel less alone, and there are also many activities that you can do on your own to help stave off boredom. It’s also important to reach out to your friends and family members regularly, even if it’s just an occasional text or phone call. By staying engaged with the world around you, you’ll be less likely to relapse due to boredom and isolation.

Healthy Methods for When You’re Struggling with Sobriety

Summertime sobriety can be challenging, but there are many healthy methods that you can use to cope with it. If you’re struggling with the temptations associated with summertime, remember that you’re not alone. Many people in recovery have successfully navigated these challenges. In addition, there are many resources and support groups available to help you through this difficult time. By staying focused on your recovery and utilizing healthy coping mechanisms, you can make it through the summer without relapsing.

Diet and Exercise

Recovering from addiction is a lifelong journey, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, research has shown that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can play a large role in helping people stay sober. Eating healthy foods and exercising regularly can help boost your energy levels, improve your mood, and reduce stress. In addition, these activities help to provide a sense of well-being and self-care.

For people in recovery, taking care of yourself can be an important step in staying on the path to sobriety. Diet and exercise can help you stay sober by giving you the strength and energy to resist temptation. If you’re looking for good methods to stay sober, you should consider incorporating healthy eating and physical activity into your daily routine. At Inner Voyage Recovery, we believe that diet and exercise are so important that we actually provide health and wellness programs for our clients.

Spending Time With a Trusted Group

When you’re in recovery, it’s important to have a support system to help you stay on track. Spending time with friends and family can be a great way to stay connected and motivated. Friends and family can provide emotional support and practical help when you need it. They can also be a source of positive distraction from triggers and temptations. Plus, they can help hold you accountable for your sobriety. If you’re struggling to stay sober, consider spending more time with the people who care about you. You may be surprised at how much of a difference it makes.

Engage in Outdoor Activities

Sobriety can be a difficult road to navigate, but there are many ways to cope with the challenges it presents. One of the most effective coping mechanisms is engaging in outdoor activities. Being in nature has been shown to have a calming effect on the mind and body, and it can also help to reduce stress levels. In addition, outdoor activities can provide a sense of purpose and structure during times of transition. They can also help to promote social connection, which is an important part of recovery. By participating in outdoor activities, you can gain a sense of control over your sobriety and start to build a foundation for a healthy life in recovery.

Continue Your On-Going Treatment Program

It can be difficult to stay on track with your sobriety, especially when faced with challenges and triggers in your everyday life. However, continuing your treatment program can help you to cope with these challenges and maintain your sobriety. Treatment programs provide support and guidance and can help you to develop strategies for dealing with difficult situations. They can also provide a sense of community and connection, which can be beneficial during times of isolation and stress. So, if you are struggling with sobriety, remember that continuing your treatment program can help you to cope with the challenges you are facing.

If You Need a Recovery Center Near You, Inner Voyage Can Help

If you’re struggling with sobriety, remember that you’re not alone. There are many resources and support groups available to help you through this difficult time. At Inner Voyage Recovery, we offer a variety of programs and services designed to help people in recovery maintain their sobriety. From Partial Hospitalization Programs to Intensive Outpatient Programs in Atlanta, we provide individualized treatment plans that address the unique needs of each client. We also have a full-time staff of counselors and therapists who are dedicated to helping our clients succeed in recovery. If you’re looking for a local recovery center that can help you stay sober this summer, contact us today.

9 Myths About Addiction and Recovery That You Need to Know

Written by Emily Rowe, LMSW on September 6, 2022. Posted in Addiction.

Myths about addiction are dangerous for everybody involved because they can make treatment for addiction and recovery harder. It’s important to separate fact from fiction in order to clear up any and all harmful misconceptions. Debunking these myths about addiction relieves shame and encourages more empathy in the public consciousness, as well as encourages those needing assistance to seek out drug counseling and addiction treatment centers.

Top Myths About Addiction

1) Addicts Are Bad People

Addicts aren’t “bad people.” This myth is built on a fear-based stigma that promotes judgment over compassion. In fact, one of the most difficult initial hurdles is processing the shame addicts often feel about their addiction. The black-and-white myths about addiction have contributed heavily to the widespread belief that addicts are bad people. Numerous media outlets have spread the false notion that addicts are egotistical, helpless, and uncontrollable. This assumption may be born from fear and a lack of understanding about addiction, especially considering how easy it is to judge something and someone without any prior experience.

People whose lives have been touched by alcohol abuse or drug addiction have firsthand experience with the powerful hold a substance can have on a person. Media outlets are unhelpful in dispelling myths about addiction because they are more likely to highlight a sensationalized article about drug or alcohol addiction than a positive anti-stigma feature for effective addiction treatment centers and outreach initiatives. Debunking this myth is important to reduce the stigma against addicts because it takes an incorrect moral stance that makes it hard for someone to seek out help without fear of judgment.

2) Addiction is a Choice

This myth goes hand in hand with the incorrect assumption that addicts are “bad people.” The notion of addiction being a choice stems from the popularized false belief that addiction is a character flaw. This falsehood implies that if you struggle with alcoholism or drug addiction, then you must be reckless or weak-willed. This misconception influences how addicts view themselves and how family members view addicted loved ones, which leads to shame and guilt festering, causing an addiction to worsen. Abusing substances can also result in mental health issues as well, further fueling alcohol and drug addictions.

Addiction is a chronic disease with recognizable physical and psychological symptoms: It is not something a person chooses. Several socioeconomic factors may also play a role in addiction risk, but these factors are often out of one’s control. Addiction can be used as a way to suppress or cope with one’s trauma, abuse, mental health issues, or difficult circumstances.

In fact, alcohol use disorders and substance use disorders are recognized as mental health conditions. The “addiction is a choice” myth is actively harmful to individuals because of its negative moral stance that hurts rather than helps.

3) You Must Hit Rock Bottom Before Seeking Treatment

Like all of the myths thus far, the “rock bottom’ myth has serious repercussions that enforce a counterproductive course of action…if any action at all. The implication that a person is powerless to seek treatment until they’ve lost all their resources or support networks directly suggests one has to lose everything in order for care to be effective.

Furthermore, detoxing from substances due to chemical dependency is an incredibly unpleasant process with dangerous withdrawal symptoms that are worsened the longer a person waits. The “rock bottom” concept isn’t a medical term and doesn’t apply to other medical issues such as cancer or diabetes, so it should never be in the conversation when encouraging recovery.

4) Treatment Facilities Are Full of Criminals

False. This is a sentiment born out of a judgmental intolerance for those in recovery. Addiction can lead many people to make poor decisions. While a few of these behaviors might be against the law and give the victim a criminal record, it is essential to keep in mind that addiction is a disease that attacks the chemicals in the brain. The prefrontal cortex is the most affected by addiction because it is responsible for decision-making, critical thinking, and impulse control. Committing a crime and being addicted to substances do not go hand in hand.

5) Alcohol Addiction Isn’t As Serious as Drug Addiction

This is a myth because all types of addiction are dangerous to a person’s mental and physical health regardless of the substance. It’s a harmful ideology because society encourages excessive alcohol consumption during social events. Prolonged alcohol abuse can lead to serious health complications, overdose, and even death in the same way that heroin or opioid addiction can.

Alcohol addiction, unfortunately, relies on people’s negative opinions of drug addiction. Alcohol is everywhere because it’s generally easier to legally acquire than drugs and most gatherings will have some type of alcoholic beverage present. This means people are less likely to seek alcohol addiction treatment because alcohol abuse is seen as more “acceptable” and not as harmful as drug abuse.

6) You Can’t Be an Addict if You Have a Full-Time Job

This statement is related to the myth of the “functioning addict.” A functioning addict is a person (typically middle-aged) with a high substance tolerance and long job history that doesn’t raise any red flags for employers. Even though this person seemingly completes tasks at a sufficient level while using, it doesn’t mean that their life isn’t being affected in a less obvious way. In no way is being a functioning addict healthy.

In fact, experiencing functional addiction is so common that it is categorized as a subtype of addiction that requires early treatment for a better chance of recovery. The media portrays people with substance abuse disorders as unemployed, weak-willed, and criminal, which means a functioning addict breaks the stereotype and makes it much harder for them to recognize their own addiction. Because of this, it is absolutely possible to be an addict with a full-time job.

7) If Someone Close to You Was an Addict, You’d Know

No, you wouldn’t always know. Because some people feel a great deal of shame about their substance abuse they often hide it. Deception is unfortunately a major part of substance abuse. For the most part, people don’t want to lie so they typically omit or sidestep relevant information that they feel will get them judged or punished by their loved ones.

However, this doesn’t mean loved ones won’t intuitively know something is ‘off’ or ‘different.’ Too often loved ones ignore their instincts and rationalize away an addict’s lies because they subconsciously want to avoid the conflict acknowledging addiction will cause. If someone’s gut instinct is telling them that there is something wrong with their loved one, then that means something is up. Parents and spouses are typically the first to instinctually notice changes in baseline behavior changes in their child or partner. You wouldn’t know exactly what has changed, but you’d know they’re omitting something.

8) The Same Treatment Plan Works for Everyone

Treatment isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Because each person’s experience is different, that means there are unique factors that affect the risk of addiction per person. We’ve already established that a substance abuse disorder depends partly on genetics, a person’s environment, socioeconomic status, and mental health. These varying factors make it impossible to apply the same standard of treatment to everyone.

Everyone entering treatment (at the very beginning) receives a clinical assessment in order to determine the best course of action for a person. From there, professionals will work with the person to design an effective treatment plan that is tailored to their medical history, substance habits, mental health, and goals for recovery. It’s a specialized plan unique to every person.

In fact, there are different types of treatment programs available to combat this very issue: inpatient treatment, residential programs, outpatient counseling, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), outpatient/intensive outpatient programs in Atlanta, and other treatment programs. To summarize, this is a myth because no two people’s experiences with substances are the same and it is actively harmful to apply a one-size-fits-all approach to specialized care.

9) Once Treatment Is Complete, Your Recovery Is Over

Completing rehabilitation is a major step, but continuing supported treatment is crucial to avoid relapsing. Specifically, recovery is a never-ending process and patients must continuously adjust to what their lives offer and have support throughout. Therefore, it’s important to reach out after rehab through an alumni program, sober living, and aftercare.

To overcome the challenges of addiction, patients must have the lifelong commitment it takes to achieve total sobriety and overall wellness. The specific treatment plan that is developed always includes a plan for after the rehabilitative process is over. But it’s also important to know that many people fail to remain sober after drug and alcohol rehab. Recovery will never be a straight-line process. In most cases, these relapses occur because proper support wasn’t maintained for triggers. In conclusion, it’s a myth to say that recovery is finite.

Break The Stigma on These Myths About Addiction: Find Help at Inner Voyage

At Inner Voyage Recovery Center near in Woodstock, near Atlanta, Georgia our priority is creating a kind, caring, and compassionate environment where you feel connected and safe to focus on your recovery goals. We want to develop a real relationship with you, and we want you to foster a community with those around you. We provide a place to be you with no judgment while giving you the tools and knowledge you need to cope with your recovery long term. Many of our team members are in recovery themselves and have firsthand knowledge of the healing process.

Our treatment team works together to provide a custom individualized treatment plan that will allow each person to have the greatest opportunity for long-term peace, freedom, and ultimately purposeful lives. We also offer optional full-service, Christian faith-based recovery programs. A life of sobriety is the goal for every person who walks through our doors and every team member is passionate about helping you achieve that goal. So, whether you are searching for “PHP program near me” or simply “outpatient addiction treatment”, contact us today to begin your journey.

Author: Emily Rowe, LMSW