Can I Get Addiction Treatment Over The Holidays?

Over 48.5 million Americans live with some form of substance use disorder (SUD), according to SAMHSA’s 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. This is about 17.1% of the population over the age of 12, many of whom struggle with severe and harmful dependence or addiction involving prescription drugs, illicit substances, cannabis, alcohol, or combinations of different substances. 

People who have faced SUD understand that drug and alcohol dependence and addiction don’t take time off. Drug cravings and compulsions don’t just go away, and the negative consequences of substance use will not stop on their own. 

This is why addiction treatment centers like Ohio Recovery Center are open year-round, to help people stop using drugs and alcohol and develop the personal skills and resources to take control and stay sober in the future. In fact, many people have found that going to addiction treatment over the holidays can be a meaningful and beneficial way of navigating the Christmas season and starting out the new year right. 

Personalized Treatment, Every Day Of The Year

Addiction treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Each and every person who struggles with drug and alcohol addiction has a different story, different needs and goals for their recovery, and different preferences for the process that gets them there. Treatment centers typically offer many different personalized treatment services and a variety of different levels of care to help meet these needs. 

Residential rehab programs can provide a deeply personalized, intensive, and effective course of treatment, beginning on any day of the year. These 24/7 programs are open on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and other major holidays, as well as all the days in between. Other forms of addiction treatment, including outpatient programs, offer services during the holiday season as well. 

Why Choose To Go To Rehab During The Holidays?

There are many reasons why a person would choose to receive addiction treatment over the holidays in particular, some of them personal and some of them practical. 

Avoid The Holiday Blues

According to a survey conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 75% of adults with some form of mental health disorder report feeling sad or dissatisfied during the holiday season, with between 24% and 40% reporting their condition to be worse this time of year. Mental health disorders like depression and anxiety disorders also commonly occur alongside addiction.  

Seeking treatment for addiction or a dual diagnosis during the holidays can help people take back control of their lives and learn how to cope with negative emotions, stress, trauma, and other difficult experiences. A focused, structured, and supportive environment with help from trained mental health and addiction treatment professionals can make all the difference. 

Rather than being alone, drunk, or high, clients spend time with peers and professionals who believe in them and who will work to help them develop positive coping mechanisms and make healthy, substance-free choices in the future.

Use Your Insurance Benefits

If you’ve reached your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum for the year, the holiday season may be the perfect time to use your health insurance benefits to help cover the cost of your treatment. 

Under the terms of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was put into effect in 2010, health insurance policies available through the Health Insurance Marketplace and some other avenues must cover mental health and substance abuse treatment as essential health benefits. This means that you can use ACA-compliant health insurance to pay for the cost of your treatment, possibly with a much lower out-of-pocket cost at the end of the year, depending on how much you’ve already spent on health services. 

To see what your options are and sort out other details, contact a representative from your insurance provider.

Enjoy The Atmosphere

Just because you’re participating in an addiction treatment program doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on holiday fun. In fact, spending December in an addiction treatment center can be an especially merry and festive experience, with decorations, special meals, and fun activities to mark the season. 

Many treatment centers also have lower attendance over the holidays compared with other times of the year, meaning that you may be able to receive more one-on-one time with your care team or more easily access specific amenities, like working out in the gym.

Give The Gift Of Recovery

Even if you love the holidays and have been looking forward to spending time with your family, going to a rehab center may still be the right choice for you. After all, delaying treatment isn’t recommended, and what gift could be better for those who love you and who depend on you than proving that you are committed to getting better and making a fresh start?

Seeking treatment can be your opportunity to make that happen and to dive into the new year with new motivation, new skills, and a new relationship with those you love. 

And seeking treatment doesn’t have to mean being apart from your loved ones either. Keeping in touch through letters or phone calls can be a great way to share your successes with your family and reassure them of your love.

Getting Started

There are many ways to get started with recovery during the holiday season, or any other time of the year.

For example, you can:

• Talk to your doctor or therapist.
• Use benefits provided by your employer’s employee assistance program (EAP).
• Call the 988 Lifeline to talk to a trained counselor.
• Visit the SAMHSA Find Support page.
• Reach out to treatment centers directly. 

If you don’t have health insurance or you have other concerns about the cost of your treatment, you may be able to purchase health insurance or reach out to local or state-based helplines for other financial aid and support. 

You may also be able to tap into your Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) rights to take an unpaid leave of absence from work in order to get treatment. You don’t have to tell your employer the reason for your medical leave.

No matter how you start the recovery process, the most important thing is that you take this opportunity, today, to move forward. 

The Holidays At Ohio Recovery Center

If you’re ready to work on your recovery and make a new start for the new year, Ohio Recovery Center in Van Wert can help. 

ORC offers leading addiction treatment services for all forms of drug use disorder and alcohol use disorder. Our personalized treatment programs are designed to meet your needs as a unique individual, taking into account your goals, your preferences, and your unique situation.

Evidence-based treatment services available include:

• evaluation and treatment planning 
• medical detoxification
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• family therapy
• psychoeducation courses
• medication-assisted treatment (MAT) options
• dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders
• case management
• aftercare coordination

Alternative treatment options and peer support are also available. Contact us today to learn more about your options for addiction treatment over the holidays.