When is it Time to Seek Outpatient Health Treatment?

When it comes to drug and alcohol abuse, admitting you have a problem is the first step towards recovery. Of course, it can be very difficult to get to this point. Coming to terms with your addiction requires you to be objective and recognize that your situation is severe enough to necessitate treatment. In many cases, people struggling with addiction have considered seeking help but ultimately forego an outpatient treatment program because they don’t think their problem is “that bad.” Here’s the thing – if drug or alcohol use is negatively affecting any area of your life, it’s time to get help. Here are 10 signs it’s time to seek outpatient treatment:

1. Your friends and family have noticed a change in your behavior. They’re concerned about your drug or alcohol usage and have asked you to stop.
2. Your doctor has told you that drug or alcohol use is negatively affecting your health. Excessive drinking can cause severe heart, brain, and liver damage.
3. You have driven a vehicle while drunk, high, or buzzed whether you have been arrested for driving under the influence or not.
4. You’ve been arrested for possession of a controlled substance, alcohol or drug-related violence, or being drunk in public. 
5. You’ve harmed yourself or someone else while under the influence. Addiction often co-exists with and can fuel depression and other mental illnesses.
6. You experience withdrawal symptoms like headaches, nausea, cramps, insomnia, and irritability within a few hours of stopping use of drugs or alcohol.
7. Your drug or alcohol use as interfered with your job or education. Perhaps you’ve been fired at work or kicked out of school, or you’re on probation. 
8. You’ve tried to quit or cut back on drinking or using drugs without success. There is a psychological aspect to addiction that makes it hard to beat alone.
9. You have lied to a friend, family member, doctor, teacher, or employer about how much and how often you use drugs or alcohol.
10. You are exhausted by the downward spiral of addiction but can’t figure out how to get sober on your own.

Are you struggling with addiction? Outpatient treatment can help.

If you’re questioning whether you need an outpatient treatment program to help you get sober, you likely do. It’s important to know that you don’t have to be at rock bottom to seek help. Addiction is a lifelong, progressive disease that can worsen over time if it’s not treated. The support of an outpatient treatment program will help improve your quality of life right now and equip you with the coping skills you need to stay sober for years to come. 

At Alvarado Parkway Institute, the goal of our Outpatient Chemical Dependency Program extends beyond eliminating a patient’s physical dependence on alcohol or drugs. We break the cycle of addiction by addressing co-occurring behavioral issues that may interfere with or compromise a patient’s recovery. Unlike inpatient care, our outpatient treatment program is scheduled around work and school so there is no interruption to your daily commitments. To make an appointment or request more information, please call our 24-hour crisis line at (619) 667-6125.