Cocaine & Depression: Can Cocaine Cause Depression?

Written by MARR on October 7, 2025. Posted in MARR Articles.

Cocaine use can trigger depression through complex brain changes that disrupt dopamine pathways and stress systems.

Research shows that chronic cocaine use leads to sustained hypodopaminergia during withdrawal, creating anhedonia and depressive symptoms that can persist for weeks or months.

This article explores the mechanisms behind cocaine-induced depression and evidence-based treatment approaches.

How Cocaine Affects Brain Chemistry?

Cocaine blocks dopamine transporters, rapidly elevating dopamine levels in reward pathways during intoxication. However, repeated use triggers opponent processes where the brain recalibrates downward.

When cocaine is removed, dopamine tone drops below baseline, manifesting as anhedonia, low motivation, and depressive symptoms.

This hyperdopaminergic to hypodopaminergic transition mirrors patterns seen in Parkinson’s disease, where dopamine deficiency causes depression and apathy. The neuroadaptations that drive this shift include several key changes in brain function.

Dopamine Receptor Changes

PET imaging studies consistently show reduced striatal D2/D3 receptor availability in cocaine users. These receptors are crucial for reward processing and impulse control. Lower D2 levels predict greater reinforcing responses to stimulants and impaired top-down control over behavior.

Meta-analyses confirm significantly reduced D2/D3 receptor availability across stimulant users, representing an allostatic downward shift in dopaminergic tone that underlies withdrawal depression.

Impaired Dopamine Release and Synthesis

Active cocaine users show markedly blunted dopamine responses to stimulant challenges compared to controls. This hypodopaminergia directly correlates with anhedonia severity during withdrawal.

FDOPA PET studies reveal decreasing dopamine synthesis capacity with increasing withdrawal duration, suggesting protracted presynaptic dysfunction that can persist long after cessation.

Dopamine Transporter Upregulation

During acute abstinence, cocaine users show elevated dopamine transporter availability, potentially accelerating dopamine clearance and worsening hypodopaminergia when cocaine is absent. This adaptation compounds withdrawal dysphoria.

Stress System Dysregulation

Cocaine acutely activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Chronic HPA dysregulation correlates with depressive symptoms in cocaine users and may perpetuate negative mood states during abstinence.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor alterations also contribute to cocaine-induced depression. BDNF is central to synaptic plasticity and mood regulation, and biomarker models combining BDNF and cortisol measurements may help identify substance-induced versus independent depression.

Clinical Features of Cocaine Depression

Cocaine use is closely linked with profound depressive episodes, particularly during withdrawal. These mood disturbances often extend beyond temporary sadness, reflecting neurochemical imbalances that shape both emotional well-being and recovery challenges:

Depression During Withdrawal

Clinical studies identify a distinct “RDS+” withdrawal depression phenotype characterized by apathy, anhedonia, and anxiety. These symptoms align with hypodopaminergic behavioral markers across the intoxication-withdrawal cycle.

The temporal clustering of depression symptoms during early withdrawal supports a mechanistic link to cocaine’s neuroadaptations rather than coincidental comorbidity.

Risk Factors for Cocaine-Induced Depression

Route of administration: Crack cocaine use carries higher psychiatric burden, including depression, anxiety, and suicidality, compared to powder cocaine
Trauma exposure: Sexual and physical violence among crack users compounds HPA dysregulation and worsens depressive outcomes
Individual vulnerability: Low baseline D2 receptor availability predicts stronger reinforcing responses and greater depression risk
Polysubstance use: Co-occurring opioid or alcohol use complicates mood assessment and treatment

Treatment Approaches for Cocaine and Depression

Addressing the overlap of cocaine use and depression requires a multi-pronged treatment plan that targets both conditions simultaneously:

Behavioral Interventions

Contingency management shows the strongest evidence for cocaine use disorder across multiple reviews. By providing immediate reinforcement for negative drug tests, CM helps normalize reward contingencies and can indirectly reduce depressive symptoms.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy provides durable skills for relapse prevention and emotion regulation, addressing both substance use and mood symptoms simultaneously.

Pharmacotherapy Considerations

No medications are FDA-approved for cocaine use disorder. Antidepressant efficacy is mixed, with SSRIs showing limited benefit and potentially worsening retention in some contexts.

Bupropion, a dopamine/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, showed increased abstinence in some trials, particularly when combined with contingency management. This aligns with targeting hypodopaminergia underlying cocaine-induced depression.

Neuromodulation

High-frequency rTMS targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex improves depressive symptoms in cocaine users in randomized controlled trials. While effects on cocaine use vary, rTMS may help break the negative affect-relapse cycle when combined with behavioral treatments.

The Causal Pathway: How Cocaine Causes Depression?

Based on converging evidence, cocaine causes depression through a multi-step mechanism:

Acute dopamine surges during use produce euphoria and reinforce drug-taking
Compensatory neuroadaptations emerge: D2 downregulation, elevated DAT, decreased synthesis capacity
Baseline dopamine tone drops, reducing capacity for reward reactivity and producing anhedonia
Stress-axis sensitization compounds dopamine deficits during withdrawal
Prefrontal network dysfunction reduces cognitive control and increases rumination
Environmental factors like trauma, rapid-delivery routes, and individual vulnerabilities amplify risk

This cascade explains how initial euphoria transitions to persistent anhedonia and depression, creating a reinforcing cycle where negative mood drives continued use.

Why Does This Matter?

Understanding cocaine’s capacity to cause depression has important clinical implications. Depression in cocaine users isn’t merely coincidental but represents a pathophysiological consequence of the drug’s neuroadaptations. This means treating depression is integral to treating the addiction itself.

The most effective approach combines contingency management and cognitive-behavioral therapy as foundational interventions, with targeted adjuncts like rTMS for mood symptoms. Future progress depends on precision approaches that match treatments to neurobiological profiles rather than one-size-fits-all pharmacotherapy.

If you’re struggling with cocaine use and depression, comprehensive treatment addressing both conditions simultaneously offers the best path forward. Contact our team to learn about evidence-based treatment options that can help break the cycle of addiction and mood disorders.

Dave Devitt Reflects on Lessons Learned at MARR Treatment Centers

Written by MARR on September 9, 2024. Posted in MARR Articles, Resources.

Dave Devitt Reflects on Lessons Learned at MARR

In his own words, Dave Devitt was “prematurely discharged after 34 months in treatment.” Spending a total of 33 years at MARR, first as a client and then as a staff member, Dave became one of MARR’s most storied and beloved counselors.

Dave is now living in McDonough on the Georgia National Golf Course with his wife Sandy. Dave also has a stepson named Jake. Dave and his wife also spends part of the year in North Port, Florida at Wellen Park Renaissance–a place that Dave notes is very near CoolToday Park, the spring training facility for the Atlanta Braves.

What are some of the biggest lessons that you learned from your time at MARR as a staff member?

Over the course of 33 years, here are a few of the things I learned:

Valid recovery cannot be coerced or legislated; it’s an invitation.
Criticism – of any kind – is toxic. Only love and God can heal.
Laughter is the best medicine for the troubled soul
A principle articulated by M. Scott Peck: “Addiction is a spiritual disease; it requires a spiritual solution.”
Recovery begins when the addict/alcoholic says it does. It will always be a clumsy beginning.
Acceptance is the resolution to all personal distress.
Trust the disease, not the diseased.
Addicted people are just like non-addicted people–just more so.
A good therapist knows what’s going on in the group. A great therapist knows what is going on with himself–and keeps that knowledge to himself while in the group.
Don’t work or put more effort into a patient’s recovery than he does.
Give yourself and others the right and the privilege to be wrong.
If you’re in recovery, or trying to get there—remember there is nothing you’ve ever done that you can’t be forgiven for.
“I don’t know” are powerfully therapeutic words.
The only power we have is over our next choice. Nothing else counts.
Mistakes will happen. The world, the universe, ourselves, and our lives are not subject to fairness or justice.
Another quote from M. Scott Peck: “Life is difficult; it’s supposed to be”
God is good, but not codependent.
It is abusive to do for someone else that they are quite capable of doing for themselves.
Kindness and civility to others are crucial to a therapeutic milieu, but not at the expense of 12 Step Principles.
Addicted populations are smart people. Don’t talk down to them; don’t talk at them; don’t even talk to them. Just share your thoughts and feelings with them.
A question like, “What the hell were you thinking?” is a valid inquiry.

What was it like for you to be part of such a tightly knit treatment team?

The MARR treatment model, from the provider perspective, was essentially a “multidisciplinary structure.” Across the years and to varying levels, the team was comprised of folks who came to MARR from several different disciplines. For example, we had people with backgrounds in Social Work, Divinity School, Psychology, and Mental Health. We would convene and muddle around with each member voicing their perspectives for treating each individual in treatment.

Sometimes these were quietly focused chats, and other times not so quiet. Sometimes there was unanimity. Sometimes there were competing concepts. Each patient was their own subject of a discussion. It didn’t matter whether the issue was therapeutic leave, treatment progress, movement from one phase to another, or a variety of disciplinary issues. The more we met, the more we muddled.

Yet because each member loved and cared for each patient’s well-being and spiritual progress, we would eventually arrive at some sort of tentative agreement that seemed to benefit the patient. It wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t graceful. But as a group with diverse styles and theories, we stayed faithful to trusting the process and trusting God.

Each one of us could stink up the room at any given time. We weren’t a smooth fluid team running always successful schematics like the Clemson Tigers running a “third and Renfro out route to the chains.” But we muddled through. The patients, who seldom agreed with our findings, most of the time knew they were loved and valued! We had to trust the process and trust God. It was just like making sausage!

What would you pass on to someone who is new in the field?

I came to MARR to learn how to imperfectly love and care for the imperfect individuals that comprised our case load! I never had a job at MARR; I had an opportunity to help, if the patients could tolerate my imperfections and ineptitudes!

I learned how to give and receive love and spiritual support! I learned how to love. I learned how to live. I learned how to give and learned how to receive. In the process, I learned how to love living!

Also, see answers to Question 1

What was it about MARR that kept you here for so many years?

LOVE. MARR gave me a steady supply of folks I could serve and love. I tried to love the Men’s Recovery Center patients the same way that MARR loved me before I was prematurely discharged after 34 months in treatment! Thank you, Matt Shedd, for allowing me to share my thoughts with the MARR community.

Forever Grateful | Alumna Story by Haley C.

Written by MARR on November 17, 2022. Posted in MARR Articles.

Forever Grateful: The Alumna Story by Haley C.

What Life Was Like Then

I grew up in a small town in South Georgia known as Jesup. I was raised in a loving home, where my father worked hard as an attorney and my mother stayed home with my older sister and me. Growing up, my sister and I were involved in activities like dance, drama, 4-H, band, and student council. I had the perfect childhood. I made good grades in school and belonged to the popular crowd. However, I always felt different, like I never really fit in. I attributed that to being tall (I am 5’10 ½”). I just knew something was off and I constantly sought others’ approval.

I was 15 years old when I had my first alcoholic drink. I was visiting a friend who was in the same performing arts group as me. Her parents were divorced and a lot more lenient than mine. I wasn’t allowed to go to parties growing up, and I have never seen my parents take a drink in my life. While visiting my friend, we went to a party—it was the first time I got drunk and the first time I blacked out. (I was a blackout drinker from the beginning.) My experience was exactly like the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) describes: “I had arrived.” All I knew is that when I was drunk, I finally felt like I fit in. This is what I had been missing. From that moment on, I chased the feeling of my first drink.

I drank a handful of times throughout high school, each time drinking to get drunk. During my senior year, I entered our local Miss Georgia preliminary pageant. My intention was only to win the talent portion for scholarship money. However, I ended up winning the title and started my preparation for competing in Miss Georgia. During the final days of my senior year, I went to junior/ senior prom weekend on Jekyll Island, located off the coast of Georgia. I drank excessively and was caught/fined by the Georgia State Patrol for underage drinking—my first real consequence from drinking. It embarrassed my family and the community; they had trusted me to be a role model. This was also the first time I swore off drinking.

I finished high school and competed in Miss Georgia, where I won preliminary talent and receiving a non-finalist talent scholarship. Afterwards, I went to school at Georgia College and State University.

College served as the ideal platform for partying, and my drinking escalated. I had never experienced such freedom. With that freedom, I chose to drink as much as I could, as often as I could. As my alcohol consumption progressed, I developed an eating disorder as well. I withdrew from school during my second semester to get “help” for my eating disorder, but never addressed my drinking.

I transferred to Valdosta State University the following year, hoping for a fresh start. But the problem was me, and I take ‘me’ everywhere I go. Valdosta was much of the same, but my drinking got progressively worse. I began using drugs along with drinking heavily. My drugs of choice at that time were marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, ecstasy and Adderall. Once again, after burning all of my bridges in Valdosta, I dropped out during the second semester and moved back home.

After trying – and failing – to “maintain” my substance use at home with my parents, I knew I needed help. I entered an intensive outpatient program (IOP) in St. Simons Island, Georgia, in the fall of 2002. Although I learned a tremendous amount about recovery and was introduced to AA, I could not manage to stay sober. In May of 2003, I headed to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for residential treatment. While living in Hattiesburg, I stayed sober, established a sober network, graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and got married. Life was good.

What Happened

Throughout my years in Hattiesburg, a lot had changed for me. I seemed to have it all together—everything looked great on the outside. But on the inside, I had lost myself: lost myself in college, in my job, and in my marriage. I had also forgotten why I had such a great life. It became more about what I had accomplished and less

about how I was able to enjoy a great life. I became self-reliant and not God-reliant. I had lost my genuine gratitude for my sobriety. It was about me and not about what God had done for me. So when life got a little messy, I started relying on myself and my old coping skills.

My husband at I were having issues and the desire to drink became intense. But at this point, I had been sober for seven years. My next thought was to re-engage with my eating disorder. Life was spiraling out of control and that was one way I could “control” it. As I began to restrict, my eating disorder progressed and my mental and physical health deteriorated. Life at home continued to worsen and I participated in a lot of shameful behaviors. My husband and I separated in July of 2010 and he filed for divorce in August. Devastated, angry, hurt and in total self-destruction mode, I chose to pick up a drink after seven and a half years of continued sobriety.

I didn’t pick up where I left off—it was progressively worse. I drank harder, faster and longer. I was a one-man wrecking ball destroying everyone who came in contact with me. In just four short months, I lost two jobs, wrecked my car, got my car repossessed, alienated myself from friends and family, and ultimately, wanted to kill myself. I woke up one morning and thought, “I have two options: I can kill myself or I can call my mom.” I looked at a picture of my sister, baby niece and me, and started to cry. I had a moment of clarity: if I killed myself, how much pain would it inflict on my family? How would they explain it to my niece?

I chose to walk downstairs and ask my roommate if I could use his phone, since mine had been disconnected due to lack of payment. I called my mom and told her all that had been going on. Fortunately, my parents have been active members of Al-Anon from the day I set foot in IOP in 2003. My mom was supportive, but she also encouraged me to figure it out. I was in desperate need of help. I called my long-time sponsor and she suggested MARR–she was an alumna and told me it was exactly what I needed. I called the admissions department and spoke with Bill Anderson, who was Director of Admissions (and now CEO). To this day, I strongly believe that Bill served as the catalyst for my recovery. He was the light at the end of the tunnel; I needed his reassurance that MARR would be a great fit for me. I packed up what little belongings I had, and my father drove me to MARR on January 24, 2011.

My experience at MARR was nothing short of amazing. It was tough, but it provided a safe space to recover. I knew they had my best interest at heart. I connected with my primary therapist immediately. I was certainly not the model client. I resisted the system, broke the rules, and thought I knew it all. I mean, I had been sober for many years before. They saw me at my lowest point and still loved me. I got the help I so desperately needed for my eating disorder recovery as well. After struggling with body image and control issues for many years, I was finally ready to get vulnerable and recover from everything.

After completing Phase I and II at MARR, I stayed for their extended recovery residences (Phase III). I continued to lean on self-will versus God’s will. At six months of sobriety, I was politely asked to leave for breaking rules. After a 30-day separation and assignments from my primary therapist, they allowed me to participate in aftercare groups, as well as the disordered eating group. I continued to participate during the first four years of sobriety.

What Life Is Like Today Life is absolutely amazing in recovery. Having been sober two separate times is a neat experience, although I do not recommend relapse. My sobriety is nothing like it was the first time. I have not forgotten what it was like then, and I hope I never do. Today, I know without a doubt why I have this new life. I keep showing up and doing what others suggest (sometimes reluctantly).

The job I started shortly after leaving MARR—and maintained for six years—taught me so much. I experienced incredible growth. I learned how to be a dependable employee, co-worker, and eventually, supervisor. The tools I acquired at MARR reach far beyond staying sober. Today, my life is about helping others. How can I be a good human being? How can I be a good friend, daughter, sister, and girlfriend? How can I serve as a role model to the younger generation? The spiritual principles of kindness, honesty, love, compassion, and selflessness–that’s what I learned at MARR.

Once you join MARR’s supportive alumni community, you are always a part of the family. At around three years sober, I got a call that my ex-husband had died from an overdose. We had maintained a friendship and still talked regularly. I was crushed. I had never had that kind of pain in my life. I did not think about picking up a drink, but I did consider “controlling” my eating. I was scared. I did not want to fall back into my old familiar patterns. Instead, I called my primary therapist at MARR and immediately scheduled a session. She encouraged me to reach out to the disordered eating therapist and ask if I could come back to group on Monday nights. I started attending the disordered eating group again and attended for another year and a half. MARR saved my life—once again.

Today, I get to help people find a treatment program that meets their individual needs. I am the National Clinical Outreach Representative for Summit Behavioral Healthcare, which owns 18 residential treatment facilities throughout the U.S. I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for MARR. Every time I see Bill Anderson in the field, I thank him. He is an integral part of who and where I am today. I have a close group of girlfriends, most of whom are MARR alumni. I live a normal and good life– I go to work, enjoy CrossFit, attend AA meetings, spend time with my boyfriend and his children, and see my family as much as possible. I have two nieces who are the light of my life and who, God willing, will never see me drink.

If you or someone you know needs help, or if you are questioning whether or not treatment is the next step, please make that important and courageous call. MARR saved my life, and it can save yours, too. I am forever grateful.

What Does “Community for Life” Mean?

Written by MARR on October 18, 2022. Posted in MARR Articles, Resources.

Exploring What “Community for Life” Means?

“Community for Life” is one of MARR’s most deeply held values, and a phrase we repeat quite a lot. It’s also the theme of this year’s banquet. So what does it mean?

For us, it means translating the 12 Steps into our daily actions and interactions with others–or to put it another way, “practicing these principles in all our affairs.”

For 47 years, we’ve seen that when our clients and families remain engaged with 12 Step fellowships and practices, they find the support they need. They continue to cultivate the inner resources they need to participate in their communities, whether it’s in their 12 Step groups back home, in their spiritual communities, or anywhere else.

In short, “community for life” means that our clients and family members realize that they never have to be alone again.

This also frequently means that they remain connected to MARR–as much and as often as they choose to be.

To help with this, we have a robust and very active alumni network that stretches out across the United States. We have multiple events on a weekly basis in which alumni volunteer and participate. We also have monthly speaker meetings where an alumnus returns to tell her or his story. Clients who remain sober are also invited to come back once a week every year to participate in “Renewal Week,” attending day treatment groups and staying in the residences at no additional charge. Clients who relapse, are never shamed and are also invited to reintegrate into the MARR community as they reenter sobriety. We also have a full-time alumni coordinator, who reaches out to our alumni and organizes special events like white water rafting, our annual picnic, monthly speaker meetings, and alumni business meetings just to name a few.

What does “community for life” mean? In short, our clients and families experience firsthand that they never have to be alone again.

And as an organization, we are committed to practicing what we preach. The 12 Steps are not just a central part of our treatment, they are the guiding inspiration for what we seek to embody as a staff. Our approach to treatment is to cultivate a clinical setting that reproduces the total acceptance, accountability, clear-eyed love, and lifelong support modeled so well by 12 Step fellowships. It is only by emulating these qualities that MARR can provide this “community for life” for our clients, their families, our alumni, volunteers, and one another as staff members.

The longer that clients and families are suffering from the disease of addiction the more dysfunction and confusion the disease introduces to the family. Treatment at MARR provides a period of therapeutic stabilization for the client and the family unit as a whole.

This is where MARR’s model of therapeutic community comes into play. For clients, the therapeutic community provides the supportive daily structure for the hours between 12 Step meetings and talks with their sponsors to help clients integrate the 12 Step principles into all aspects of their lives.

MARR introduces families to the practice of therapeutic community through counseling, support groups, and education to encourage and support families to pursue their own recovery and build their own network.

Think of MARR as the critical care team that helps to stabilize clients and families who are in acute condition. Everything we do here is designed to help support the 12 Steps as the guiding framework for lifelong recovery from addiction for clients and their families.

Through MARR, lots of the people who remain involved have experienced firsthand that practicing the principles behind the 12 Steps and participating in “community for life” is a perspective-shifting, life-altering experience. You don’t forget the people you were with when this light comes on. You want to stay connected to those who helped you to realize this.

That’s another reason why MARR is a “community for life.” Whatever our current affiliation with MARR may be (alumni, staff, volunteer, family member, supporter, etc.), many of us choose to stay because it was through this entity of MARR that many of us learned how much we love being part of a vibrant and active community, seeking to practice 12 Step principles in all our affairs.

So come join us to celebrate 47 years of community for life at this year’s banquet. It’s a night you don’t want to miss.

Disordered Eating Treatment Is Relapse Prevention

Written by MARR on September 14, 2022. Posted in MARR Articles.

How Disordered Eating Treatment Is Relapse Prevention

In August of 2022, MARR was thrilled to welcome back Alison Makely, LPC, MAC, NCC, as the Disordered Eating Therapist at the Women’s Recovery Center (Traditions). She has been involved with MARR since 2003 and helped to create MARR’s Disordered Eating Program.

We asked her to share why addressing disordered eating is so essential for many women to maintain long-term sobriety. You can also listen to one of our podcast episodes in which Alison shares details about MARR’s approach to disordered eating.

Can you just tell us a few of the basics about MARR’s Disordered Eating Program?

MARR is one of the only residential substance abuse treatment programs in the state that also offers integrated treatment for disordered eating. The key word here is integrated. At the same time that clients in our Disordered Eating Program are receiving treatment for substance abuse, they are also being treated for their disordered eating.

It’s a really big deal that we address both of those things concurrently. At the Women’s Recovery Center, historically at least 35% of our clients need disordered eating treatment as well. For these women, it is a necessary part of them staying sober. For them, addressing disordered eating is a necessary element in relapse prevention.

For instance, some of MARR’s alumni will say that the only reason they stayed sober is that we also addressed their disordered eating during treatment here. It’s why MARR decided to create the position for a dedicated Disordered Eating Therapist.

What do you say to clients or families that say that it makes more sense to address one thing at a time?

The idea that you can or even should address disordered eating and substance abuse separately is a common misconception. The research tells us for clients who have both, if we don’t treat disordered eating at the same time as a substance use disorder, the relapse rates go up. There are a variety of reasons for that.

Some of it is just based on basic neurobiology. If somebody sits through the hard part of treatment, they have put down the alcohol and put down the drugs. Our work as a counseling team is to help them learn how to deal with their feelings–to cope with life.

At MARR, we introduce our clients to effective coping skills and recovery management skills while they are here. But if a client is still binge eating or participating in other disordered eating behaviors, like restricting their food intake or purging, then their brain is not changing and healing. They are not recovering.

The common objection people will have is: “I am not here to work on my eating or my body image. I’m just here to work on my substance use.” But if we don’t address both at the same time, their chances of staying sober aren’t as good. Why? Because you can’t effectively learn new coping skills when you are still relying on the old coping skills. And because the addiction and the eating disorder literally feed off of each other.

What are the specifics of what the disordered eating program looks like?

Everyone in treatment here, all the people who come through our center, get some education around disordered eating awareness. There’s a body acceptance group that everyone participates in, and we have worked very hard to develop a body acceptance community. In other words, women in treatment here learn to work together and be supportive rather than be focused on appearance and their body image.

The people that get identified specifically for the Disordered Eating Program, they’re getting a comprehensive integrated treatment that is not available at most substance abuse treatment facilities. In addition to the addiction treatment, they also participate in additional weekly process groups, meal groups, individual nutrition consultations with a registered dietitian, individual therapy, mindful eating and intuitive eating education, body acceptance education, and experiential body awareness practices, including yoga.

Tell us about your history with MARR, and how you came to be so involved in the Disordered Eating Program.

I started off as a volunteer in 2003. For me, being involved in MARR honestly felt like a calling. I felt so drawn to the work that it spurred me to return to school to get a graduate degree as a counselor. I was a volunteer from 2003 to 2005, and I transitioned into the role of intern until completing my program in 2006. In May 2006, after finishing my graduate work, the MARR leadership created a dedicated therapist role for me as “Primary Counselor for Disordered Eating.”

By that point, it was clear to all of us that we were doing our clients a disservice and setting them up for relapse if we did not address disordered eating. In this role, I helped to create the treatment structure of the disordered eating program that still exists today.

I stepped away from MARR for a while and developed my private practice, and I returned to MARR in 2018 when they needed someone to fill the disordered eating therapist position. I worked at the women’s center from 2018 until February 2020.

I can’t tell you how delighted I am to be back at the women’s center in this critical role.

For more information on Alison’s therapeutic approach and MARR’s Disordered Eating Program, listen to our podcast episode with Alison.

Research on the Relationship Between Substance Abuse and Disordered Eating

Dennis, A.B., Pryor, T., Brewerton, T.D. (2014). Integrated Treatment Principles and Strategies for Patients with Eating Disorders, Substance Use Disorder, and Addictions. In: Brewerton, T., Baker Dennis, A. (eds) Eating Disorders, Addictions and Substance Use Disorders. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-45378-6_21

Brewerton, T.D. (2014). Are Eating Disorders Addictions?. In: Brewerton, T., Baker Dennis, A. (eds) Eating Disorders, Addictions and Substance Use Disorders. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-45378-6_13

substance abuse treatment substance abuse treatment

What Is the Most Effective Substance Abuse Treatment Available?

Written by MARR on May 10, 2022. Posted in MARR Articles. 1 Comment on What Is the Most Effective Substance Abuse Treatment Available?

Addiction is one of the most common health conditions in the US, probably more so than you think. Believe it or not, 1 in 10 adults in the US will experience substance use disorder (SUD) at some point in their lives, and 75% of them will never receive treatment.

However, it isn’t all grim. Plenty of people go on to live long and fulfilling lives after winning their battles with addiction. Even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, so can you.

Let’s talk about the importance of substance abuse treatment and how to find the right program for your needs today!

Why Treatment Is So Important

If you’re reading this because you’re thinking of getting sober, then congratulations. That’s the first step in recovery. However, if you’re still not convinced, let’s ask a fundamental question that’s often overlooked; why is treatment so important?

First, it’s not easy to get sober alone. Even if you manage to get sober on your own, staying sober is an entirely different challenge that’s fraught with thousands of varying factors. You have a long life to live, and staying sober through all of the challenges, highs, and lows throughout the rest of your life is not as easy as it sounds.

Treatment seeks to provide you with the tools you’ll need for a lifetime of sobriety. If you want to get this burden off of your back and live the life that you want to live, then treatment is the best path forward by far.

Also, doing it alone isn’t always safe. Detox can have lethal complications, and the possibility of relapsing after lowering your tolerance puts you at a much higher risk of overdose. Having expert help is the safest way forward.

Lastly, the right treatment can help you in more ways than one. It could help you overcome a mental illness, work through grief, meet new sober companions, and so much more. If you want to live a happy, healthy life, then treatment is critical.

There is life after addiction. Although we’re used to hearing depressing statistics related to substance abuse, 75% of people with addiction go on to live long, healthy lives. Let’s talk about some of your options.

Helping a Loved One Find Treatment

If you’re reading this because you’re concerned for a loved one, then good for you! They need you more than ever.

However, there are plenty of challenges with convincing someone to find treatment. It’s a big commitment that not everybody is ready to make. It’s important to show that you have their best interest at heart and find the right programs for them ahead of time, which we can help with.

Once you have them, sit your loved one down and try to talk to them. You can invite others to speak, but only if they will be productive. Find a time when they are sober and in a good mood, if possible.

Also, don’t invite anyone that will cause unnecessary tension. A one-on-one intervention conversation is better than a 10-person intervention that makes your loved one feel uncomfortable.

Tell them about your concerns and the benefits of treatment. If they agree, offer them treatment options from the lists we’ll discuss. If they refuse, give them space for now and don’t overwhelm them, as this may put them and others in a dangerous situation.

Knowing When It’s Time

For many of us, it’s hard to know if we need treatment. It’s easy to convince ourselves that we can stop whenever we want, but it’s important to look at the signs and symptoms of addiction, whether it’s for ourselves or for a loved one.

To make it simple, if you’ve experienced withdrawals, if you’re afraid to stop using substances, or if substance use is interfering with your daily life, then it’s likely that you have SUD. Of course, there are plenty of other signs, but that alone should tell you that it’s time for treatment.

Recognizing the signs in others can be challenging, but if you need to, there are patterns to look for. For example:

Constantly lying about whereabouts
Missing social obligations
Complaining of illness frequently (withdrawals)
Spending time with unreputable people
Money issues
Physical signs (red eyes, needle marks, etc.)
Bad breath or covering of odors
Social habits revolving around substances

The list goes on. Of course, none of these spells out “addiction” on their own, but if they become a pattern, then you may have a reason to be concerned.

Inpatient vs Outpatient Treatment

In most cases, treatment will fall under the umbrella of inpatient or outpatient treatment. Inpatient means that you live in “rehab” or drug treatment centers and outpatient means that you live at home. However, there are hybrid solutions and many subcategories, which we’ll discuss.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment is an umbrella term used to describe a treatment program you attend while living at home. This could include doctor’s visits, therapy services, support groups, and more. For most, this is a great option for ongoing treatment when you’re trying to maintain sobriety.

In most cases, outpatient treatment isn’t recommended for newly sober patients, but any treatment is better than no treatment. The reason is that if you’re still living at home during the early days of sobriety, which is the most sensitive period, then it will be much easier to give in to temptation.

However, that’s not to suggest that outpatient treatment isn’t effective. It’s just ideal for long-term recovery, not immediate sobriety. There are other types of outpatient services that may be more ideal for early recovery, which we’ll discuss.

Even the best inpatient treatment programs have a 40% to 60% relapse rate. Keep in mind that number is not a failure rate but merely a testament to the strong nature of the disease. It’s important to give yourself every opportunity for success from the beginning of your journey.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient treatment is the best form of treatment for first-time recovery, especially if you haven’t been sober for more than 30 days. Not only is getting through detox alone challenging, but it’s also dangerous.

During the first two weeks of recovery, your body will suffer the consequences of withdrawal. When you’ve been accustomed to a substance, your body stops balancing hormones and neurotransmitters in the same way and, instead, develops a dependence on the substance to fill those needs. Once that substance is removed from the body, it creates an imbalance that can come with serious consequences.

For that reason, having access to medical oversight around the clock is very important during the detox process. This is especially important if you’ve been abusing substances for longer periods, as the withdrawal symptoms will only get worse.

Generally speaking, inpatient treatment will include anything that outpatient treatment will offer. There will also be easy access to medical or therapeutic services, plenty of recreational activities, and less temptation for relapse.

Of course, inpatient tends to be the most expensive type of drug addiction treatment, and not everybody wants to spend 30 days away from their lives. However, it offers a controlled, substance-free environment that’s perfect for the early days of recovery, which is the most sensitive period.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

If you want the best of both worlds, consider PHP for your treatment needs. If you have serious obligations in your life that you can’t abandon, but you feel you need medical oversight or supervision to avoid relapse, then this is a great option for you.

Essentially, you will have a lot of the benefits of an inpatient program with some of the freedoms of outpatient programs. This style is a great fit for those with:

Adequate support at home
No risk of causing harm to self or others
Medical stability
Motivation to voluntarily participate in treatment
Coinciding mental illness(es)

If that sounds like it’s right for you, then consider enrolling in a partial-hospitalization program.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

If you need to stay at home for any reason but want to give yourself every opportunity for success, then an IOP may be right for you. You’ll receive similar care to what you’d find in an inpatient program but within the comfort of your home.

However, you still won’t be able to work or do too much outside of treatment, as these programs will take up most of your day. You could also save money with an inpatient program and find it easier to abstain from substances. Still, IOPs can be ideal if you have:

Adequate support at home
Safe home environment (free from substances)
Large family or work obligations

Otherwise, we’d generally recommend inpatient treatment. Being at home can be a relapse trigger, even if there are no substances available to you.

Specialized Types of Substance Abuse Treatment

We’ve discussed the different structures that most treatment centers will offer. However, there are many types of treatment for those with certain needs. With any of the forms of treatment mentioned above, here are some specialized treatments you can choose from!

Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis treatment is a treatment for both addiction and a coinciding mental health condition. If you treat one without the other, you may never find success in your journey. Choosing the wrong type of treatment for these needs is a common reason for the high relapse rate among drug and alcohol treatment centers.

Substance abuse treatment with dual diagnosis is the best option for anybody with SUD and a mental illness like depression, anxiety, PTSD, or others. These conditions may only worsen a person’s addiction and lead to self-medicating, which is extremely dangerous. Addressing both conditions at the same time is always best practice.

Treatment for Women

If you feel more comfortable in a gender-segregated environment for whatever reason, there are women’s treatment options available to you. A lot of women of all ages have been in similar circumstances, so you aren’t alone. Finding the treatment that’s right for you is most important.

LGBTQ+

More and more, there are treatment programs available to those in the LGBTQ+ community. We all know that the community is facing oppression and other challenges that are entirely unique to them. Fortunately, those people are not alone.

If you’re a member of the community and you struggle with addiction, there is treatment available to you. You may even meet people just like you who are facing the same struggles. You’re not alone.

Faith-Based Treatment

Some treatment centers may offer a faith-based treatment program based on your specific religious beliefs. Depending on your denomination, you may have to do some digging to find them, but they do exist. If this is a priority for you, then research faith-based treatment options near you!

Treatment for Professionals

Working professionals may feel out of place in certain treatment programs, which doesn’t help the recovery process. If you’re a professional in need of addiction treatment, you’ll find plenty of others in the same situation. Addiction doesn’t affect one community more than another, but finding your community in addiction recovery can make a world of difference!

Find Help Now

Now that you know the importance of substance abuse treatment and how to find the right program for your needs, why wait? The longer you or your loved one goes without treatment, the worse off you are. Get help today and start your journey to recovery and a better life!

Stay up to date with our latest recovery tips, and feel free to contact us for more information or to verify your insurance!