Concerta Treatment and Rehab
Concerta Info
Concerta (methylphenidate) is a prescription stimulant medication, belonging to the same class of drugs as Ritalin. It is a highly addictive substance because of its powerful psycho-stimulant properties, similar to cocaine and amphetamine. If you use the drug without a prescription or take it in higher doses than the prescribed amount, you may be at risk of becoming psychologically dependent. When this happens, it becomes very difficult to stop using Concerta.
If you’re addicted to Concerta, it’s crucial you don’t attempt to quit without professional help. Professional addiction treatment centres can assess your level of addiction and formulate an appropriate treatment plan for detox and recovery. If you’re moderately or severely addicted, treatment is best carried out in a residential rehab setting.
Outpatient addiction treatment for Concerta addiction may be a suitable option if you’re only mildly addicted to the drug. Medical supervision is an essential aspect of addiction treatment. Your medical provider can start you on a tapering programme, whereby the dose is gradually reduced and administered.
What Is Concerta Addiction?
Like with most stimulants, Concerta addiction can occur with heavy and long-term use. Chronic abuse can lead to tolerance and psychological dependence, with different levels of abnormal behaviour. In certain instances, full-blown psychosis may occur, where you become a danger to others and yourself as a result of homicidal or suicidal thoughts and hallucinations.
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When Concerta addiction takes hold, it becomes almost impossible to stop using the drug, even when you can see the negative consequences you experience from your habit. In some cases, you might also move on to abuse more severe illegal substances like crystal meth or cocaine, as a way to cope with tolerance. The longer you abuse Concerta without seeking help, the more severe the consequences will be.
Concerta addiction leads to some unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, such as fatigue, depression and paranoia. If you experience them when you haven’t taken the drug for some time, then it is advisable to seek medical help for tapering. Other signs of addiction include experiencing strong cravings, needing higher doses to feel the same effects, compulsively seeking ways to obtain and abuse it, and continuing to use it despite the effects on your life and relationships.
Warning Signs of Concerta Abuse and Addiction
Concerta addiction occurs relatively quickly. It causes a quick release of dopamine in the brain, making you experience better focus and concentration, a sense of euphoria and higher energy levels. Understandably, you’ll want to relive this high, which consequently results in continued abuse. Repeated abuse causes changes in your brain, increasing your dependence on the drug and potentially inducing withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit.
When you first begin to use Concerta, you might consider it a harmless study-aid. However, this drug can easily cause psychological dependence and make you believe that without it, you’ll suffer poor academic performance. Several warning signs can be identified when you’re dealing with Concerta abuse and addiction. Some of these signs include:
- Wanting to stop using Concerta, but always going back for more
- Constant cravings for Concerta
- Spending more money than you can afford on Concerta
- Problems with relationships, as the drug takes centre-stage in your life
- Spending more and more time trying to source the drug
- Using Concerta as a crutch any time there’s a test, work project or big game
- Recognising health problems (like increased heart rate or dramatic weight loss), but continuing to use the drug
- Obsessing over getting the next ‘high’ or feeling unable to focus normally without the drug
Why You Should Seek Rehab for Concerta Abuse and Addiction?
The thought of entering a rehab facility for the treatment of Concerta addiction can lead to anxiety. Consequently, you might consider it needless or that you can eventually overcome addiction on your own. This could prevent you from seeking treatment and can prove to be very risky.
You might be unsure about whether you want to begin recovery, and the fear of withdrawal can contribute to that feeling. However, it’s crucial to think of rehab and treatment therapies as an opportunity to discover how better your life would be without drugs. Rehab for Concerta abuse and addiction is necessary because you can get the tools and support you need to begin recovery.
Abuse and addiction involve not having total control of your own ability to make the right choice with regards getting treatment. Concerta affects your brain chemistry; as a result, your own brain can work against you when you try to quit. Concerta addiction is a deadly disease and you need help to fight it. Seeking rehab and treatment is the best choice to make for yourself, your family and your own future.
Concerta Addiction Treatment
In a professional rehabilitation facility, Concerta addiction treatment typically begins with detoxification. This involves helping you beat your physical dependence and to remove all drug toxins from your system. You could experience withdrawal symptoms when you start to reduce your regular dose of Concerta. These include: increase in appetite, anxiety, depression, insomnia, fatigue and nightmares.
Concerta detoxification typically occurs under the close supervision of medical professionals. Your vital signs are closely monitored to prevent any life-threatening medical complications. Usually, the attending physician will gradually reduce your Concerta dosage to ensure your symptoms don’t become too severe. After detox is completed, treatment continues with the rehabilitation phase. At this stage, the centre provides treatment via a range of methods, including 12-step programmes.
These programmes generally include different forms of behavioural therapy and cognitive addiction therapy. The goals of these therapies include helping you identify healthy alternatives to Concerta use, and understanding the root causes of your addiction. If you’ve lost certain life skills in the course of your addiction, treatment also provides classes that can help. In addition, nutrition classes are also made available if you suffer from malnutrition as a result of your negligence.
What Is Concerta Rehab Like?
Concerta rehab usually starts with intake – also referred to as ‘assessment’. At this stage, your condition and addiction level will be assessed by an experienced staff member. The results of your assessment will form the basis of a closely supervised Concerta detoxification. Throughout the treatment process, the rehab centre will also provide specialised care and individualised addiction therapy.
If you’re unable to get the care you need from traditional rehab facilities, executive rehab centres could be ideal. These rehab centres combine excellent addiction treatment with other benefits such as computer and mobile phone access. This type of treatment can be appropriate if you’re a business person in need of flexibility due to professional circumstances. You can receive the assistance you need with treatment whilst staying relatively ‘connected’.
After you complete your treatment, you could also benefit from aftercare and ongoing care when you leave the facility. Such services can help you maintain your abstinence when you return to the ‘real world’. If you require assistance locating a suitable and highly rated rehab centre for Concerta addiction, speak with an experienced addiction specialist as soon as possible.
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Treatment and Therapy Options
There are various treatment and therapy options available when you want to completely stop using Concerta. The most suitable programme will depend on your mental health history, whether you’re abusing Concerta alongside other addictive substances, how committed you are to achieving abstinence, and if you have a strong support network at home. Therefore, if you have co-occurring mental disorders or an addiction to multiple substances, the best programme for you may be inpatient treatment.
However, you could be recommended for rehab in an outpatient setting if your doctor identifies it as a suitable option. Addiction treatment programmes typically include both individual and group therapies. Professionals are available to help you address the underlying reasons for substance use so that you can make adequate progress in recovery.
Treatment also includes attending support groups and 12-step groups such as Narcotics Anonymous, which provide a network of peers sharing similar experiences. Some of the most commonly used therapy methods in treatment include Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), Contingency management, and Motivational enhancement therapy. If you’re seeking treatment for your adolescent, they may also benefit from specific behavioural interventions designed for teenagers.
Types of Concerta Addiction Treatment
At inpatient treatment centres, you are generally expected to stay within the facility whilst receiving treatment. Compared to outpatient treatment, this method offers a more comprehensive approach to substance abuse treatment. If needed, inpatient treatment centres can provide round-the-clock medical care for you.
Outpatient addiction treatment is ideal if you suffer from a Concerta addiction, but cannot immediately break free from family, work or school responsibilities. This treatment provides the freedom to live at home during the treatment period. Doctors can recommend this type of treatment if your Concerta addiction is a mild one.
Different treatment centres provide dual diagnosis treatment for addiction. This type of treatment addresses your Concerta addiction, as well as any co-occurring mental health disorders or another substance addiction. This treatment is crucial because Concerta is commonly used in combination with other drugs. Therefore, if you’re abusing Concerta alongside one or more drugs – or using it during binges involving other medication – you could benefit from dual diagnosis treatment.
When to Choose: Inpatient vs. Outpatient
If you’re struggling with an addiction to Concerta, you should seek treatment in an outpatient or inpatient treatment facility. Inpatient and outpatient treatment differ significantly and you need to understand the services they provide in order to know which one to choose. Outpatient treatment is excellent if you’re experiencing mild symptoms and require treatment with a flexible schedule. If your addiction is less severe, you can stay at home whilst receiving daily treatment at an outpatient treatment centre.
Most Concerta abusers are young adults; if you fall into this category, you can receive treatment whilst living at home and meeting your school responsibilities. Outpatient treatment provides counselling and group therapy to help you address the reasons for Concerta abuse. However, if your addiction is more severe, you might benefit more from inpatient treatment. This type of treatment allows you to focus solely on recovery, without any other distractions.
During inpatient treatment, you’ll be required to live at the facility, whilst under the constant medical care and close supervision. They offer different recovery activities, such as individual and group therapy, as well as techniques for relapse prevention. If you’re ready to start treatment, but are unsure where to begin, reach out today. It’s never too early (or late) to ask for help.
Benefits of inpatient and outpatient treatment
Inpatient and outpatient treatment feature a variety of benefits to help you break free from addiction.
Inpatient treatment benefits include:
- Initial assessment: to check for any existing mental health disorders, as well as determine the nature of your addiction.
- Detox: this involves close monitoring, as Concerta or other toxins are expunged from your system.
- Therapy: group and individual therapy sessions focus on helping you develop healthy coping skills.
- Aftercare: this helps to build on skills you learnt in rehab, as well as prevent relapse.
Outpatient benefits include:
- Intensive outpatient treatment: These programmes can include individual or group counselling and focus on relapse prevention.
- Narcotics Anonymous and other fellowships for recovering drug addicts that use the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (adjusted accordingly for any drug addiction).
- Group counselling: involves participating in a group session, led by a therapist. You’ll discuss issues of addiction and recovery with peers who are going through similar struggles.
- Individual counselling includes meeting one on one with a therapist to uncover the root causes of addiction and working through the issues that led you to drug use.
Choosing the Best Concerta Rehab Centre
It can be difficult to choose the best Concerta rehab centre for your needs, as there are numerous rehabilitation centres to choose from. Each centre is unique, so it’s essential to research your options beforehand. While most facilities employ similar treatment methods, they also come in a variety of styles.
Generally, Concerta rehab centres provide a friendly and supportive environment, where you can be free from the distractions of everyday life. You will be able to focus on the reasons that resulted in substance abuse and work with experts to develop practical strategies for recovery. Aftercare programmes are also provided to prevent potential relapse.
Long-term use of Concerta can result in tolerance and dependence. Over time, you’ll begin to experience physical and mental disturbances when you no longer take the medication. This is referred to as ‘withdrawal’ and qualified Concerta rehab centres have trained addiction specialists who can reduce or prevent such symptoms. With the help of these treatment centres, you can recover and live a healthy, fulfilling life.
Specialised Treatment and Therapy Options
There’s a variety of specialised treatment and therapy options and you can usually find more than one that will be appropriate for your needs. Typically, specialised treatment is tailored to suit your individual, ever-evolving requirements. This is how rehab can greatly benefit treatment outcomes, while the services they provide continue to grow.
Many rehab facilities cover a wide range of services – whether smoothing the transition from one grade to the next; helping teens and adolescents continue in their education, or helping adults adjust to negative events such as unemployment or divorce. If you need a combination of these services, many rehab centres can provide this as well.
Withdrawal from Concerta
Experiencing withdrawal from Concerta is one way to determine if your use of the drug has evolved into an addiction. You could notice certain withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop taking the drug or reduce your regular dose. Withdrawal occurs because your body has come to rely on a steady supply of Concerta with which to function.
When you suddenly stop taking the drug, you may experience a number of unpleasant sensations including irritability, nausea, excessive sleepiness, anxiety, depression, increased hunger, and headaches. These symptoms manifest because you feel out of balance, and they may become so severe that you take more of the drug to find relief.
If you’re struggling with Concerta abuse, it can be tempting to try to quit on your own. However, doing so tends to end in relapse, because of the painful withdrawal symptoms. A better alternative is to seek professional treatment and detox so that you can recover safely.
Continuing Care: What Comes Next?
After completing addiction treatment at a Concerta rehab centre, you could be concerned about what to expect afterwards. It’s common to be concerned about your ability to stay drug-free or to avoid tempting situations. Fortunately, most rehab programmes will equip you with tools to help maintain abstinence in recovery.
After completing your initial treatment, continuing care can last for a few weeks, months, years or even the rest of your life. The type of continuing care that’s suitable for you will depend on your individual needs.
The different options for continuing care include individual therapy, group counselling, 12-step and non-12-step programmes. Halfway homes (which refer to transitional living arrangements) are also available, as a vehicle to help you safely transition from inpatient or outpatient treatment to living in the outside world once more.
Relapse Prevention
Completing inpatient or outpatient treatment for addiction is not all it takes to recover. If you’re struggling with an addiction to Concerta, you could relapse without aftercare or the appropriate relapse prevention techniques. Some practical relapse prevention methods that can help sustain your abstinence and avoid using Concerta include:
- Attending support group meetings regularly. This can help to significantly reduce your risk of relapse. Taking an hour out of your week to attend a support group can be considered an investment in your health and future.
- Building a solid support system: Your support system should be made up of people who do not use Concerta. This support system of family and close friends can contribute to improving your overall well-being and ensuring long-term abstinence.
- Removing yourself from the urge to use Concerta when it occurs: Write down the different reasons why being free of Concerta is the best possible option and have them close to you at all times.
Treatment Payment Options
Generally, insurance plans usually provide full or partial coverage to take care of the financial implications of drug addiction treatment. However, if you don’t have insurance (or your policy does not cover addiction treatment), there are other options to pay for treatment:
- Apply for a healthcare credit card
- Apply for a loan (specifically for health care costs)
- Use personal savings
- Turn to crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe or IndieGoGo
- Devise a payment plan with the treatment centre to meet your financial needs
The bottom line is that if you’re struggling with Concerta addiction, you should seek treatment as soon as possible. Your health and recovery are very important. You can pay for Concerta treatment and rehab in many ways.
Live a Sober Life Again: Call Now for Treatment Options
Going into rehab may be one of the most difficult things to undertake when you’re suffering from drug addiction. It is therefore essential to find the right centre for you. As a result of the increase in Concerta abuse and addiction, there are numerous treatment centres that can help you break free from dependence and addiction.
When you choose to enter a recovery programme, you will find it offers the help of experts and all the additional guidance you need in the process. Treatment increases your chances of breaking free from addiction and lowers your risk of relapsing in the future. If you’re ready to live a drug-free life again, call a recommended rehab centre to discover your options for treatment.
Concerta Addiction: Fast Facts
- Today, more than 17 million children worldwide have been prescribed psychiatric drugs.
- The FDA issued a warning that Concerta, Ritalin and other stimulant drugs can result in suicidal, aggressive, violent and psychotic behaviour.
- Those without ADHD experience an increase in energy and euphoria when they misuse the drug.
- Abusing Concerta can cause heart attacks, stroke and sudden death.
- Approximately one-third of college students have abused stimulants like Concerta.
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Concerta: True Stories of Addiction
Hundreds of people (who are willing to document their message on video) prove that no matter your age and how long you’ve struggled with addiction, you can recover. There is a wealth of health and happiness that can be achieved simply through seeking treatment for addiction and staying committed to the process.
These people are living proof that even though addiction is a deadly disease, there is hope for recovery. Some were constantly abusing drugs and/or alcohol for a long time. Some were homeless, weak, sick and at their lowest ebb. Others were stealing and breaking the law in order to maintain their habits, as they couldn’t stop. From the depths of depression and hopelessness, devoid of love and happy relationships, these tough individuals have received help and since recovered.
If you’re lost in the cycle of addiction, searching for a way out, these true stories of addiction offer hope that you too can find freedom. To find out more about getting help with Concerta addiction for yourself or a loved one, contact an addiction specialist today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can using Concerta prove fatal?
If you or your child has a heart condition, Concerta should be avoided at all costs. Concerta has resulted in sudden deaths in both children and adults, including serious cardiovascular events, such as strokes and myocardial infarction.
What does it look like?
Concerta is available as a generic and brand medication. The brand Concerta has ‘Alza’ typed in black on its side, and looks like a small soda can. The generic Teva MPH ER-C does not have any wording affixed and comes in an oval shape.
How is it abused?
Concerta can be abused in different ways: it can be taken orally as medically intended, but in doses higher than normally prescribed. Crushing and snorting Concerta is also common because it speeds up the release of the drug into the body. Concerta is also abused by dissolving in water or other aqueous solutions to inject it. Adolescents and young adults frequently take Concerta with alcohol to boost its effects, which is a dangerous method of abusing the drug.
What are the effects?
Even though Concerta is a prescription medication, it can cause unpleasant effects which are similar to those from cocaine or methamphetamine when it’s being abused. Some of the effects include irregular heartbeat, headaches, poor impulse control, paranoia (and other psychotic symptoms), malnutrition due to lack of appetite, infections through intravenous use, and seizures.
What are its dangers?
Concerta is a highly addictive medication. Therefore, using it recreationally or taking more than your prescribed dosage can put you at risk of developing an addiction. In addition, Concerta overdose is a risk which has some potentially dangerous physical and psychological symptoms. They include convulsions, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, hallucinations, paranoia, psychosis and a manic-like state.
What is Concerta rehab like?
If you’ve never entered a rehab programme before, it can be hard to imagine what it will be like and what to expect. Concerta rehabs are comprehensive addiction treatment facilities, where you can participate in individual, group and family therapy. Depending on the treatment programme you choose, you can either live at the facility or stay at home whilst receiving treatment, or even live at a sober living facility.
Can abuse and addiction to Concerta be treated?
No medication can completely treat Concerta withdrawal and addiction, but health professionals at drug treatment centres can help you with regards addiction recovery. In addition, therapists make use of a range of behavioural therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Contingency Management, which have proven to successfully treat stimulant addiction. If you’re struggling with abuse and addiction to Concerta, you can get the help you need via inpatient detox.
Should You Go to Residential Rehabilitation?
You should go to residential rehabilitation if you’re looking to break free from Concerta addiction in the safest, most effective way possible. Residential rehabilitation can provide consistent, comprehensive care and is ideal if you have a long-term Concerta addiction. It offers the highest level of care you can receive, under the supervision of qualified addiction specialists. The primary goal of residential rehab is to stabilise you physically and mentally, as well as help you settle into ongoing addiction treatment afterwards.
Do I need addiction treatment?
If you’re abusing Concerta, now is the time to ask for help. You can start by contacting a treatment professional or substance abuse expert. They can recommend the right treatment that will be well suited to your needs. If you have a long-term addiction to Concerta, an inpatient treatment programme offering medically supervised detox may be an appropriate option. If your schedule is not flexible enough to allow for an inpatient programme, you can undergo treatment on an outpatient basis.
What should I expect in rehab?
When you first enter rehab, you’ll go through the intake phase, which is usually the easiest part of treatment. You’ll get settled in, learn what is expected of you and where to find certain things. The medical staff will ask you different questions related to your addiction and treatment. After this, you can begin medical detox if needed, before continuing on to therapy, counselling and support group meetings.
Do I need an inpatient Concerta rehab facility?
Inpatient rehab facilities for Concerta are a very effective form of addiction treatment. This type of facility provides a high level of care and is ideal if you’re dealing with severe addiction. Inpatient treatment offers stays for longer periods of time, which can be from 28 days to several months, depending on the severity of addiction. Inpatient Concerta rehab might be recommended for you if you have a history of chronic substance abuse, poor treatment outcomes in the past, dual diagnosis or co-occurring mental health disorders, or are currently living in an unsafe environment, which is lacking in support.
Which type of Concerta addiction treatment is right for you?
It’s essential to carry out sufficient research before deciding on a rehabilitation centre. This way, you can get the most out of treatment and improve your chances of long-lasting recovery. The right kind of addiction treatment for you is one that includes qualified mental health professionals, who will work with you during and after treatment. This will also help with relapse prevention in recovery.
How much does the programme cost?
Different factors determine the cost of addiction treatment programmes, including the kind of treatment programme, the duration of the treatment programme, the facility location, the types of amenities they provide, and if detox is required as part of the treatment process.
What support is available after you leave the programme?
Certain inpatient or outpatient treatment programmes provide group therapy in the early stages, during which you can meet other recovering addicts, who can provide the understanding and support you need. After you complete treatment and leave the programme, you can continue to attend support group meetings in your local community.
Which recovery centre is right for your teen?
Finding the right recovery centre that will meet the specific needs of your teen can be challenging. However, you can discover the available options by taking the time to conduct detailed research. It’s crucial to find a centre that matches your beliefs and one where you know your teenager would be comfortable.
Call our admissions line 24 hours a day to get help.