Those people who suffer from disabilities have a higher possibility of becoming addicted to illegal and dangerous substances. Individuals who experience these disabilities are typically grouped into the high-risk category for such substance abuse disorder because of the many factors that can include emotional and physical pain, continuous prescription medicines, and frequent social isolation. This tendency to become addicts means that many people with disabilities may wonder: Are alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers equipped with ADA facilities? We look at treatment for disabled addicts in this article here.
Possible Risk Factors for Disabled Addicts
There are many different risk factors that can cause a disabled person to consider turning to alcohol and drug addiction. Among these are the following:
- Addicting pain medication
- Boredom
- Sexual, emotional, or physical abuse
- Indulging caretakers who perform every function for the disabled person
- Frequent isolation
- Bouts of depression
- Mental health issues
- Cognitive, emotional, or physical pain resulting from the disability
Thanks to disabled individuals suffering from a typically greater vulnerability in such cases, they are far more likely to turn to drug use that leads to addiction in the end.
Substance Use Disorder Significantly Harms Those with Disabilities
SAMHSA has conducted and released a study that reveals how substance abuse disorders contribute to decreased engagement with rehab services, negative medication side effects, reduced effectiveness of the medication, loss of muscle control or balance, impaired cognitive abilities, a decreased ability to take care of themselves, greater likelihood of isolation or strife at home, an all-around risk of declining health, and a higher risk of underemployment or loss of job.
In other words, far from helping out the struggling individual with disabilities, drug use often only amplifies the disability sufferer’s symptoms. It can also make the underlying illness more severe or even lead to new physical and mental impairments that reduce the all-around quality of life for the victims.
Over eight million individual disabled American residents are victims of disorders involving substance abuse. Many of them to do not go out to get help because they face or fear suffering from discrimination. They may also worry over facilities that are likely ill-equipped to handle disabled addicts or lack personal funds. The good news is that many rehab centers for alcohol and drugs today do specifically provide care and support for you who are disabled.
Good Rehab Centers for Disabled Individuals
The good news is that many of these drug rehab centers do come fully equipped to help disabled addicts. Some features that you want to look for in such a facility are good personalized care, dual support and diagnosis, well-trained medical staff, flexible care, and support for disabilities.
Personalized Care
Disabled addicts will require care that is both personalized and tailored to address disabilities and the associated barriers. Individuals who suffer from depression or anxiety will also require specialized treatment for mental health disorders. Deaf individuals will require special support for ASL. Such specific support is typically critical to ensure that the right physical support and care is delivered along with the requisite recovery program that will help those suffering from physical and mental disabilities.
Dual Support and Diagnosis
Those addictions and disorders that are combined are often frequently occurring in individuals struggling with disabilities. These dual diagnoses occur as the disability contributes to the substance abuse. A rehab center must be ready to address the mental disorder symptoms which contribute to the addiction.
Otherwise, a relapse becomes increasingly likely following the end of the treatment program. This will usually include both a medial assessment along with treatment for those factors that underlie the addiction in the first place. It should help you to get clear of the life-threatening components of the addictions initially to allow you to concentrate your efforts on beating the addiction at a later date and time.
Well-Trained Medical Staff
Licensed, highly trained medical staff should be able to deliver the care and support that disabled individuals need in order to take care of the particular disability, recognize and address mental health and physical pain issues, and to communicate despite apparent barriers.
Flexible Care
For those who require specialized medical assistance, support, and care, you might not be best suited in going to an inpatient treatment center for addiction. Your facility might be able to provide the specialized medical care within their own facility to collaborate with you as an outpatient in order to help treat and address your particular medical needs. Ask the facility about this possibility in an initial consultation.
Support for Disabilities
More and more rehab centers have begun to retrofit their facilities for those who are disabled in an effort to help them with their physical disabilities. This is not a guarantee of their excellence at this niche form of treatment though. A great number of such facilities still do not have adequate ramps, guard rails, elevators, or brail reading material on hand to encourage disabled participation and recovery. It is a good idea to query closely on all of these issues in the first consultation.
In Conclusion
There is no reason to suffer through a disabled addiction alone any longer. Our compassionate and empathetic staff are standing by to hear from you right now. Call us today at (440) 253-9915.
