What is the treatment for addiction, also known as substance use disorder (SUD)? How do I know what’s right for me or my loved one? What do all these acronyms mean? What options are available at Fora Health?
It’s easy for misinformation and misunderstanding to be infused with our ideas of what treatment is. It’s also easy to feel lost when first learning about your options.We wanted to give you a little insight and lift the curtain because treatment for Substance Use Disorder (addiction) has many levels of care and options to meet patients exactly where they are and support their next step in their recovery journey!
We’ll be sharing a 3-part series to review different types of treatment and how we approach it at Fora Health. We offer a full continuum of care (withdrawal management, residential and outpatient) practiced by expert staff. We incorporate specialty services proven to improve outcomes, such as Mental Health Services and Dual Diagnosis Treatment, medications, family therapy, and peer recovery mentor services. All programs at Fora Health are multi-faceted, trauma-informed, and evolve to meet patients needs.
Let’s dive into Residential Treatment (Inpatient).
Our residential treatment program has been offering healing to people for over 50 years. Clinically, we offer 3.5 and 3.7 levels of care for residents. It is a dormitory-style environment where people live on-site and receive 24/7 care for an average of 90-120 days.
Patients are assigned an Addictions Counselor (AC) whom they meet within three days of their arrival to help work through their treatment at Fora and build an individualized treatment plan. This includes their goals and objectives, building insight into relapse warning signs/triggers and skills to utilize when experiencing a trigger.
Since our adult services are based on patient goals, we offer a wide range of meaningful activities that help people build resilience, reconnect with (or discover) healthy habits, and learn to practice self-expression. These positive activities include guided meditation, yoga, walking and running groups, art projects, cooking classes, and outings to cultural events. And so much more.
Behaviorally focused groups are also offered to all our patients, and some by referral, based on need. For example, our Anger Mindfulness group explores how alcohol and drug use affects someone psychologically, physically and emotionally, and how this affects relationship dynamics. It also looks at how to resolve conflict in a healthy manner.
Fora champions Dual Diagnosis Treatment services that provide integrated care for patients who experience both substance use disorder and concurrent acute mental health issue such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress, or others. Patients with a dual diagnosis are seen by Qualified Mental Health Professionals (QMHP) with highly specialized training in this area. Substance use is a disease with multiple contributing factors that demand a multi-faceted approach.
One of Fora’s offerings that makes us unique in Oregon is our Medically Monitored Residential program. Medically Monitored Residential Care is also called MMR or 3.7R level of care on the ASAM Level of Care continuum. It serves individuals who have severe co-occurring medical or psychiatric needs who may struggle to find an appropriate substance use disorder treatment program. Fora employs a multi-disciplinary team of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, therapists, Qualified Mental Health Professionals, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors and Peer Recovery Mentors to support patients needing this level of specialty care.
Our medical experts help patients explore all their treatment options, including the use of medications commonly known as medication-assisted treatment (MAT). As part of our harm reduction model, we prioritize our patients’ immediate health and well-being, and we work to remove barriers to treatment. From buprenorphine (Suboxone/Subutex) to naltrexone (Vivitrol), we can find a medication that can reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms and help patients function better.
In addition to treating individuals, Fora is a proponent of welcoming loved ones into the healing process through our family therapy program. We understand that “family” means different things to different people. We believe support from loved ones is important because patients who engage in counseling with family throughout treatment are twice as likely to complete their program.
Food is also important to patients’ health and recovery at Fora. We have a fully staffed kitchen that provides three meals a day (and snacks), and we also have an in-house dietician who can cater specific meals to a patient’s health and dietary needs. For example, a former patient named Eli lost over 60 pounds during his time at Fora and no longer needs insulin – thanks to the help of our dietician.
If you’re looking for help for yourself or a loved one, please contact Fora Health. Residential Referral form
Still want to learn more?
Next in our series, we’ll dive into outpatient offerings at Fora Health. Stay tuned!
