New Orleans Drug & Alcohol Rehab, Detox & Treatment Resources
New Orleans, known fondly as the Big Easy, hosts a unique mix of French Cajun, Latin and African-American residents, creating a delightful variety of music, cuisine and cultures. Tourists come for the historical architecture and interesting traditions that include voodoo, seafood, and beignets. A trip to New Orleans is not complete without enjoying an evening of jazz, a stop to pay respects at the aboveground tombs of the city’s cemeteries, or spending a day at one of the many art museums. However, many residents and visitors alike partake in less wholesome activities, namely excessive alcohol and drug consumption.
With bars and nightclubs lining the French Quarter and Frenchman’s Street, social drinking is engrained in New Orleans’ daily life. Most bars stay open 24-hours a day. However, excessive alcohol consumption isn’t the only problem facing the Crescent City, as police routinely find large quantities of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and even cough syrup during drug busts. Fentanyl and other opioids are a big problem here as well. New Orleans’ airport and port make the transport of drugs common here, causing big problems for residents who find themselves addicted.
However, even with the widespread misuse of drugs and alcohol, there is a ray of hope. More and more city residents are recognizing the benefits that come from living a sober life, and you can too. If you have recognized that your quality of life is suffering due to drug or alcohol misuse, you can do something about it. There is not a single path toward sobriety; you will need to analyze the unique circumstances of your life to determine what may work best for you. Dedicate yourself to your health and success, and treatment can work. There are many people and resources available to help.
Finding Help & Recovery in New Orleans, LA
Alcohol & Drug Rehab Centers in New Orleans, Louisiana
Changing your priorities away from drugs and alcohol and toward a sober, healthy life is a big shift. The first step is to acknowledge that there is a problem. In a city where drugs and alcohol are so common, it takes a lot of courage to want to change. It may seem overwhelming, in fact. Professionals encourage you to find resources and people in your community that can support you in your sobriety efforts. There are various New Orleans drug and alcohol treatment facilities, as well as detoxification facilities available.
Also known as inpatient programs, residential treatment programs provide the greatest amount of oversight and structure. Patients live on-site during the entire treatment process so they can receive substantial oversight from trained medical personnel. Often, patients begin their treatment with a medically assisted detoxification, and this environment is ideal for ensuring safety during the entire process. Afterward, participants work through a structured, effective format that usually includes group therapy sessions and classes that focus on handling the everyday stresses of life. Yoga, meditation, and relaxing hobbies often integrate into the program to replace negative habits with positive ones. This intensive process is ideal for someone with a long history of drug or alcohol use, or if home life is challenging to your efforts to claim sobriety.
Partial hospitalization programs can be the next step in treatment for someone who has successfully completed an inpatient program, or it may be an excellent start for someone who has a slightly less severe addiction. A PHP also provides a level of medical oversight – including during the detox process – but an added level of independence comes with it. Participants are able to stay in on-site housing facilities, which are more like independent living, or stay at home during the process. If you decide to stay at home during this treatment, be sure that your home life is safe and supportive to maximize your likelihood of success. Programs may include therapy, but the entire process is more flexible and presents the opportunity for patients to make smart, healthy decisions for themselves.
Outpatient programs have the highest level of independence and freedom during the treatment process, so they are best for those who have been able to maintain a good job and keep relatively good relationships with their family and friends. Participants stay at home, as there are no on-site facilities, and they are able to continue working or going to school. For those with more severe addictions, this may prove too challenging during the initial treatment. However, those with less severe addictions can find great success. While offering support and guidance, outpatient programs help create a transition to a sober life.
There are various New Orleans drug rehab and New Orleans alcohol rehab programs. The question is, which one is best for you? To begin, be honest as you look back on your history with drugs and alcohol. How long have you been using, and what types of substances are you using? Have you been able to manage your life, or has it become unmanageable? This will help you get an understanding of the severity of your addiction. Next, consider your home life. Sometimes, it is best to take a break from home, even when loved ones are well meaning; other times, family and friends can be excellent parts of your support system. Finally, look at your insurance policy. Some medical or health insurance policies will pay for portions or all of treatment.
New Orleans Drug & Alcohol Detox Centers
Treatment begins with detoxification. This is the process of stopping the intake and sometimes removing all toxic chemicals from the body. Without medical oversight or assistance, this process can sometimes be very painful. Withdrawal symptoms can sometimes be severe and potentially harmful, depending on the type of drugs used. This is why professionals recommend working with medical staff during detox. There is no reason to go through a painful experience as a way to begin your new sober life. There are many New Orleans drug detox and New Orleans alcohol detox programs.
As you likely already realize, detox is simply the beginning of treatment. Relapses are frequent with those who have a long history of drugs and alcohol and only physically remove the chemicals from their body. If you do nothing else to address the reasons behind the addiction, you are more likely to continue to misuse. Effective treatment plans include therapy so you can understand psychological, mental, or emotional issues that are contributing to your behavior. It is a difficult process, but one that is very worthwhile. A supportive peer network can also make a big difference in keeping you sober.
Recovery Meetings Near You in New Orleans
Indeed, finding friends who do not use drugs and alcohol and are supportive of a sober life can prove very challenging to someone who has lived with addiction for a while. Thankfully, there are meetings available to those who have completed treatment at a New Orleans drug rehab center or a New Orleans alcohol rehab center. These peers want you to succeed in sobriety. Meetings such as those for Alcoholics Anonymous and SMART Recovery are scheduled throughout the week to provide that supportive network that you will need as you make these major life changes toward health and well-being.
The most commonly known recovery meeting is Alcoholics Anonymous. There is a meeting every day, often throughout the day, in nearly every city in the nation, as well as many international meetings. This means there is always a group of people willing to share experiences and support you as you face challenges along the way. Founded in the 1930s, AA has helped countless people find success working through the 12 steps.
Share Our Stories
6200 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70118
Stairway to Serenity
3133 Ponce De Leon St.
New Orleans, LA 70119
Little Red Book
124 N. Jefferson Davis Pkwy.
New Orleans, LA 70119
Another very popular and effective recovery group is Narcotics Anonymous. This group formed in the 1950s as an offshoot of Alcoholics Anonymous so that people battling drug use specifically could have a group of peers. Like AA, many of these meetings are closed and private for only those battling addiction. Participants work through the same 12 steps and attend daily meetings in an effort to live drug-free for the rest of their lives. There are many NA meetings in the New Orleans area.
Laying the Foundation
1801 Canal St.
New Orleans, LA 70112
Unity Stairway to Life Club
307 Hickory St.
Thibodaux, LA 70301
Open Mind
6200 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70118
While AA and NA are very successful, they are not for everyone. One of the tenets of those recovery programs is the requirement to release your addiction to a higher power. For those struggling with the idea of faith, this can be difficult, even impossible. SMART Recovery is a good alternative. While there are fewer meetings scheduled, the structure is one filled with motivational techniques, self-responsibility and a better understanding of oneself. Participants work through the 4-Point Program to stay free of drugs and alcohol.
Broadmoor Wellness Center
3900 General Taylor St.
New Orleans, LA 70125
Regardless of where someone with a drug or alcohol addiction is in the treatment process, it can be a separate challenge for their loved ones. Family members, friends and even co-workers may require their own support system to help address the behaviors and emotions of addiction. Al-Anon and Nar-Anon meetings present good opportunities for loved ones to hear similar experiences and know they are not alone. Participants work through their own 12-step process and find the support they need.
Al-Anon
Mojo Coffee House
1500 Magazine St.
New Orleans, LA 70118
Nar-Anon
St. Charles United Methodist Church
1905 Ormond Blvd.
Destrehan, LA 70047
Being such a big city, there are various options for drug or alcohol rehab in New Orleans, Louisiana. It’s fair to note, however, that the best option might sometimes be to seek treatment away from the stressors and triggers of everyday life.