Top Concerta Treatment Centers

Get help with your Concerta addiction!

Concerta addiction is on the rise as abusers seek out its powerful stimulant properties that are often similar to amphetamines and cocaine. Top Concerta treatment centers recognize abuse patterns in patients who have been prescribed this drug for treatment of ADHD. There is evidence of higher addiction rates when Concerta is taken in ways other than prescribed and by individuals who are not diagnosed with the ADHD disorder. Often, Concerta addicts present other co-addictions upon entering a treatment program. Withdrawals will vary according to the level, duration, and type of drugs used and safety during this process is important. A medically monitored Detox can make this process more comfortable. When co-occurring diagnoses and co-occurring psychological disorders are apparent, access to necessary treatment may be required. Medical services, therapy, and counseling will ensure a successful recovery for the addict as they continue to get the proper attention and resources they need.

What is Concerta?

Concerta is a central nervous system stimulant, methylphenidate, prescribed as part of a plan for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD,or narcolepsy. It is designed to be an extended release medication that increases the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. These neurotransmitters are associated with excitement, motivation and pleasure. The drug has produces a calming effect in ADHD patient to enhance their ability to focus. When it is abused, taken in higher dosages, more often, or through other routes such as snorted or injected, it becomes as a powerful stimulant. Concerta is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance with a high potential for dependency and abuse.

Leading Causes of Concerta Addiction

Concerta is often abused by the parents of children with ADHD because it is so easily available to them. The increased usage produces a tolerance that requires more usage to gain the same effects and has negative withdrawals when usage stops. The stimulant increases energy, focus, self esteem, euphoria, and more. It can be easily obtained in schools and colleges, or through friends and family. Students begin using Concerta for studying or recreational purposes without realizing the high risk involved. When the drug is snorted or injected the rapid increases of dopamine disrupts the flow of the neurotransmitters and presents a greater risk for dependency.

Why Quit Concerta?

There are a lot of unwanted side effects from Concerta abuse beyond its high risk for addiction. The tablets are specially designed to dissolve over time and when they are injected, the insoluble substances may block blood vessels. With increased blood pressure and elevated heart rates, there may be a potential for other cardiovascular problems or stroke. Behavioral changes such as hostility or paranoia can become extreme and unwanted behaviors can have a negative effect on relationships, health, finances, and normal abilities to function. The use of stimulants can also result in co-occurring addictions, anorexia, hypersensitivity, anemia, psychosis and even death.

Concerta Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms may include extreme fatigue, depression, irritability, and abnormal sleep patterns. Other psychological withdrawals such as panic attacks and suicidal thoughts may be more complicated symptoms that arise in cases of chronic abuse or co-occurring addictions. It is important not to abruptly stop using this drug without consulting medical professions regarding your situation.

Treatment for Concerta Addiction

Treatment for Concerta addiction is typically the same as treatment for amphetamine addiction. This drug however, often presents patients who have dual diagnosis or other medically needy situations. Based on the individual, the treatment is designed to give them the greatest opportunities available to access resources and services to ensure addiction recovery. Whether inpatient or outpatient, medical professionals and addiction specialists can assess the individual and prescribe a plan that suits their needs. Withdrawal is medically monitored and managed with follow ups of individual and group counseling sessions. Therapeutic services are offered for both the physical and psychological needs as they become apparent. After care support, such as a 12 Step program, will usually be necessary to continue sobriety.

Concerta Treatment Centers

Concerta is a popular Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder treatment. It is also a safe treatment if taken correctly. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Like many drugs in its class, it has the potential for abuse. It is a central nervous system stimulant so it has all of the properties of most amphetamines although it is not one. This stimulant is just as addictive as many of the others if improperly used.

Some people take Concerta without a prescription because they believe that it makes them smarter, study better, or concentrate better. According to that National Institute on Drug Abuse, it can improve wakefulness but does not necessarily improve studying or performance. Like most stimulants addiction is a serious issue, but treatment for Concerta addiction is available.

Types of Concerta Treatment Centers

There are two main types of Concerta treatment centers, inpatient and outpatient centers. Each of these types has their own advantages and disadvantages. Before choosing a treatment center, it is important to look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.

• Inpatient treatment centers – these are residential centers that care for patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most residential treatment centers deal with difficult cases and high risk patients.

o The advantages of inpatient Concerta treatment are:

• low risk of relapse,
• you are kept away from your triggers,
• nothing to worry about except addiction treatment,
• peer support available 24 hours a day, and
• medical monitoring available.

o The disadvantages of inpatient Concerta treatment are:

• costly,
• having to take off school or work,
• absence might be noticed by classmates and coworkers, and
• restrictive environment might bother some people.

• Outpatient treatment centers – outpatient treatment centers are treatment centers for those who can remain in their home environments without relapsing. You attend daily, weekly, or monthly sessions with various professionals.

o The advantages of outpatient Concerta treatment are:

• less costly than many other forms of treatment,
• freedom to go to work or attend school,
• can maintain privacy,
• less restrictive than inpatient treatment.

o The disadvantage of outpatient Concerta treatment are:

• high risk of relapse,
• in an environment that may have caused the drug use,
• less peer support than other treatment options, and
• the possibility of no night or weekend help.

Although there are other types of Concerta treatment available these are the two main types. These two types of treatment may be combined if need be.

Do I Need Residential Treatment?

Whether you need residential Concerta treatment or not is up to you and your individual circumstances. Some people do better in an inpatient facility where they are away from the pressures and temptations of their home environment.

Since Concerta withdrawal is rarely deadly, inpatient treatment is not mandatory for recovery. It is however a lot easier to get through the worst of the withdrawal symptoms in an inpatient setting. People who use inpatient centers normally describe the withdrawal as more comfortable. The chance of relapse while in an impatient facility is highly unlikely. It is only after a person leaves the facility that the chance of relapse is a real possibility.

Inpatient treatment centers offer help overcoming Concerta addiction to anyone who needs it. Studies prove that inpatient treatment is highly effective for treating addiction and helping people deal with cravings so they do not have to contend with relapse.

If you tried other forms of recovery and treatment or have problems with relapsing due to cravings, stress, or other factors, you might need inpatient treatment.

Will my Privacy be Respected?

Yes, your privacy will be respected, by law it has to be. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services publication, The Confidentiality of Drug and Alcohol Patient Records Regulation and the HIPAA Privacy Rule, all forms of drug and alcohol treatment fall under the HIPAA laws for medical privacy. This means that the treatment center cannot disclose information about your case to anyone you do not authorize. There are a few exceptions to this. These exceptions are:

• Consulting doctors – sometimes doctors need to consult one another to form the best treatment plans. These doctors often share your case details and at times your name. The consulting doctors fall under the same privacy rules as your regular doctor.
• Staff – staff needs to know the medical information in order to treat you properly.
• Drug and treatment companies – at times treatment facilities release your information to the parent company or drug companies. This is usually for research and statistical purposes. Normally your name is not among the things they are allowed to access but your age, case notes, occupation, and other demographics are.
• Government entities – this is a very large grey area. Some treatment facilities release biographical data to the government while others do not.

You have the right to know what treatment information is going to be shared or released and to whom. Most facilities will ask you to read their privacy policy and the HIPAA guidelines before you enter into treatment.

How Long will Concerta Addiction Treatment Take?

How long Concerta treatment takes depends on a few factors. These factors are:

• How long you have used Concerta – if you use Concerta for years it is more difficult to break the addiction. The withdrawal symptoms also tend to be more severe than if you only use it a few times.
• How much Concerta you use at once – the amount of Concerta you use to achieve the desired effects changes as you build up a tolerance to the drug. Once this tolerance is present it is harder to stop using the drug.

Typical Concerta treatment takes anywhere from two weeks to a few months. In typical treatment, you begin to feel the effects of Concerta withdrawal about 12 hours after your last dose. The typical withdrawal symptoms are:

• irregular and changing heart rate,
• depression,
• fatigue,
• agitation,
• nervousness,
• nausea,
• vomiting, and
• vivid or unpleasant dreams.

These symptoms continue from 12 to 24 hours after your last dose up to a few months after. Most of the harsh side effects resolve themselves within 30 days of your last dose but intense symptoms occur up to 72 hours after the last dose as the drug leaves the system.

After that cravings, depression, anxiety, and other symptoms can stop and start for weeks or months after stopping the Concerta. The reoccurrence is called protracted withdrawal.

What Happens During Treatment?

Concerta treatment usually occurs in two phases. The first phase is a detox phase. This is more of a medical phase than a psychological one. The beginning of treatment normally deals with medicating the withdrawal symptoms. The detox phase is normally the worst feeling phase. Once the withdrawal symptoms are under control, counseling begins. Counselors often start with simple techniques to overcome cravings and then move onto more advanced ones.

How Much Will Treatment Cost?

Like any medical stay Concerta addiction treatment can get expensive. Treatment can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars depending on what type of treatment you chose. Most insurance plans now cover drug addiction treatment so it is important to check with them before deciding on the course of treatment. There are three main types of treatment all of which vary in cost. These three are inpatient, outpatient, and a combination of treatment types.

• Inpatient treatment – inpatient or residential treatment is 24 hour a day care for your addiction. Most inpatient treatment facilities provide basics such as food, beds, and treatment. There are three levels of inpatient treatment.

o Luxury rehab facilities – luxury rehabs are the most expensive type of rehab. These treatment centers offer a wide range of services and amenities. A few of the amenities are:

• Massage therapy,
• Onsite gym,
• Onsite 24 hour medical staff,
• Offices with web access,
• Personal assistants,
• Pools and swimming facilities,
• Holistic therapies such as horseback riding, art therapy, and yoga, and
• Any other luxury you could think of.

These rehabs cost between $20,000 up to hundreds of thousands a month.

o Midrange rehab facilities – midrange facilities are usually private facilities that have amenities than the luxury rehabs. They might offer:

• Holistic treatments,
• Alternative therapies,
• Onsite gym facilities, and
• Luxuries ala carte.

o Government funded facilities – these are usually barebones facilities that have very few amenities. Due to their funding situation, they are forced to keep costs down. Most government funded facilities do not offer any extras. They do however offer a sliding scale for fees. Most government funded facilities offer income based payment.

• Outpatient treatment facilities – in outpatient treatment, you visit a rehab or clinic, daily, weekly, or monthly for treatment. The treatment usually consists of counseling, medication management, and therapy. Outpatient treatment is sometimes funded with government or insurance aid. There are different ways to fund outpatient treatment.

o In a package – basic services are often included in one price. This price might be for 28 or 90 days of service. Package prices range with the different services that are included. An average package price for 30 days is between $5,000 and $10,000.

o Ala Carte – in this form of payment plan each service is charged individually. Sometimes payment is due at the time of service and sometimes you are billed after the insurance company pays its portion. This type of service offers the widest range of available programs because you can add or subtract what you want. Each of the different services have different costs.

• Combination treatment facilities – in combination treatment you stay in an inpatient facility for the beginning of the detox and then transfer to an outpatient program when you and the doctors feel you are ready. The outpatient program offers continuing treatment. This combines the benefits of both outpatient and inpatient treatment. Unfortunately, it also combines the cost of each treatment. A combination treatment can run a few hundred dollars to a hundred thousand depending on amenities and length of treatment.

The cost of treatment depends on which type of treatment, the amenities offered, and whether or not insurance or government pays a portion of it. There are many programs offered by both treatment facilities and other funding sources that help people with the cost of treatment. You should never allow the cost to stop you from seeking substance abuse treatment.

Finding Help

Concerta addiction is extremely hard to overcome; you do not need to do it alone. Making the decision to quit is one of the hardest parts of dealing with any addiction. Once you make the decision to quit help is just a phone call away. There are professionals who can help you get through withdrawal no matter how bad the addiction is. For professional treatment, call 800-256-3490. The time to take your life back is now.