Your Inpatient Barbiturate Treatment Rehab Center Options
Risk of coma or death resulting from accidental overdose is high, and these drugs are addictive and can lead to a life-threatening withdrawal syndrome.
Barbiturates are sedative-hypnotics, usually ingested in pill form, prescribed for their anxiety-reducing and sleep-inducing properties. Amobarbital and pentobarbital are two of the most common types of barbiturate. Though barbiturates are no longer routinely prescribed by physicians and thus are not as frequently used or abused as before, recreational use or other misuse of these drugs still happens and is no less dangerous.
Risk of coma or death resulting from accidental overdose is high, and these drugs are addictive and can lead to a life-threatening withdrawal syndrome. Fortunately, a variety of barbiturate treatment programs and rehabilitation facilities are available to help those who are ready to stop using these drugs.
Residential Treatment Centers vs. Outpatient Services
Some overlap in services exists between residential treatment centers and outpatient programs. The primary differences are the setting and intensity of the treatment. Residential barbiturate treatment centers provide around-the-clock monitoring and staffing, with a higher degree of structure and a more comprehensive treatment program. Some of the services provided to residential patients are also available to outpatients.
One-on-one and group counseling are available on a patient as well as on an outpatient basis. Life skills training to help patients learn how to function while sober again are often found in both types of treatment programs. Frequently, patients transition from the more intensive residential program to participating in programming and services on an outpatient basis.
Do I Need an Inpatient Barbiturate Rehab Facility?
Barbiturates’ danger multiplies when used in combination with alcohol, opiates or muscle relaxants. When barbiturates are taken with other substances, the chances of overdose, coma and death increase greatly. If you have suffered an overdose or currently are intoxicated with a mixture of substances, you are at risk of experiencing life-threatening symptoms and therefore require medical observation.
In an inpatient barbiturate rehab facility, staff members are present at all times to provide the necessary monitoring. If you also suffer from a mental illness, you likely would benefit from inpatient treatment. Long-term or heavy barbiturate usage is best addressed in an inpatient rehab facility.
Private Barbiturate Rehabs and Confidentiality
Barbiturate rehab treatment is available in private, for-profit facilities as well as in publicly funded centers and via nonprofit organizations. Regardless of the facility’s ownership, though, details about your barbiturate use, condition and treatment will be kept confidential. In the United States, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, requires that your personal health information be kept secure and not shared without your consent, except in certain circumstances as provided by law.
How Long Does Inpatient Barbiturate Rehabilitation Take?
Ending a barbiturate addiction requires prolonged therapy and detoxification. Addicted individuals are at risk for experiencing dangerous symptoms of withdrawal and must be weaned off the drug in a controlled environment. To prevent convulsions and delirium that can occur when drug use is abruptly stopped, patients are provided decreasing doses of barbiturates until the cravings for the drug are completely eliminated. The treatment length varies by individual and depends on the current dosage, physical condition and duration of abuse. The most severe phase of the withdrawal process lasts up to five days, followed by weeks of weaker symptoms. Detox, however, is just the beginning of the longer rehabilitation process.
What Happens During Treatment?
The first step of treatment for barbiturate abuse is detoxification. During detox, you will be closely monitored by medical personnel in a hospital setting. You will be treated with decreasing doses of barbiturates to gradually wean your body off the drug. Abrupt stoppage puts the patient at risk for seizures, among other life-threatening symptoms. Alternative medications often are introduced to address anxiety or seizures. Medical and mental health assessments will occur, and a treatment plan will be created. The course of treatment will depend on the severity of abuse and existence of other medical or mental health issues that also need to be addressed. Some form of counseling will also be provided.
Paying for Barbiturate Addiction Treatment
Insurance Coverage

Like most medical treatment, barbiturate addiction treatment is not cheap. Treatment requires intensive medical as well as behavioral and mental health interventions and ongoing care. Many health insurance policies will pay for at least a portion of the treatment expenses, though do not expect any insurance company to completely cover the associated costs.
To cover what insurance won’t pay for, out-of-pocket expenses might require liquidation of assets, use of credit cards or financing through a private loan or a payment arrangement made with your treatment facility. In some cities, free or income-based payment plans are available for those who don’t have insurance or other funding sources.
Treatment Near Home vs. Different City or State
Another aspect that you’ll need to consider when evaluating the various treatment options available is location. Your best treatment option will depend on your optimal type of facility, your home’s proximity to barbiturate rehab programs and your personal preference. Some patients like the breath of fresh air they can get at a remote treatment facility, while others prefer to stay close to home, especially if they need to receive constant support from their loved ones or their treatment is on an outpatient basis.
Staying Clean and Sober
Overcoming an addiction is challenging and does not occur instantaneously. Staying sober will require ongoing commitment. Many addicted individuals find participation in a support group such as Narcotics Anonymous to be helpful, particularly when cravings for the drug occur. Some individuals find they function best in a supportive environment such as a sober living house.
Helping the Barbiturate Addict
Though ultimately it’s up to the barbiturate addict to seek help and then stick to the recommended treatment, family and friends can still provide support for the addict’s recovery process, encouraging and facilitating participation in treatment. However, family and friends should not continue to support someone who refuses to seek help, neither should they force the addict into recovery.
More About the Barbiturate Treatment Process
For long-term rehabilitation, a combination of medication, such as prescriptions for alternative, non-addictive drugs and counseling, is recommended. Counseling can take the form of one-on-one sessions with an addiction specialist or therapist, or it can take place in a group setting.
Common forms of therapy include cognitive behavioral therapy aimed at replacing your destructive thinking and behavior patterns with healthier ones, motivational enhancement therapy in which a counselor helps you set goals to gradually change your behavior, and 12-step facilitation that provides a structured approach to addressing the drug abuse. Counseling also works to teach addicted individuals better coping skills and stress management methods. Learning these life skills helps the individual better resist future cravings for barbiturates or other substances.
Ongoing support and therapy improve the chances of recovery and prevent possible relapses into drug abuse. Involving family and friends in counseling can also be key to the success of the treatment process.
Make the Call and Get a Fresh Start Today
Barbiturate drug abuse has significant risks, including death in the most extreme cases. Don’t delay in beginning a barbiturate treatment program. Make a fresh start in life and find the barbiturate rehab facility or treatment program that is right for you. For help in exploring your options, call us at 1-888-851-2649 Who Answers? today.