Treating a substance problem in a care institution

Unlike outpatient care, the rehabilitee sleeps in the institution at night and does not work at the same time. Care institutions have a day programme, in addition to which residents can go outdoors or shopping, for example.

Institutional care is voluntary. An order for involuntary treatmentOpens in a new window. can only be issued by a physician or a social worker on a very good legal basis. 

If you need help to stop drinking, it may be that you first need detoxification treatment or a weaning off alcohol. Detoxification is a short-term treatment that aims to stop drinking safely and with as mild side effects as possible.

Detoxification treatment focuses on physical withdrawal symptoms. It usually involves pharmacotherapy that makes the patient feel better and prevents dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

The detoxification treatment at the facility takes approximately 3–5 days. The treatment is confidential and voluntary for you.

Detoxification is rarely sufficient as an exclusive means of recovery, and its purpose is to stop drinking and to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. It is important that you are referred from detoxification to further treatment.

Where necessary, weaning off drugs can be organised by institutional detoxification. Detoxification and weaning will focus on physical symptoms.

At the facility, weaning takes place out under the supervision of a physician, as stopping the use of some substances may be hazardous to your health due to the withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms may be very severe, and medical help is available at the institution to tolerate them.

Drug detoxification usually takes approximately 2–3 weeks at a facility. If necessary, it provides direct access to institutional rehabilitation.

First, contact your social and health centre or a substance abuse emergency clinic if there is one in your wellbeing services county. Take your Kela card with you. Tell what your situation is, and you will be referred forward.

In practice, detoxification treatment is provided by wellbeing services counties’ own detoxification units and private substance-abuse clinics, from which the wellbeing services county purchases the service. In some areas, detoxification may also be provided in inpatient wards of social and health centres.

Detoxification in an institution is subject to a fee, but you may receive a payment commitment from the social welfare services of your wellbeing services county. If you receive a payment commitment, you will only pay for your contribution for the care. The most important thing is that you seek help and receive treatment as quickly as possible.

An attempt is usually made to organise substance abuse rehabilitation primarily as outpatient care, but a suitable method for you will be sought together with you. In some situations, the alternative is rehabilitation in inpatient care.

Institutional substance-abuse rehabilitation involves a variety of rehabilitation types and methods, for example

• individual therapy
• group therapy
• community care.

Therapeutic discussion and spending time with peers is a key part of rehabilitation. In addition, you will plan further care and post-institutional life in outpatient rehabilitation in conjunction with your employees. You will determine together what services you need. Thus, the treatment will help you prepare for everyday life.

Various care institutions provide substance abuse rehabilitation. They may be the institutions owned by the wellbeing services counties, or the county buys a service from a private company providing treatment for substance abuse. Contact the substance abuse emergency clinic or the social and health care centre. Take your KELA card with you.