Addiction and Substance Use

Main Line Health treats the following conditions:

• Addiction: A strong mental and physical dependence on a drug, alcohol or other substance.
• Opioid addiction: A dependence on pain-relieving medications known as opioids.
• Co-occurring disorders: We treat dual diagnoses that frequently occur alongside addiction like depression, anxiety or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

We do not currently treat gambling or sex addiction. 

Substance dependence — now known as substance use disorder — is diagnosed when someone shows a pattern of continued substance use despite harmful consequences. Criteria for substance dependence includes meeting two or more of the following within 12 months:

• Craving the substance
• Being unable to cut back use of the substance
• Withdrawal symptoms when not using the substance

The following factors can raise a person's risk for addiction:

• Genetics: People with addiction usually have parents who inherited it from their parents.
• Biology: People react to drugs differently, leading some to enjoy the feeling and want more.
• Mental health: Conditions like depression, anxiety or ADHD increase risk. Drugs and mental health affect the same brain areas, and some people use drugs to cope.
• Home life: Growing up in an unhappy or stressful home can make addiction more likely due to unresolved trauma or childhood adversity.
• School, work or social problems: Drugs may seem like an escape from stress or loneliness.
• Friends who use drugs: Peer pressure can lead to trying drugs.
• Starting young: Using drugs as a kid can harm brain development and raise addiction risk later.

A person with addiction typically has three or more of the following symptoms:

• Needing to increase how much substance they take to get the same effect (higher tolerance)
• Experiencing uncomfortable side effects if they stop using the substance (withdrawal symptoms)
• Taking more of the substance or increasing usage for a longer period of time than originally intended
• Being unable to decrease use of the substance or not wanting to
• Spending more time using the substance or recovering from its effects
• Being unable to keep commitments to a job, school, family, friends or other responsibilities
• Continuing to use the substance even if it is harming them

Additional warning signs that a person may have an addiction are linked to changes in their behavior including:

• Poor hygiene (not showering, brushing teeth or changing clothes)
• Spending lots of time alone
• Losing interest in hobbies
• Acting very energetic or talking fast
• Mood swings
• Eating or sleeping changes
• Changing friends often
• Missing appointments
• Trouble at work or school
• Problems with family or friends

Yes, addiction can cause lasting changes in brain circuits, leading to cravings and relapses even after detox. Continued, long-term use effects of addiction include:

• Damage to the ability to make decisions
• Declining physical health or increasing health complications
• Declining mental health or increasing mental issues
• Weakening of social ties

Addiction may stay with a person for the rest of their lives, but it is treatable. There is no one single cure, yet evidence-based treatments — including medications and behavioral therapy — can help people achieve long-term recovery.

We combine therapy for mental health with holistic approaches trauma-informed care to treat both the mind and body. Our focus is on healthier methods to cope with addiction including:

• Individual therapy
• Specialized treatment
• Support groups
• Mindfulness
• Yoga
• Acupuncture 

We treat people from ages 14 years and older for addiction through our adolescent*, older adult and pregnant people groups.

*At this time, adolescents (14-17 years of age) can only participate in outpatient addiction treatment.

Outpatient addiction treatment allows people to get counseling and sometimes medication while living at home. It helps patients understand triggers, build coping skills and maintain daily responsibilities.

We treat addiction and provide recovery support for continuity of care using the following methods:

• Dual diagnosis treatment: We provide integrated care to treat substance use and mental health conditions together for better outcomes.
• Therapeutic/behavioral support: Our trauma-informed therapy and DBT skills training help patients manage emotions, cope with stress and heal from past trauma.
• Medical/pharmacological support: Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings to support long-term sobriety.
• Aftercare planning: We provide ongoing support, resources and strategies to help patients keep up long-term recovery after finishing treatment with us.
• Family support: We help loved ones heal and actively support the patient in their lives with family therapy and education.

Yes, we offer detox to help patients overcome addiction through personalized care and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Managed by experts trained in dealing with the challenges of withdrawal, our methods alleviate symptoms of addiction safely. 

We do not offer one single 12-step program. However, all our therapies and treatments are based on a 12-step recovery and holistic approach to heal the whole body, mind, heart and spirit.

Recovery is a lifelong process that often includes therapy, medication and support systems. The goal is to restore the patient's health and ability to function in family, work and community life while managing relapse risks.

Our inpatient residential care includes individual therapy. Our outpatient recovery care is primarily made up of group therapy. However, you can add individual therapy to your outpatient treatment.

Our substance treatment includes resources and strategies tailored to support the patient and their family. In addition to talk therapy, we have support groups specifically for the patient and ones just for family or loved ones. We also have a support group for alumni who have completed recovery at Mirmont.

Yes, you can reach us via our contact form.