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Connections for Kids

Connections for Kids

Drug Rehab Center in South Portland, Maine

  • Mental Health
  • Eating Disorder
  • Dual Diagnosis

Connections for Kids in South Portland, Maine provides substance abuse and mental health services to children and families in Southern Maine, offering an integrative and holistic approach to addiction treatment with personalized care and evidence-based modalities. They offer a variety of services and therapies, and are licensed, certified, and accredited by reputable organizations.

About Connections for Kids in Maine

Connections for Kids in South Portland, Maine, provides substance abuse and mental health services to children and families in the greater Southern Maine area. They offer an integrative and holistic approach to addiction treatment, focusing on all aspects of the person and their family, while providing individualized and comprehensive care. Their commitment to personalized care, combined with evidence-based modalities, produces the best outcomes possible for the individuals they serve.

Connections for Kids recognizes that all people are different and require different approaches to overcome addiction. They provide a variety of services and therapies, such as individual therapy, family therapy, trauma informed care, and medication management. They also offer educational options, such as therapeutic assessment and support, as well as support for parenting and co-parenting skills.

Connections for Kids is a licensed and approved Substance Abuse Treatment Program, certified by the State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services. In addition to that, they are also a CARF accredited provider, and have received numerous awards and accolades, such as the National Mental Health Association's Outstanding Program Award in 2008. Furthermore, they are a member of the Maine Children's Mental Health Collaborative, the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers, and the Maine Association of Substance Abuse Programs.

Genders
  • Male
  • Female
  • Gender Exclusive Center
  • Ages
  • Children
  • Teenagers
  • Adults
  • Seniors (65+)
  • Modality
  • Individuals
  • Couples
  • Family
  • Groups
  • Additional
  • LGBTQ+ Allied
  • Hearing Impaired
  • Veteran Specific
  • LGBTQ+ Allied
  • Hearing-Impaired
  • Veterans
  • Conditions and Issues Treated

    Dual Diagnosis is a specific relationship between two or more disorders that have the same symptoms and can sometimes be treated together. This is used in the treatment planning process when dealing with drug addicts. Dual diagnosis can be viewed as a chronic medical condition that has comorbid psychiatric disorders.

    Although addiction and a mental illness may have separate symptoms that are not easy to detect, they often go hand in hand. Many times, drug abuse is a direct result of the mental illness. In other words, treating the addiction will not resolve all of your issues. Unless you also treat the underlying mental illness, you will not be successful in achieving sobriety.

    Levels of Care Offered

    This center offers a variety of custom treatment tailored to individual recovery. Currently available are Dual-Diagnosis, Outpatient, with additional therapies available as listed below.

    An outpatient treatment program is set up to help with alcohol or drug addiction, or a co-occurring disorder. The patient must attend the Maine facility for their therapy and other programs but are able to return home each night. The frequency of mandatory attendance decreases after much of Connections for Kids‘s program is complete.

    Therapies & Programs

    Individual Therapy is a critical component of addiction recovery. Therapists work with patients to identify the root of their addiction and figure out how to better handle the issues that led to them using drugs. Individual Therapy is the one-on-one session where people meet with their therapist. Individual therapy provides a safe space for people to open up and discuss personal and sensitive topics which they may not feel comfortable discussing in a group setting.

    Couples therapy at Connections for Kids focuses on addiction treatment for the addict and their spouse. The addict’s family, not just the addict, can benefit from this form of therapy. Couples therapy addresses communication problems, trust issues, lack of intimacy, and abuse in intimate relationships. Couples therapy can help rebuild trust between partners, which increases the chances for successful treatment and sustained recovery.

    Intimate relationships can be damaged during addiction, and professional help may be necessary to rebuild the often destroyed trust and love. Couples therapy at Connections for Kids helps couples improve communication and rebuild trust. Either or both partners will be helped by this treatment administered by professionals. This treatment can also help one or both partners if addiction is the problem.

    Family therapy will also help families realize that the addiction is not their fault. For many years, people blamed themselves for an addict’s behavior and felt that they had done something wrong. This is not the case. Addiction is a disease, and it can strike anyone, even if their life seems fine from the outside. It can bring a lot of shame to a family when they have an addict in their midst, but if everyone is open and honest with each other, then they can help everyone stay in recovery.

    Group Therapy is utilized by drug treatment centers like Connections for Kids to provide the recovering drug addict with a platform to talk about their feelings and experiences. It also provides for an opportunity to learn from other addicts who have successfully overcome their addiction.

    Group Therapy is employed in lectures, seminars, or discussion groups (the latter two are typically conducted as “therapy groups”). It is recommended that all group members be recovering addicts for this type of therapy to work (though it does not exclude others with lived experience).

    Trauma therapy is a clinical process that helps individuals deal with mental stress often caused by traumatic events. It is generally done for children, teenage victims of sexual assault, and war veterans. The therapist helps the person identify, understand and work through the problem. This is done with the help of talking about it in group or one-on-one counseling sessions. Therapists use relaxation, role-playing, art, and music to help the person open up about what is bothering them.

    Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is used by drug treatment centers across the United States to help drug addicts become sober. DBT combines traditional behavioral treatments with elements from DBT, including dialectics, distress tolerance, and interlocking issues. It is commonly used to treat Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) along with substance abuse disorders. The four DBT modules are mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance.

    Cognitive behavioral therapy is also a popular service for individuals living with addiction. This type of supportive treatment uses both one-on-one counseling and group sessions to teach addicts how to identify thoughts, behaviors and emotions that might increase their risk of relapse.

    These professionals can help addicts develop coping skills for managing stress, improving self-esteem and overcoming triggers. They might also use behavioral therapy to help addicts learn how to avoid cravings and warning signs that could lead them back into addiction.

    Therapy can be used as a step-down from inpatient treatment or as the primary method of overcoming an addiction. No matter which option is best for the addict, they will teach important emotional coping techniques, which can make it easier for addicts to get through the tough days.

    Nutrition therapy has been used to help drug addicts for decades. Many early reports on addiction treatment indicate that some patients recovered from the “satisfying power of food”. For years, this phenomenon has been utilized as a treatment modality in eating disorders for adults, adolescents, and children. Specific nutrients have been identified that influence neurotransmitters associated with reward pathways of the brain.

    Studies have shown that carbohydrate loading with complex carbohydrates to elevate serotonin levels was effective in treating bulimia nervosa. This approach prompted researchers to explore the use of this type of nutritional intervention in other disorders.

    Nicotine replacement therapy treats nicotine addiction using external sources of nicotine, such as patches or gum to substitute for nicotine. This allows people trying to quit smoking to get their desired dose of nicotine without actually having to smoke cigarettes. The idea behind NRT is that by providing smokers with nicotine in forms that are not cigarettes, they may be more likely to quit smoking.

    NRT has been available for many years now, and there is a wealth of evidence that shows that it helps people trying to quit smoking. There are several different types of NRT devices on the market now. Patients interested in quitting smoking should talk to their doctors about the best kind of NRT for them.

    Patient Experience

    Experiential Therapy at Connections for Kids

    Experiential therapy is another form of treatment that helps addicts overcome their addiction. This type of service typically involves hands-on activities with the focus on physical experiences instead of emotions or beliefs.

    Some examples include art therapy, equine therapy and music therapy. Each of these forms of experiential therapy can provide unique ways for addicts to channel their feelings and work through their demons. This type of therapy also allows addicts to develop meaningful emotional connections with others, which can prevent them from resorting to relapse as a coping mechanism.

    Payment Options Accepted

    For specific insurance or payment methods please contact us.
  • Health Insurance
  • Self-Pay / Cash
  • Medicare
  • Medicaid
  • Military Insurance
  • IHS/Tribunal/Urban
  • State-Financed
  • Sliding Scale
  • Is your insurance accepted?
    Ask an expert, call (888) 674-0062

    Additional Details

    Specifics, location, and helpful extra information.
    Connections for Kids Location and Directions
    Address Information100 Gannett Drive
    South Portland, Maine 4106 Phone Number(207) 854-1030 Meta DetailsUpdated November 25, 2023
    Staff Verified

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    South Portland, Maine Addiction Information

    Prescription opioid abuse is the most common form of substance abuse in Maine. More than 10% of these residents have also admitted to using prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. Between 2013 and 2014, 4 out of every 5 deaths in Maine were caused by illicit drugs. One in five high school students in Maine uses marijuana every single month.

    South Portland, Maine, has a significant drug addiction issue. In 2012, 9.4% of people in the city reported using illicit drugs. Additionally, 17.5% of people reported binge drinking in the past month. The most common drugs reported by individuals entering treatment were opiates/heroin, alcohol, and methamphetamine. It is important to speak with a professional to determine which type of program would be best for you or your loved one.

    Treatment in Nearby Cities
    Centers near Connections for Kids
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    400 Western Avenue, South Portland, ME, 04106
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    675 Westbrook Street, South Portland, ME, 04106
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    1 Delta Drive Suite A, Westbrook, ME 04092
    Cap Quality Care
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    Crossroads - Back Cove Women's Residential
    575 Forest Avenue, Portland, ME, 04101
    Liberty Bay Recovery Center - Augusta
    835 Forest Avenue, Augusta, ME, 04103
    30 Mellen street, Portland, ME, 04101
    Liberty Bay Recovery - Portland
    343 Forest Avenue, Portland, ME, 04101


    The facility name, logo and brand are the property and registered trademarks of Connections for Kids, and are being used for identification and informational purposes only. Use of these names, logos and brands shall not imply endorsement. RehabNow.org is not affiliated with or sponsored by Connections for Kids.