Getting sober is serious business. So when it comes to finding a drug treatment facility, it’s important to choose one that will best serve your needs.
There are drug treatment facilities located across the country, yet they aren’t all created equal. Detoxing from drug or alcohol abuse isn’t easy, so you need to make sure that the rehab facility you pick has the resources you need for a successful recovery.
Let’s take a look at some of the most important things to look for when researching addiction rehab centers.
1. What Are Your Needs and Goals?
Seeking recovery can be a humbling and confusing experience. After all, you or someone in your life has come to a crossroads where you’ve decided to make a change. This is great, but if you’re seeking treatment, you need to decide what exactly you hope to accomplish in rehab.
Rehab facilities have different specialties. They aren’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why it’s crucial for you to select a facility that matches your goals for recovery.
Is your goal to simply detox and then focus on short-term sobriety, or are you determined to achieve long-term success? The answer to this question will dramatically impact the type of facility you choose for your recovery process.
2. Inpatient vs. Outpatient Facilities
Different facilities take very different approaches to the recovery process. With inpatient facilities, the patient lives on campus during the entire treatment process. With Outpatient rehab, on the other hand, the patient lives at home and attends treatment during the day.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these, though inpatient treatment generally has a higher success rate because patients experience less disruption to their daily life and are able to focus exclusively on their sobriety during their time in treatment.
3. Location
You should also give serious thought to the location of the facility you choose. Should you stay close to home or pick a location as far away as possible? Again, there are advantages and disadvantages to each.
This decision is primarily a matter of determining how important the support of having friends and family nearby is compared to the value of breaking the connection between the addict and their former life.
4. The Cost of Treatment
Recovery from addiction isn’t cheap. But the important question is what are you getting for your money.
Some facilities offer deluxe accommodations for patients, amazing food, and are located in exotic environments. This type of facility will cost you a small fortune, but the price tag won’t necessarily translate to a successful recovery.
The key is to do some research and match up your goals and needs with what different rehab centers offer and the amenities available at each. A good rule of thumb is to choose the best facility you can afford.
And remember that there are options available for financial aid. This includes Obamacare, Medicaid and Medicare, Private health insurance, and loans.
5. Accreditation and Licensing
It can often be difficult to determine which rehab programs are operating in the most ethical fashion. Again, every facility is different. But a good starting point for choosing a program that treats patients with the greatest care and respect is to ask about their accreditation, licensing and certifications.
Keep in mind that state licensing isn’t always the same as accreditation, and thus their requirements can vary widely from state to state.
Certification is a vetting process that ensures that only legitimate treatment centers are able to advertise their services on various channels such as Facebook and Google.
Make sure that any treatment program you’re interested in has been accredited by The Joint Commission or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. These are nonprofit organizations that base accreditation on specific performance standards, quality, value, and demonstrated results.
6. Staff Credentials
Another important reality of addiction treatment programs is the quality of the treatment will be largely determined by the quality and knowledge of the staff.
Take the time to find how if the facility requires its staff to be licensed and accredited, as well as the level of training each member of the staff has received.
7. Program Length
Programs vary in the length of treatment they require. We encourage you to seek a program that offers multiple levels of treatment so that the addict advances from one level to another as each stage of recovery is successfully completed.
8. Mental Health Services and Support
Substance abuse is often the result of mental health issues. Addiction is a way that many people cope with mental illness. Thus it’s vital to choose a rehab center that offers trained mental health professionals who can adequately monitor and treat patients who require this type of clinical support.
9. Success Rate
It’s not uncommon for treatment centers to boast about their success rates. But we encourage you to ask specific questions about their data.
And you should be suspicious of any facility that tells you their patients experience a 100% positive outcome. Why? Because this simply isn’t possible when dealing with addiction recovery.
10. Post-Treatment Support
Finally, be sure to ask about what level of post-treatment support they offer. After all, detoxing from drugs or alcohol is only the first step on the long road to recovery.
Once you’ve completed rehab, you’ll be on your own. This is when you are at the highest risk of relapse and will need a strong support system. Friends and family are great, but having the support of a good treatment center can make all the difference, especially during those first few months out in the world.
The Key to Finding the Best Drug Treatment Facilities
Addiction is a disease, and learning how to pick the right drug treatment facilities for your needs can make all the difference between success or failure.
Entering rehab isn’t fun or easy, but you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to take the process seriously as you walk down the path to a healthy and happy future.
Click here to see 5 helpful tips for celebrating the holidays in early recovery.