What to Consider When Choosing a Treatment Center for Addiction
What to Consider When Choosing a Treatment Center for Addiction
Having a drug or alcohol addiction is not a healthy or functional way of life. Getting treatment for your addiction is the best thing you can ever do for yourself. Before choosing a treatment center, there are several questions you should ask.
What Types of Programs are Available?
When it comes to drug and alcohol treatment, there are two types of treatment. Both are very different and provide a distinct benefit to the patient.
Inpatient treatment offers treatment in a secure, inpatient setting. Patients stay at the facility during the length of their treatment. In a comfortable environment, individuals can escape from daily stress and can focus entirely on healing.
Intense Outpatient Programs are for those who need to be in treatment but also need to keep their current commitments to family, work, or school. Outpatient programs, however, do not provide the secure, distraction-free environment that some people need to fully recover. These are important things to consider when choosing a treatment center.
What Types of Addictions are Treated?
Most rehabilitation facilities treat many different types of addictions including:
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamine
- Heroin
- Prescription Drugs
- Synthetic Drugs
- Club Drugs
- Marijuana
If you are suffering from addiction to drugs that are prescribed to you, or have mental disorders in addition to your drug addiction, be sure to ask if the facility deals with dual-diagnosis.
These special situations need attention and it may not be worth going to treatment unless these issues are going to be addressed. Treating the addiction alone may not be enough. Many prescription drug abusers need to continue taking these medications and cannot just be completely withdrawn from it. Dual-diagnosis helps to treat mental disorders that may lead to drug addiction. Leaving it untreated will more than likely lead to relapse.
How Long is the Program?
Depending on the severity of the addiction, one must decide on how long they would need to stay in treatment. Both short term and long term programs are available to those who are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. Programs often run anywhere from several weeks to over a year. Before choosing a treatment center, be sure to learn the facts about these options.
What is Their Philosophy?
The philosophy behind the program can be very important when choosing a treatment center for addiction. Some centers may focus their treatment on finding the root of each individual’s addiction. Other facilities find that building a strong support system helps the addict abstain from using. Some programs are largely based on religion and that recovery starts by finding faith in a higher power. Many facilities use a combination of these philosophies to make their program successful.
Are They Accredited and What is Their Success Rate?
Any reputable addiction treatment center should be accredited by the state that they are in. You should also ask about any other credentials or license that would make them the best choice. Success rates may be one of the most important factors when choosing a treatment center. Facilities with high success rates usually have a well-designed program with a knowledgeable staff to thank for their impressive statistics.
How Does the Program Work?
A quality program will make the most use out of your time there. Instead of just sitting around abstaining from drugs or alcohol, you will be proactive towards your recovery.
Your treatment should consist of:
- Discovering the root of your addiction.
- Learning new life skills and coping mechanisms.
- Good nutrition.
Counselors and staff will help you develop a daily routine which will help you feel in control of yourself and your actions once you have completed treatment. They may even offer group outings to help ease you into social situations that you normally would not get involved with sober.
How Much Does the Program Cost?
While not as common and difficult to get into, there are some rehabs that rely heavily on donations and government funding and may offer treatment at little or no cost to you by offering charity care.
Addiction treatment programs can be very expensive. Fortunately, most facilities do take insurance. If you have insurance, be sure to find out if they will accept your insurance plan and how much your insurance will cover, in order to avoid any misunderstandings. Some facilities may accept you if you qualify for government assistance.
Where is the Facility Located?
While this may not seem like a big deal at first, location can affect the success of the treatment. Treatment centers that are located in the middle of a big city or urban area may cause too much temptation for some because they know that they can walk out the doors and have immediate access to drugs or alcohol. Other people may find that if they are too far away from family and friends that they may wind up leaving treatment early. Others want to be as far away from where they were using as possible, and may even feel relieved to get a break from those that were around them.
More Help Available for Choosing a Treatment Center
No two rehabs are identical. Before choosing a treatment facility, you should really consider all of the options and possibilities available. Choosing the right treatment center significantly increases the odds of having a successful recovery.
