Finding the Best Drug Rehab for You in the United States
Finding the Best Drug Rehab for You in the United States
To find the best drug rehab with effective treatment for drug and alcohol dependency in the United States one can begin by asking questions to qualify or disqualify specific facilities and organizations.
The Best Drug Rehab Is Not “One Size Fits All.”
While one treatment center may be perfectly suitable for one user seeking recovery, another is often better suited for the next person and thus, the best drug rehab for that individual.
The reason has largely to do with the duration and types of treatment provided by various facilities. Recovery from drug or alcohol dependency usually requires a detoxification stage followed by inpatient, long-term care. In other cases, recovery may be sought through outpatient arrangements.
- The extent of that person’s addiction.
- The type of treatments offered.
- Access to additional services that may speed recovery.
- The quality of the relationship and interactions between the user and the therapeutic staff.
Eight Questions to Ask When Looking for the Best Drug Rehab for You
1. Are behavioral therapy & medications provided?
In most cases, users need to follow through a medically supervised program of detoxification to rid their bodies of the offending substances. Withdrawal from those can be emotionally and physically painful. However certain medications can ease the process dramatically. Once the detox process is completed, behavioral therapies usually deliver the next level of help and support.
- The extent of that person’s addiction.
- The type of treatments offered.
- Access to additional services that may speed recovery.
- The quality of the relationship and interactions between the user and the therapeutic staff.
2. Are personalized plans provided?
A person’s age, ethnicity, life experiences… a degree of dependency…the drug or drugs he or she abuses…can all influence and help determine the best path to recovery. In some case, a user has a mental condition as well as addiction, so it is critical that the facility professionally treats both issues.
No single plan for recovery is right for everyone. Be sure the treatment facility you choose can tailor a treatment plan that takes your specific, personal needs into account.
3. Are additional services provided?
Most everyone working through the recovery process finds that their needs change as they become less and less dependent on drugs or alcohol. The program should make additional services available either directly or through arrangements with other agencies and resource centers. The best drug rehab will be able to personalize a treatment program for you.
- Family services may help build or rebuild relations between family members.
- Vocational services such as job training and job hunting help can speed the patient on to becoming self-sufficient in the workplace.
- Transportation services may be needed to deliver the patient to outpatient therapies.
- Legal services may be required.
For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides some protection from employers who would discharge a person because they have a history of drug or alcohol abuse. The law surrounding ADA is complicated and legal help familiar with ADA issues could be needed to argue for the restoration of a person’s job once they have completely recovered.
Ideally, the program one chooses takes these and related issues into account, so the patient is fully supported throughout the recovery process.
4. Does the program allow time for success?
Treating addiction takes time and remaining active in the program for the right period is crucial. A full recovery takes support from friends and family and may require more than one rehab cycle. Research shows that the longer a patient is in rehab, the greater success they have.
In most cases, users will need at least a three-month program to learn new behaviors and recover. The treatment plan should use strategies and techniques that keep users in long-term therapy. These usually include inpatient treatment where the user lives away from home and away from the “triggers” that, in the past, led to abusing drugs or alcohol.
5. Does the program provide self-help groups?
The various 12-step programs are self-help groups where non-professionals help one another. Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous are just two of the many 12-step programs that have helped users cement new behaviors and attitudes in place as they leave drugs and alcohol behind.
6. Does the program accept insurance?
If they do not, what arrangements or payment plans are they willing to make? Medicaid pays for a variety of treatments including detoxification, residential (in-patient) programs and a range of therapeutic services for those who qualify.
7. Is relapse prevention a priority in the program?
People on the road to recovery sometimes begin using again…they relapse into old behavior patterns. A relapse is not a failure of the treatment plan; instead, it is an indication that adjustments to the plan are needed. Users may need two or even more episodes of in-depth treatment to recover fully. Even the best drug rehab can’t guarantee that you won’t relapse and need more treatment.
The plan should include drug testing and other means to determine if and when a person relapses so appropriate changes can be made in the next round of therapy.
8. Does the program allow family members to be involved?
Many users feel alienated from their friends and families. They may try to hide their substance abuse until it becomes apparent they have lied, misled, and perhaps even stolen money from the people who are most dear to them. The obsessive behaviors brought on by abuse can drive a wedge into personal relationships.
Family members may need counseling and other kinds of help to relieve the pain and disappointment they feel toward the user in their family. The program should provide assistance either directly or through affiliated organizations.
