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Before Treatment Begins

Choosing A Rehab

Choosing a rehab program is a life-changing decision. Luckily, there are thousands of qualified treatment facilities throughout America that can help end your struggle with addiction.

How Do I Choose The Right Rehab Facility?

Once you’ve made the decision to seek treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction, you’ll need to choose a rehab program that will meet your unique needs and circumstances. With over 14,500 treatment facilities across the US alone, you can rest assured that there is a provider out there that can help you make the journey to a successful recovery and assist with any problems you might have. However, the sheer number of options available can make the decision of choosing the rehab that’s right for you a hard one. It’s important to consider a variety of factors and conduct some research before making your choice, as selecting the right treatment center will increase your chances of completing the program successfully and maintaining your sobriety in the future.

Educating yourself on what to look for in a program can save you time and money in the long run. When you know just what to ask a rehab facility or can identify the different qualities that you want in a program, you can more accurately choose a rehab that fits your individual needs. Here are a few simple steps that can make choosing the right rehabilitation center a little easier.

Decide What Your Rehab Needs And Goals Are

Addiction is a disease that virtually affects all aspects of a person’s life. The right rehabilitation center should offer a variety of treatment plans that target specific needs and any behaviors that you would like to address. To figure out what exactly your needs are, take some time to think about the kinds of things that you would like to be different in your life and any behaviors that you would like to change. Once you identify those aspects that you want to change or improve on, the next step is determining the timeline to achieve those goals during your recovery journey. What would you like to accomplish over the first few weeks or months (short-term goals), the next 6-12 months (medium-length goals), and over the next few years (long-term goals)? For most potential patients, the single most important thing to consider is whether or not they are ready to get clean and sober.

Many potential treatment seekers struggle to clearly identify their goals, and that’s totally fine. For that reason, it is highly advised to contact a treatment provider and complete a substance abuse evaluation. A treatment provider will be able to assist in identifying goals and learning how to accomplish them.

One example of a need that should be identified is chronic pain. Someone with chronic pain should seek a treatment program that specializes in pain management and provides alternative holistic therapies such as meditation, acupuncture, massage therapy, and chiropractic services. Another example is co-occurring mental health disorders. Someone with a dual diagnosis should seek a treatment program that offers both substance abuse and mental health treatment.

In addition to defining your own goals, understand that the rehab center you choose will also set goals and measure your success in achieving those objectives. Different programs all measure success differently and take different paths to get there. Some consider success to be a person completing their 30-day program. Others measure success by the number of people who stay sober after they return home. Others include many factors of recovery when considering success, such as gainful employment, improved family relations, and sustained sobriety. You must decide if a center’s goals are acceptable and align with your own before making a decision. By considering your own needs and goals in relation to the that of the rehabilitation center, you’ll be able to see which treatment facilities can best help you reach your desired outcome.

Research Various Rehab Options

Whether you found your potential rehab options from doing your own research or by contacting a treatment provider, it’s important that you do a thorough investigation on each one. Programs differ by the level of care given, how long treatment lasts, and how intensive and structured the program is. The majority of this information will be available on websites and other promotional collateral, but you may have to call and ask the facility directly for additional information. You can decide which rehab facility will best meet your needs based on learning about a few of the following factors.

Inpatient Vs. Outpatient

The choice between attending an inpatient or outpatient rehab program generally depends on the severity of addiction. The first type is recommended in cases in which it is more severe, but there are advantages and disadvantages to both, so the right choice really depends on the individual’s needs. In an inpatient program, patients will reside at the facility for the duration of treatment and are provided with around-the-clock medical care. Due to the intensive environment, inpatient programs are typically better for people dealing with other medical or psychological issues in addition to substance abuse.

If the addiction is not severe and the individual wishes to attend rehab without stopping work or school, an outpatient program is more suitable than an inpatient one. However, a strong will to recover is needed to succeed with outpatient rehab, as there is less supervision and control. In an outpatient program, patients still participate in group or individual therapy and other activities that the center organizes, but will go home at the end of the day, which may result in a number of triggers and temptations that would be absent in an inpatient setting. Many outpatient programs do offer the option of living in a sober living home, which minimizes these concerns and provides the benefits of accountability, structure, and random drug and alcohol tests. Many programs even offer day and night treatment options.

Treatments And Therapies

There are thousands of different treatment models and therapy options available for the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. This makes it possible for everyone to find the treatment that works best for them, but it also means that some individuals may end up choosing a rehab where the available therapies are not the best fit. It is very useful to research different types of therapies to determine the different types and styles of treatment that you think might work for you. Rehab programs that offer only 1 or 2 therapy types may not be able to customize care to your specific needs. An ideal program will offer a variety of evidence-based therapies to help the patient transition into sobriety and to be able to meet future needs as you continue in your recovery journey. It is important to note that therapists themselves will often help patients determine which therapeutic methods are most beneficial to them.

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Amenities

One of the biggest differentiating factors between the cost and quality of rehabs is the accommodations that are offered. There are some luxury rehabs that provide a standard of living that rivals or exceeds that of 5-star hotels, and then there are other rehabs that have extremely basic but fully-functional facilities. Many rehabs will include amenities such as exercise classes and fitness training, creative studios, expressive therapies, and beautiful landscapes to appeal to clients and provide additional experiences that will help individuals heal. The range of available amenities is huge, meaning that you will be able to find a facility that offers anything you are looking for. With that being said, however, the number of amenities offered typically increases the cost of rehab and some people simply can’t afford these perks or find them unnecessary. You want to be as comfortable as possible during treatment, so it is up to you to decide the amenities that you would like to be included in the treatment center that you attend.

Examples of potential amenities include:

  • Yoga
  • Acupuncture
  • Chiropractic services
  • Massage therapy
  • Swimming pools
  • Gyms
  • Equine therapy
  • Art and Music therapy

Location

You will need to take into account the location of each rehab you are considering and whether or not it is ideal to choose a rehab facility close to where you live. Obviously, nearby facilities are more convenient and may be a necessary choice for individuals with commitments close to home. However, it can also be highly beneficial to travel for rehab far away from the distractions of home, as it completely breaks the connection between the addict and their former life, especially the toxic relationships and routines that encourage drinking and drug use. Additionally, traveling for rehab often proves to be more expensive than attending a nearby facility as you will need to factor in airfare and other transportation costs.

Length Of Program

The majority of treatment programs will last for either 30, 60, or 90 days, but there are many other options that vary in length as well. While generally uncommon for the majority of patients, long-term residential programs can last up to a year. Many providers strongly recommend attending 60 or 90 day programs because they feel that 30 days is not a sufficient length of time to adequately work through substance abuse issues. However, there are many 30-day programs with excellent track records of success. They are a great option for patients that have financial, professional, and familial commitments that they can’t be away from for a long duration of time. Some facilities can amend individual programs to be longer if needed, while others have a strict timeline for checking out once treatment is completed.

Cost

Every rehab has a different price. The price of addiction treatment can range from completely free to upwards of $50,000 per month with hundreds of options in between. The rate depends on the intensity of the program, the location of the facility, amenities offered, and several other factors that all result in higher overall costs. If a program is not covered by your insurance and money is a concern, there are many alternative options available to help patients pay for rehab. Some of these commonly used alternatives include:

  • The Affordable Health Care Act
  • Medicaid and Medicare
  • Private Health Insurance
  • Personal Loans

While the cost of treatment shouldn’t be your primary consideration, it still plays a large role in determining the rehab program that is best suited for you.

Compare Rehab Facilities And Make An Informed Decision

After identifying all the relevant information about the drug and alcohol rehab options that you are considering, it is time to compare facilities and make a decision. Choosing the right rehab means that you will have to carefully weigh all the above factors. Making a decision likely means that you will have to determine what characteristics are most important to you and pick the facility that most closely matches what you are looking for. You may not be able to find a facility that perfectly matches all of your preferences, but you will be able to find an excellent treatment center that will help you get started on the road to recovery.

Once you have chosen the right rehab for you, it will be time to make a commitment and enroll in the program. Every drug and alcohol treatment facility has its own set of policies and procedures for enrollment, but many facilities will allow you to enroll over the phone. Make sure to carefully review and follow all enrollment and admittance procedures in order to ensure successful enrollment.

Finding The Right Rehab: Get Help Today

Choosing a rehabilitation program is a sensitive and life-changing decision. When you are prepared with the right background information and the knowledge of your own needs and goals, you can more easily find the program that’s the best fit for you. If you need help selecting a drug or alcohol rehab center, contact a dedicated treatment provider today.

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