8 Things to Look for in an Addiction Treatment Facility

Countless people enter treatment for substance abuse every year. Drug and alcohol addiction touches the lives of people across the globe regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status. When the decision to get help is finally reached, finding the right program can be challenging. There are hundreds of programs that vary greatly in terms of length, area of focus, specialties, and cost. With locations all around the world, promises being made from every rehab, and different experiences available at each one, even starting the process can be overwhelming.

While each rehab you look into will provide resources for addiction treatment, the experience someone has can range greatly from program to program. Even programs that are perfect for one person can be virtually ineffective for someone else. You cannot choose a rehab simply based off what you have heard. Instead, identifying key aspects and must-haves in your search for the right rehab is critical in making sure you find the best option for your needs.

Picking the Right Rehab for You

Before selecting a rehab, it is important to first research the options and determine what type of program best fits your needs. Different programs can produce different results and individual factors can influence the effectiveness of treatment. Spending some time assessing what your recovery goals and needs are can help narrow down the options. For example, if possible, having an idea about what sort of addictions or underlying issues need to be addressed can help you determine the level of care you should look for and the amount of time you may need to spend in recovery.

Some things to look at when choosing a facility include:

1. Inpatient vs Outpatient Treatment: One of the first things you should consider is whether or not inpatient or outpatient is the right form of treatment for you. Inpatient tends to be a long-term program where clients live in a facility while receiving care. Outpatient treatment allows clients to live at home and engage with treatment during specified hours in the day. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.
   
   Generally speaking, inpatient treatment tends to be more successful than outpatient, but it tends to cost more and is more disruptive to everyday life. While outpatient provides clients with the ability move more freely and continue on with normal routines, it may not be as effective as inpatient treatment. Several factors may help you determine what is the best solution for you. Long-term addiction, abusing multiple substances, and the presence of co-occurring disorders often need more intensive care to address.
2. Length of Program:Most experts agree that recovery outcomes are better for those who stay in treatment longer. Most recommend a stay that lasts, at minimum, 60 to 90 days. While this tends to produce the best outcomes, it is not always feasible for everyone. Family, finances, and other commitments can make it difficult to stay in a long-term program. It is important to consider what level of care you may need for treatment and determine the weight of the pros and cons for both short and long-term programs.
3. Specialty Care: Some treatment centers specialize in specific forms of treatment or are designed to address certain addictions. For example, some programs are age or gender-specific in order to cater their treatment to the needs of a particular group of people. There are also programs that specialize in specific forms of therapy or offer unique treatment options for clients. For example, not all programs are equipped with the ability to provide dual-diagnosis treatment to clients with co-occurring disorders. Finding a program that can meet your needs and has a proven track record at succeeding with that form of care is important in your selection process.
4. Care from Start to Finish: Not all rehab programs follow the same timeline. Depending on where you are in your addiction, you may need to first complete detox before entering treatment. Not all programs provide detox for incoming clients and may require you to complete that on your own first. A rehab that offers detox is able to complete an assessment while providing you with a safe environment to comfortably withdraw in. You have access to professional medical staff, 24-hour care, and resources that can minimize the discomfort associated with withdrawal symptoms. Initial withdrawal is often one of the hardest parts of recovery and having help through this transition can make a significant impact on your recovery outcomes.
5. Life Skill Development: While it may not be the first thing you consider, recovering from addiction requires a complete lifestyle change. In order to be successful in sobriety, it is important that you have the tools to enable your own success. No matter how well you do in treatment, entering the real world again can put a person at risk for relapse. Dealing with stress, negative influences, and temptation without the barriers a treatment center provides can make it too easy to fall back into old patterns.
   
   Developing life skills is critical to a person’s success. Having the tools to cope with stressors and challenges in a healthy way is vital to avoiding relapse. Additionally, knowing how to ask for help, care for yourself, and handle everyday responsibilities is key to not collapsing under pressure. If a rehab program does not equip you with the tools and resources to support yourself following treatment, it can put you at risk for losing the progress you made.
6. Types of Therapy: There are countless therapy and treatment options used in addiction treatment and not all of these will be equally effective for everyone. Having a basic understanding about what forms of therapy are offered can help you understand what you should be looking to get out of your sessions. Successful treatment plans often utilize multiple forms of therapy throughout the recovery experience and shift those as the needs of clients change over time. A combination of individual and group therapy works well in recovery as it helps clients work on their individual needs while also developing their communications skills. They also have the ability to learn how to work with others and develop healthy relationships with members of the sober community.
7. Location: With so many treatment locations around the country, it can be easy to just look at options close to home. While this will certainly have benefits and seem like the most convenient option, it is important to assess how location impacts recovery. Often times, recovery close to home can make long-term sobriety difficult. Because you are still in close proximity to the environment and people that enabled addiction, it may be difficult to completely sever those ties upon completion of the program. This is especially true for those in outpatient programs. In general, distance improves the recovery experience because of its ability to create space and remove the influence of enablers.
8. Cost:In most cases, cost is the biggest influence in selecting a rehab facility. The cost of rehab facilities varies greatly depending on a number of factors including length of stay, location, and amenities. In most cases, however, there are several options available for covering the cost of treatment. Many rehab programs work with insurance providers to cover some of the costs and some programs have payment options to help alleviate any financial strain. There are also loans, state-funded programs, and other payment options that can be considered as well.

References
addictioncenter.com/rehab-questions/choose-right-rehab/
narconon.org/drug-rehab/questions.html