Drug Treatment Overview
Choosing a Los Angeles Drug Rehab Center
If you or a loved one are considering a drug treatment program, you may have many questions.
- Should I go to drug treatment?
- Does rehab even work?
- What type of programs and facilities are out there?
- How do I ensure they have the proper credentials?
- How long is it going to take?
We understand that this might be a difficult and emotional time for you. To help simplify a process that can be complex and overwhelming, we’ll explore some of the most common concerns expressed by people considering a rehab program.
Should I Go to Rehab?
This is, of course, the fundamental question you should be asking of yourself or loved one.
If you are unsure about your present situation or problem, there are a number of questions you might ask yourself to help determine whether or not rehab has become necessary.
- Is drug use the main focus of your life?
- Is your health failing from substance abuse?
- Are you having problems at work?
- Are your relationships suffering (family, significant others)?
- Do you need more and more amounts of a substance to get high?
- Are you engaging in risky or criminal behavior because of a substance?
- Have you tried and failed to quit on your own?
If you can answer yes to one or more of these questions, then the time has likely come to seek help at a professional rehab facility. It can be a difficult choice to make, but it’s unlikely that the problem will get better on its own, and it will almost certainly get worse.
In addition to physical cravings, someone with an addiction issue will also spend a tremendous amount of time thinking about their drug of choice. These thoughts become a compulsion and impossible to control, which leads to drug-seeking behavior that can sometimes be criminal.
Feelings of depression, sadness, anxiety, despair, and the like are often at the root of substance abuse. The substance might temporarily mask these feelings, but they return once the high wears off, creating a vicious circle of drug abuse.
Taking a substance will temporarily stop the cravings and compulsion for it, but soon the same feelings return. In time, it takes more and more of the same substance to achieve the same effect it once had.
People addicted to drugs and alcohol may feel like they have no control over their drug use. Refraining from using or stopping seems to be an impossibility for them. The substance controls them, rather than the other way around.
Someone addicted to drugs or alcohol will continue to seek them out even if their addiction has made them lose friends, family, spouses, and jobs. Drug-seeking behavior can even lead to diseases such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.
Is Drug Treatment Effective?
Does rehab work? The answer is an emphatic “yes.”
Similar to chronic diseases (diseases that can be managed but never completely cured), issues with substance abuse can be mitigated through a professional rehabilitation program. However, you must dedicate yourself to sticking with a program and realize that this is something you will most likely have to manage for the rest of your life.
Different Types of Rehab Programs
Choosing the right type of program for your needs is vital in your journey toward wellness.
While there are many different types of facilities with varying treatment approaches, they generally come in three different kinds:
Inpatient
As its name implies, inpatient facilities are places where you live 24/7 during the recovery process. Patients at these centers receive full-time addiction recovery care in programs that typically last from 30 to 120 days. This is the most intensive type of rehabilitation program and provides psychological as well as physiological services to help overcome and deal with substance withdrawal.
Inpatient care is often the first step toward recovery. These facilities tend to offer medically supervised detoxification, individual counseling, and group therapy sessions. Some facilities may have additional activities such as art programs, experiential therapy, education, and relapse prevention classes. Some treatment facilities, like those at Nexus Recovery, even include a library, lounge, and community room to make your stay as comfortable and welcoming as possible.
Many patients who complete an inpatient program continue their recovery with an outpatient regimen.
Outpatient
Rather than living at a facility full time, with an outpatient program, you typically attend treatment sessions a few times a week for a few hours each session while living in your own home.
The types of programs offered by outpatient facilities vary widely. When looking for a program, seek out one that provides a variety of services, such as individual counseling, drug testing, relapse prevention classes, group therapy, education, spiritual counseling, holistic services, outings, and aftercare services.
You might even come across Outpatient Programs (OP) like the one offered by Nexus Recovery. People in the Nexus Recovery OP attend sessions three to five days a week for three to four hours at a time. This kind of treatment is more intensive than a typical outpatient program and is great for someone transitioning from an inpatient program to a less restrictive outpatient program.
PHP
Sometimes known as “day treatment,” a partial hospitalization program (PHP) is kind of like a hybrid between inpatient and outpatient treatment. Rather than living at a facility full time, or only attending sessions a few times a week for limited hours, those participating in a PHP will typically spend 20 hours or more a week at the facility – five-to-six hours a day during each weekday (sort of like school).
The Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) at Nexus is designed for those who are new to the recovery process and includes many of the same services offered through their other treatment options.
If you are considering treatment for yourself or a loved one, call us today.
Rehab Facility Credentials
It’s imperative that you do your homework in choosing a rehab facility.
With the rise of the opioid crisis in the United States, some low-quality programs have cropped up around the country that are set up to take advantage of people in need.
Just because a facility is licensed by its state doesn’t ensure a good quality program. Since state licensing varies around the country, you will be better served by choosing a facility that is accredited by The Joint Commissionor the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF®). These are independent, nonprofit organizations that grant accreditation based on industry standards, results, quality, and value.
It’s also important to be careful about where you see advertisements for rehab facilities. Because of this, you may want to confine your search only to Google, Bing, and Facebook. These three online platforms only allow facilities to advertise who are certified by LegitScript, a service that authenticates businesses that advertise online.
Rehab Facility Staff
Finding a well-credentialed drug treatment facility is only part of the process.
Besides credentials and certifications, it’s also important to choose a facility that has excellent, varied, and well-rounded staff.
Look for places that offer a mix of professionals, such as:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Psychiatrist/psychologists
- Chemical dependency counselor
- Nutritionists
- Spiritual care counselors
These professionals should all work together to form a team dedicated to getting you well. One person should not be providing multiple services. You do not want a “Jack of all trades” when it comes to staff. Rather, look for specialized, highly skilled professionals like the ones at Nexus.
And because of state licensing requirements, you may encounter licensed facilities that do not have full time (or any) medically qualified staff. This is incredibly dangerous, especially for people going through withdrawal and detox. There have been numerous instances of people getting sick or even dying from not having access to qualified, professional staff while detoxing at a rehab center.
Amenities
Some rehab facilities offer deluxe amenities and surroundings from gourmet food to ocean views.
On the other hand, some places are stripped down, bare-bones, and downright uncomfortable.
Does any of this matter? Are outcomes better at more upscale facilities than at more bare-bones places?
Ultimately, it depends on the individual.
At the end of the day, you’ll want to feel comfortable at any facility you choose. Feeling comfortable – at ease, relaxed, open, and receptive – is essential for recovery so choose a center that feels good to you.
How Long Should a Program Last?
This largely depends on the type of program you are enrolling in and the severity of your issues.
As a rule of thumb, inpatient drug treatment programs tend to be shorter than outpatient. Usually, inpatient programs last from 30 days to six months. The average stay is in the middle, usually 60 to 90 days. Getting someone to commit to enter these program can be difficult because of the time away and an intervention may be required. However, a stay at this level of care, when medically necessary, can make all the difference.
Because outpatient drug treatment programs don’t require you to live at a facility, they tend to be more flexible in duration. However, outpatient programs can potentially extend to the rest of your life for ongoing therapy and support groups.
To explore more information about different treatment options, please visit more of the Nexus website. And if you’re ready to learn more and take the next step, contact us now for a free and confidential consultation.
If you or a loved one are suffering from alcohol or drug addiction, we’re here to help. Contact us today and speak with one of our trusted recovery advisors.
