If you or a loved one or family member are researching drug or alcohol treatment centers, doing your research is important. Make sure the rehabilitation center will fit your needs and aid your recovery by asking the following questions:
Is The Facility Licensed and Accredited?
It is imperative that any drug rehab facility that you are considering attending is licensed and accredited. The most common and prestigious accreditation is the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organization (TJC). Their strict requirements demand the highest quality of treatment.
How Long Is the Program?
Research shows that therapeutic and addiction treatments are more likely to have positive long term effects when stays are longer than 30 days. Most rehabilitation centers offer 30-day, 60-day and 90-day options for treatment and may be customized based on the addiction or dual diagnosis involved.
What Should I Expect From Rehab?
Rehabilitation for drug addiction, alcohol abuse or an eating disorder should start with a comprehensive evaluation – both physically and psychologically. Depending on your reason for attending rehabilitation, there may be some physical effects that occur from the cessation of drugs or alcohol. The first days in rehab may be challenging but with renewed wellness and therapy, it should quickly improve.
What is the Environment at the Facility Like?
Based on the drug rehab or behavioral health facility it may be more clinical or more like a retreat. The setting can aid in recovery as much as the treatment itself. By sure to look at several options before choosing the rehab center that you will attend that best fits your needs.
What Recovery Services Do You Offer?
Research your prospective treatment center, many offer holistic or alternative treatments as part of recovery. Some services that may be offered are art therapy, yoga, meditation or acupressure and nutritional and fitness.
Do You Treat Dual Diagnosis?
This is one of the most important questions that you can ask before committing to a recovery treatment facility. Most research shows that about 65% of those suffering from addiction and eating disorders also have an underline mental illness, depression, anxiety or personality disorder. It is crucial that both co-occuring disorders are treated simultaneously for healthy recovery to take place.
Does Your Facility Offer Inpatient or Outpatient Treatment?
Many alcohol, drug and trauma treatment centers offer both inpatient and outpatient treatment. For addiction and severe eating disorders, however, inpatient therapy is vital. Aftercare and outpatient counseling is suggested for the best recovery outcomes.
What Kind of Aftercare Support Do You Offer?
Aftercare following addiction or trauma treatment will decrease the patient’s chance of relapse. Many rehab centers offer group and individualized counseling for a set amount of time following release from inpatient therapy. Counseling can also be arranged by the health facility if the patient is not local.
What Payment Options Do I Have?
Some insurance programs will cover some or all inpatient treatment stays. You need to make sure to get a pre-authorization from your insurance company prior to admission to a recovery treatment center. Many treatment centers offer financing options and take cash as payment as well.
What Type of Help is Available for Families?
The more involved the family of the patient is the better for all. Make sure that you ask if family counseling is involved in the recovery process as well as if it’s available for family members of the patient. If counseling is not offered by the recovery center, they should be able to refer you to a skilled counselor of support group in the area.
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