Agreeing to enter rehab is a huge milestone in overcoming addiction to drugs or alcohol. Whether it’s yourself or a loved one finally seeking comprehensive treatment, time is of the essence. It’s common for an addict to waver back and forth on whether or not they’ll enter a program, so one has to act quickly in finding the right facility.
Here are five points to consider while you’re on the search for quality inpatient rehab.
- Price versus care.
What’s the difference between an inpatient rehab that costs 5,000 a month and one that costs nearly 25,000? Sometimes, it’s the mere addition of a spa, gym, and private chef. When you’re performing price comparisons, track down where the money is spent.
Does the facility employ qualified counselors, therapists, and/or physicians? How many healthcare professionals are there for every ten patients? If you see a huge price tag but few medical credentials, keep looking.
- Location.
At first, it might make sense to choose the closest facility, as it clearly be faster to get to. However, this isn’t always the best course of action. The addicted individual may need a complete change of scenery in order to really take to the recovery mindset.
For this reason, it may be a good idea to choose an environment unfamiliar to the patient. For instance, someone from a city may prefer a more peaceful setting, someone from a colder climate may want a warmer one, and vice versa.
- Treatment of comorbid conditions.
Nearly half of all people who struggle with addiction also have other mental disorders like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and many others. In fact, these disorders may be an underlying cause of their substance abuse.
In order to address the addiction, these patients will require treatment – and possibly even an initial diagnosis – of these conditions. Ensure that your rehab of choice is prepared to do so.
- Reputation.
There are thousands of rehab centers out there, and some of them make some pretty bold claims. Ignore promises of complete success and instead, ask some simple questions. A big one is, how long have they been treating patients with addiction?
If they don’t offer effective treatment, they won’t be able to keep their doors open. Choose a facility that has been in business for years, and can somehow demonstrate why it is their treatment center is successful.
- A smoother transition.
Leaving rehab can be even more frightening than entering. Unfortunately, it’s also common for relapses to occur shortly following release. This is a key reason why many choose places far from home; it’s more difficult to fall back into the old routine.
But aside from that, a good rehab has to offer some kind of aftercare, or some definitive, healthy direction for the patient to move forward. Halfway houses and outpatient counseling are good options.
Ultimately, recovery is the addict’s responsibility. But this begins with a facility that offers actual medical support, treatment for additional disorders, a fresh, unfamiliar environment, an established reputation, and aftercare plan. From there, a patient will best be able to use their new skills for long-term success.
