The very first thing you need to do before you begin to search for a drug rehab treatment facility is to identify your own treatment needs. Not all rehabs are the same. They vary widely in programs and services offered. Some offer dual diagnosis treatment; some do not. Others, especially those located outside of a major city, may include alternative therapies, such as equine and canine therapy. These animals live on-site and are available to help drug treatment residents recover from substance abuse. Riding and caring for horses and walking and training dogs is very therapeutic for many people in drug rehab treatment. This article will help to answer this question: How do you find out what programs an addiction treatment center offers?
If you want to know what programs a facility offers for sure, of course, you will need to call or email them. Before you do that, make a list of questions. The following information will help you with this.
Identify your Needs
There are probably thousands of rehabs scattered throughout the country. There are certainly hundreds. This makes choosing the right one confusing and difficult. Their websites may look glossy, but this alone is not an indication of either quality or the best choice for you. You have some basic things you need to discover when you’re trying to find out what programs a substance abuse rehab offers:
- Quality first
- Location
- Programs
- Amenities
You will need a phone and a computer. You should also seek independent professional advice before you make a final choice, but it’s okay to investigate some rehabs on your own first. The first item is always quality. It doesn’t matter what else the rehab is if it’s substandard in terms of overall quality and the effectiveness of their program.
A quality rehab will be accredited by an outside independent authority, such as the Joint Commission of CARF. This ensures that the rehab has high treatment and facility standards. Accreditation is not the same as state licensure. That’s a minimum requirement for all rehabs in every state. A good rehab will have enough staff for all the residents’ needs and every professional staff member will hold a valid license from their state’s licensing authority. The facility will be clean, comfortable and spacious enough for all residents. It will be upfront about all costs with no undisclosed extra fees. It will be transparent and eager to answer questions. It will offer at least a virtual tour with no hesitation. The facility will offer treatment that has been proven to work. The term for this is evidence-based treatment. They may use names like CBT, DBT, EMDR, hypnotherapy, trauma resolution, group therapy and individual and family therapy. Write down what each offers. You can investigate later whether or not they are evidence-based. A quality rehab should also have some sort of on-site medical services. If you have a chronic disease like diabetes or high blood pressure, make sure the rehab can manage your condition while you’re there.
Consider location before you do anything else. If a particular area is important to you, don’t look anywhere else. If it doesn’t matter, or you’d like to travel for rehab, then you have a wider range of choices.
Dual Diagnosis is Important
Think carefully about dual diagnosis treatment. It’s very common for substance abusers to have a concurrent mental disorder. This doesn’t mean you are crazy or psychotic. It just means that you may have a mental issue, such as depression or anxiety, that has been driving you to self-treat your symptoms with drugs. Many facilities offer dual diagnosis but not all. If you need dual diagnosis treatment and do not get it, you’re likely to relapse quickly because the underlying issue wasn’t treated as well.
Alternative Therapy
If you like outdoor activities, keep that in mind. Some rehabs are more rurally located and can offer services like hiking and nature appreciation. Swimming is great for recovering addicts. Ask if they have a pool. If you’d like to work with horses or dogs, paint, draw, play or listen to music, dance, do yoga or biofeedback or learn how to meditate, ask if the facility offers these things. Therapy such as this is called alternative therapy. More and more facilities are offering alternative therapy, but a significant number do not. Some may offer some of them, but because of their location they don’t have equine or animal therapy.
Let us Help
After you’ve considered what you would like in rehab, call us at 844-844-3463. We can guide you through the confusing maze of substance abuse treatment and help you find the perfect drug rehab for you.