What To Look for in a Treatment Center

Seeking rehabilitation for a substance abuse disorder is equal parts helpful and utterly confusing. There are thousands of different facilities in the United States alone, countless methods, and each individual case is different—the best therapy for one person may be entirely ineffective for another. Likewise, some facilities are better tuned to your specific needs, while some may be outright superior. And inadequate rehabilitation can lend itself to dropping out or, many times, relapse.

As daunting as the process may be, choosing the right rehab center is an important step in the path of recovery. In spite of the many complications, choosing the best option for your individual case is certainly possible. 

First Steps for Recovery

Basic assessment of your behaviors is the first integral step. Questioning your causes and motivations heading in are key—some integral ones include:

• What specifically caused a need for rehab? While some programs are specifically designed for a certain substance, like alcohol or cocaine, others are designated as general purpose rehabilitation.

• Were there any other medical reasons for engaging in rehab? Some individuals choose to treat their dual diagnosis issues prior to entering rehab. 

• What do you hope to gain from rehab? Setting goals for what you hope to achieve as a result of rehab can help you specify how you want to live your life in the ensuing months after rehab. 

With specific motivations in mind, heading to a treatment professional is a great next step. Most local medical practitioners who address rehabilitation issues can help direct you to the best facilities suited to your needs. Not only are they aware of close by or ideal facilities, but they may be able to help you out with factors you and your loved ones may not be able to. 

Ultimately, however, the decision is in the hands of only those who understand the situation. Scouting out each facility—whether by visiting, if possible, viewing websites, and calling—is an important step to ensure you can choose the best treatment center for your specific situation. 

Important Factors To Consider in Addiction Recovery:

There are numerous additional qualifiers from the initial onset, ranging from preferences to personal necessities. Only the individuals most closely involved with the situation can successfully weigh in on what works best for them. Some of the most common include:

• Inpatient versus Outpatient Programs: While the former has patients living on-site, outpatient programs allow participants to live wherever they would like. Although the availability of this option may be clear to some, it’s worth noting that inpatient programs generally have higher success rates. Outpatient programs are geared towards less severe instances of substance abuse as well as those who cannot afford to join an inpatient facility or sacrifice time away from their jobs, families, etc. 

• Amenities/Cost: This option may primarily be a result of economic factors, but choosing the best facility for you based on amenities is important to consider. Some facilities offer horse-back riding, pools, and other features comparable to a nice hotel, while others offer a cheaper price point in exchange for fewer features. Deciding how much you can afford to spend and whether or not you need the added features is an important step. 

• Types of Therapy: The method that each rehab facility uses may vary completely depending on where you choose to attend. Choosing the best one for you is completely dependent on what’s most comfortable to you.

Ultimately, an inadequate program is not the end of the world by any means, but it is important for loved ones to be honest with one another about the effectiveness of each facility. Switching out is largely possible, but many individuals silently become unsatisfied with the program they participate in.