Content Overview
What to Look for in a Treatment Center
Committing to one’s sobriety usually entails a commitment to treatment. One cannot adapt without support, and the best support can often come from a substance abuse treatment center.
But with all the treatment and rehabilitation centers out there, it may be hard to know which is best for you or your loved one. After all, finding a good treatment center is often crucial for lasting success.
Though you may be wondering, “what should a person consider when choosing a drug treatment program,” there are a few questions to keep in mind during your investigation. These questions will make finding a good rehab center easier.
Considering addiction treatment? Call now to ask questions about treatment for yourself or a loved one. Our helpline is free and confidential. Call (888) 906-0952 or submit a question.
Content
- What Are the Available Treatments?
- Is The Treatment Center Trustworthy?
- Consult With Someone Who is an Expert in the Field
- How We Can Help You Find a Reputable Treatment Center
What Are the Available Treatments?
The best way to get to know any treatment center is to learn about the available treatments. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the most effective treatments for substance abuse include behavioral therapy, medications, or a combination of both.
Evidence-Based Therapies
Although behavioral therapies vary by person, they typically include:
- Addressing one’s motivation to change/stay sober
- Incentivizing sobriety
- Creating tools to resist relapse
- Exploring constructive and rewarding activities/hobbies
- Addressing problem-solving skills
- Exploring how to build better personal relationships
Good treatment centers will utilize the above behavioral therapies. These science-backed methods address the root of addiction while also creating healthy, lasting habits. One may more easily maintain sobriety through both, even after leaving a treatment center.
Seeing behavioral therapies like these listed on a treatment center’s website or in their brochure are a good sign for quality treatment.
Medication-Assisted Withdrawal and Treatments
Often, therapy alone is not enough, and medication is needed. However, not all treatment centers will use or continue to use medication. To get the most out of substance abuse treatment, one should seek centers that use medications.
At various stages in treatment, they can be valuable. This advice comes from Michael P. Botticelli, the Grayken Center for Addiction Medicine executive director at the Boston Medical Center.
He notes that in treating heroin addiction, some centers prefer an abstinence-based model to treat opioid addiction. For many, medications like naltrexone, which helps curve opioid cravings, make the treatment process easier and more effective.
Often, medications like this help ease withdrawals and stabilize the body, making treatment more comfortable. While exploring treatment centers, the use of medications is a plus.
Is The Treatment Center Trustworthy?
Longevity Can be a Good Sign
One is potentially committing weeks of their life when finding a good treatment center. They entrust that center with their sobriety, mental and physical wellbeing, and time. Finding a trustworthy rehab center is a must.
One should first look at a treatment center’s longevity as this can play a factor to determine trustworthiness. One should focus on treatment centers that have been in business for at least five years. There may be great newer facilities, but established drug and alcohol treatment centers might be a better choice.
Facilities that put profits over patients typically do not last very long. When finding a good treatment center, a proven track record over an extended period is a must. It means the center has been in business for a while and they know what they are doing.
Avoid Over Emphasis on Luxury and Guarantees for Success or Cures
Quality is imperative, not luxury, when considering what to look for in an addiction treatment center. Luxury is often confused with quality. This leads people to spend more money on lesser or ineffective treatment.
Pricier rehab centers typically have a variety of amenities, like pools and private rooms and even ocean and mountain views. However, these physical luxuries do not always correspond to the best treatment.
Recently, the Boston Globe reported that two pricey rehab centers, which were charging patients $24,000 a month, were riddled with issues, including a lack of counseling, poor supervision, and understaffing.
To get the best treatment, one should consider a center’s record and time in business, not their amenities or any guarantees for success.
Any center that guarantees success is setting you up for disappointment. At the first sign of difficulty in sobriety, one will question that guarantee and possibly their sobriety.
Consult With Someone Who is an Expert in the Field
Finding a good treatment center by oneself can be a difficult and time-consuming process. Consulting with an expert can make this process easier and help one find the program most suitable for their needs.
However, many either are experts or claim to be an expert. So, who do you trust? When searching for treatment centers online, some easy expertise is whether a center is certified.
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) certifies substance abuse treatment centers. A mark of approval from them indicates that a facility has efficient and reliable treatment.
However, to receive further expert advice, a good place to start is by calling your doctor. They may be able to provide answers regarding one’s specific situation or at least be able to point one in the right direction.
If you do not have a regular doctor or want to spend countless hours searching for a JCAHO certified rehab center, you can always call us at (888) 906-0952. On the other end of the line will be an addiction admissions specialist.
Our specialists are experts not only in understanding addiction but addiction treatment, whether it’s drugs, alcohol, or another substance. We can give you more than just valuable guidance on finding a good treatment center.
How We Can Help You Find a Reputable Treatment Center
Treatment is everything when it comes to substance abuse. The wrong treatment center can be catastrophic for one’s recovery, but the right one can make all the difference. Sobriety is possible; however, it takes the right treatment and support to have a lasting recovery.
The abundance of information present online can make it hard to know what to look for in an addiction treatment center. However, as outlined, there are certain things to be aware of when searching.
One must investigate the treatments available at a center; behavioral therapy and medications are usually the most effective for treating addiction and promoting sobriety, so they are a must.
However, the rehab center must be willing to tailor and adapt these treatments as time goes on. Furthermore, one should always look for experienced, quality centers over luxurious ones. These are the best aspects to keep in mind when searching.
Sources
[1] Health: US News
[2] DrugAbuse.Gov
Now that you understand the importance of finding a reputable treatment center, are you ready to take the next step? Give us a call at (888) 906-0952
Related Educational Content and Guides
Drug Treatment Programs – Which Do I Need?
7 Things to Look for When Choosing a Treatment Center
Medically Reviewed By:
Dr. Patricia Sullivan MD MPH on 11/29/2021
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