It is an unfortunate fact that enrolling in a drug rehabilitation treatment program does not automatically guarantee that one will be successful in achieving and maintaining sobriety from drug use. Choosing a rehabilitation facility simply because it’s close to home or inexpensive may not result in the physical and mental improvements one hopes to achieve, and can be disappointing as a result.
Although the specifics of drug use are not identical from person to person, there are some key questions to ask the rehabilitation treatment facility prior to enrolling in treatment.
What services comprise your rehabilitation treatment program?
Finding out exactly what services are delivered as part of a center’s rehabilitation treatment program can help one determine whether it is the right choice. How complete is the program? Does it appear to address the deeper causes of the addict's behavior or does it simply substitute an alternative addiction, such as methadone? Does it seek to give the addict actual knowledge and skills which will enable him or her to take charge of his life or does it seek to develop a support group upon which the addict will need to rely to maintain sobriety?
How are individuals assisted through withdrawal?
Here again there can be wide differences from rehabilitation treatment center to rehabilitation treatment center. Some centers may use substitute drugs to hide the pain and stress of withdrawal from the presenting addiction. In this case, many individuals have indicated that they don’t feel they are reaching true sobriety if they are continuing to take drugs – even if they are medically prescribed. Others may use extracurricular activities to aid with withdrawals, such as hiking or equine therapy, in an effort to distract the person from the discomfort of withdrawal. The Narconon program uses nutrition, vitamins and specific exercises to address the discomfort of withdrawal and ease bodily pains. One needs to take an honest look at this and make a decision before choosing a center.
How long is the recovery program?
There are many rehabilitation treatment centers that may advertise what seems to be an appealing two-week or thirty-day treatment program. However, the issue is not the length of time, per se, but whether the program is long enough and thorough enough to address the range of factors which have kept the individual trapped in substance abuse. In the case of Narconon, the program typically takes two to three months.
Can patients stay longer if needed?
Some individuals may simply take longer to recover from the many physical and mental effects of substance abuse than others. Some individuals may complete the main treatment program but feel they are not yet ready or fully prepared to return to their normal life. While some facilities may be fine with extending one’s stay, others may require additional fees or simply require that the individual move on. It is important to ask, before enrolling, what that facility’s policy is on extending one’s stay if necessary.
Is insurance accepted?
More and more health insurance policies are able to provide benefits for rehabilitation treatment services. Some rehabilitation treatment centers may bill insurance companies directly, others may assist the patient in filing for reimbursements. Since recovering from substance abuse can be difficult and stressful at times, it is important to have this financial aspect addressed prior to enrolling in the program.
What kind of follow-up care is provided?
Many individuals find that they are able to think and choose more clearly when they have been freed from drug use. However, returning from a safe, supportive and drug-free environment to one’s normal life and environment can cause one to realize that they don’t always have all the answers and solutions to life problems. Follow-up care can help patients reach out for help when they are having difficulties so that they don’t return to drug use. In fact, some programs anticipate that the individual will be unable to sustain himself independently and direct the "graduate" to a support group in the hope that the group will provide sufficient aid for the individual to maintain sobriety.
Choosing the right rehabilitation treatment center to address one’s needs is an important process, and rightfully so since the right rehabilitation treatment can allow one to achieve complete and lasting freedom from drugs and move forward into a happy, healthy, productive future.
