While choosing the right rehab program seems like a simple endeavor, there are many things to consider before making a final decision. Evaluating the style of the program and its requirements is vital to ensuring that the addict has the highest odds of recovery. Because of recent events at a North Carolina rehab facility that involved physical danger and exploitation of addicts, those attempting to select a long term drug rehab program should also look into any violations that may have occurred in the past.
Finding the Right Kind of Program
Long-term rehab programs can be vastly different from one another, making it important to ensure the substance abuser’s personality meshes with the way that rehab is conducted. With choices like intensive talk therapy, group counseling, community-based rehab and several other options, it is possible to find a rehab program that meets both the needs and preferences of the addict; after all, if personalities clash with the style of a particular rehab program, the outcome is not likely to be successful.
Licensing and Certification
Before choosing a rehab facility, clients or their families should look into the program’s licensing and certification; while requirements vary between states, there is plenty of information available online for those who want to know what licensing specifications exist and how to determine whether or not a particular facility has achieved those standards.
Therapists and other rehab workers are also typically required to be certified in their field, making it easy for clients to determine what sort of qualifications rehab staff should hold. Should a program or its employees not meet those standards, it may be best to steer clear.
Length of the Program
Rehab programs come in both inpatient and outpatient structures, but they can be further segregated by length. While insurance limitations often dictate how much treatment a substance abuser receives, some patients will have the opportunity decide how long they stay at a facility. Whether long and inpatient or short and outpatient, each rehab program possesses its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Those who are living with addiction may find it difficult to enter a long-term rehab due to daily responsibilities; single parents with young children, those with demanding work obligations and other issues may need to choose an outpatient program in order to get the help that they need. With such an array of rehab options available, every substance abuser will be able to find a solution for their scheduling requirements.
Dual Diagnosis Rehab Options
The phrase, “dual diagnosis” refers to patients facing mental health issues such as bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety as well as addiction to drugs or alcohol. Clients dealing with a dual diagnosis may have somewhat different requirements when attempting to choose the appropriate rehab program for their needs. It is vitally important find the right style of rehab when coping with both mental health and substance abuse disorders.
The Structure of Rehab
Outpatient rehab programs are generally much less intense than those that identify as residential, but those who enter long-term treatment may see similar schedule at every facility they consider. First, clients will complete the detox phase, which helps addicts get through the early stages of withdrawal that many substance abusers face. The second phase of rehab is generally the longest; this portion of the program is typically dominated by individual or group counseling, understanding addiction as a disease and identifying triggers that could lead to relapse. The third and typically final phase of rehab is aftercare; this is the portion of the program that teaches clients how to reintegrate themselves into their day-to-day lives. Therapists and addicts work together to create what is referred to as an aftercare plan that could include anything from ongoing counseling and support groups to 12-step meetings and even sober living options.
Rehab can be Effective
Entering rehab is a big decision that can be impacted by a great deal of emotions, but those who really want to begin recovery will find a program that works for them. Taking the time to investigate various rehab facilities and the programs that they offer is one of the most important parts of successful sobriety, and programs that are truly committed to the ongoing health and happiness of their patients will never mind providing the information that they request.