So you’ve decided it’s time to get the help you need for yourself or your loved one by getting into an addiction treatment center, bravo to you! However, as the days approach and you start looking for the right center, there are doubts in your mind with the many horror stories of incompetent treatment centers making the situation worse instead of better for their patients.
The journey to recovery is greatly contributed to and determined by the choice of recovery centers that you make. Here are some questions you can ask to put your mind at ease that you or your loved one is in safe hands:
Table of Contents
1) Is the facility accredited and the staff licensed?
The government through its health programs and ministries has strict guidelines that drug addiction treatment centers have to adhere to before they can be allowed to practice. Some national health care assurance agencies that are a mark of quality services include:
- The Joint Commission
- Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
- HIPAA Compliance Group, American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
- Association for Addiction Professionals
The thing about accreditation is that it is a sure sign that the facility is being held to a higher standard. You can also cross-check the centers’ information against the searchable database that is posted by SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services.
The doctors and counselors you will be working with also need to be board certified with special qualifications in the area of addiction medicine. They should have certification from the American Board of Preventive Medicine and American Board of Addiction Medicine.
2) When does treatment begin?
Sometimes, you may end up finding yourself on the waiting list for the centers as your insurance is sorted out or beds are being freed up. This can be detrimental as the waiting period could pose a potential risk for worsening the situation. It is therefore important to know if you will have to wait to be admitted or if you can get in immediately and start your treatment program.
3) What type of treatment do you use in your program?
Different treatment methods are practiced by different centers depending on their niche and their core principles and values. It has been shown in the past that the use of evidence-based programs is more likely to yield better results for recovery. However, you also do not want to use a very textbook and cut-out treatment program so it would be best to make sure that the program is personalized for your needs. If you may need both physical and psychological help, you may seek a center that treats dual diagnosis.
4) How long do the programs last?
The length of the program will vary according to your needs or the needs of your loved one. They may be anything between 30 days or more. The goal is to have a program duration time that will enable you to achieve lasting sobriety.
5) How much is the program and how do I pay for it?
It’s always good to know the cost so that you don’t get a shocker as you are leaving on your final day. The good thing about most rehab centers is that they are affordable and can easily be covered by health insurance. Asking for the cost upfront helps to make sure you can concentrate on the rest of the program and regain full recovery.
Enrolling you or your loved ones into a drug addiction treatment center is not an easy process but with the right information and connection, your journey to recovery can start and end well. As you go on to talk with the staff, be sure to engage them to make the most out of your experience. We recommend starting with the classic ice breaker of what makes you so special?
