Most insurance plans will cover either all or a portion of the treatment.
- Content Reviewed By:
- Andrew McKenna - JD
- SUD's treatment executive, national news contributor & keynote speaker.
Navigation:
- Overview
- Don’t Look for Help Alone
- Location Is Everything
- Find A Treatment Center that Can Meet Your Clinical Needs
- Be Realistic about What Kind of Treatment You Need
- Find A Facility That Works for Your Financial Resources
- Aftercare: Find A Facility That’s Committed to Your Future
- Reputation and Accreditation
- Search for Addiction Treatment
Overview
No two paths to addiction are the same, and neither are any two paths to treatment. When choosing a drug rehab program for yourself or your loved one, there are multiple factors and variables to consider that go well beyond immediate clinical and medical criteria.
Relapse rates remain consistent at between 40 and 60 percent; one of the main reasons for these enduringly elevated figures is that people often choose rehabs that aren’t an optimal fit for them during their first attempt at treatment.
To ensure you or your loved one has the best chance at continued long-term recovery, here are some things to consider when researching options for substance use disorder treatment.
Don’t Look for Help Alone
There’s a reason why those who need help for addiction don’t often seek it on their own. By the time you realize you need treatment, it can be hard to access the energy, focus, and motivation to research your options. The longer you’re forced to look for help by yourself, the greater the chance that you’ll abandon the pursuit altogether. Ask a loved one, friend, or even your doctor or therapist to find program options.
Location Is Everything
While it may be easier to find a treatment center close to home, there can also be value in removing yourself from the triggers and adverse factors that have contributed to your substance abuse to begin with. When choosing a treatment center, determine whether it’s possible to make a clean break or stay close to home. On one hand, some temporary distance may be helpful; on the other, the anxiety of removing yourself from your job and family can interfere with your participation in the recovery process.
Find A Treatment Center that Can Meet Your Clinical Needs
It’s crucial to get help at a facility that is specifically equipped to handle your specific condition. While this may sound simplistic, not all facilities are equal in their ability to handle the medical complexities of addiction, especially if you’re struggling with a co-occurring or dual-diagnosis disorder. Find out what clinical and medical resources the facility you’re considering has, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about their medical staff.
Find out if they have doctors and nurses on staff. Can they provide effective treatment for medical and mental health issues you’ve experienced in relation to your addiction? Do they offer detoxification and withdrawal management on site? Can they provide medication-assisted therapy? These are all questions you should ask your admissions rep.
Be Realistic about What Kind of Treatment You Need
Recovery starts with a series of hard choices, the first of which is often admitting you need a deeper level of help than you realized. Be honest with yourself if you feel you need inpatient or residential treatment, even if it may be logistically or emotionally difficult.
Take an honest look at your substance use history, your clinical/medical needs, your lifestyle and daily obligations, and your financial resources, to make a game plan to look for the most appropriate treatment options. While it’s important to choose a treatment program that can fit with your family, professional, and lifestyle obligations, the most important thing is to get help so you can be the best version of yourself.
Find A Facility That Works for Your Financial Resources
As necessary as treatment is for substance use disorder, the reality is that it can, in many cases, be a significant financial investment. Realistically assess your financial situation and focus your search on facilities that can accommodate it. If you have private health insurance , Medicare or Medicaid, find a facility that takes your plan; if you can’t pay for care out of pocket all at once, find a facility that offers flexible financing options or sliding-scale, income based agreements that enable you to pay what you can afford.
Aftercare: Find A Facility That’s Committed to Your Future
The first few months out of rehab are crucial to setting the tone for success. They require support, guidance, accountability and routine. This is why aftercare plans are so important for continuity and transition to long-term recovery. When considering a treatment center, find out what kind of post-treatment resources and aftercare plans they provide. Do they offer post-discharge support? What level of personalization is offered in their aftercare planning?
The most effective and thoughtful aftercare plans will provide links to post-discharge therapy resources, as well as rigorous follow-up and robust alumni engagement resources. They not only provide crucial clinical continuity and case management support, but they also offer a much-needed sense of community and social support as you find your footing.
Reputation and Accreditation
Due diligence is critical when choosing a rehab center. Not only does the treatment facility you select often represent a significant investment in time and energy, but it can also set the tone for the recovery process altogether. Spend some time researching the facilities reviews and checking their accreditations.
If a facility is certified by reputable organizations like The Joint Commission or CARF, it means they have been closely evaluated for clinical quality and patient experience. It’s also helpful, however, to see what former patients have said about their experiences there.
Search for Addiction Treatment
Drug Rehab USA is a trusted directory connecting individuals with over 15,000 drug rehab centers and 4,000 licensed methadone clinics across the Unites States. Use our directory to locate diverse recovery options and find personalized treatment solutions with confidence.
