What to Look for in a Substance Abuse Rehab
Selecting and finalizing a substance abuse treatment may come across as an easy task when you see advertisements showing tranquil settings with gorgeous views. However, all these settings may appear quite nice and appealing most of the time they also come with a big fat price tag and may also not suit your specific treatment needs. That is why it is extremely important that when you choose a drug rehab program, you focus on things that truly matter like appropriate licensing, staff credentials, the quality of care provided during the program and follow-up services. The most important things that you need to check include:
- Accreditation and licensing of the program – Before you select a particular substance rehab program make sure that it is accredited by the state it is in. Moreover, make sure that the addiction specialists as well as mental health professionals are well trained and properly licensed to handle these type of programs.
- Available statistics proving the effectiveness of the program’s treatment methods – Every successful treatment center should have some sort of statistics on their success rates. If this statistics is available from an objective outside agency then that is even better.
- Availability of aftercare services to prevent relapse – Before making your choice make sure that there is well-run aftercare program available and does your program also provide referrals to other recovery services and support groups.
How can I tell if my loved one needs drug rehab?
It is true that an addiction or drug abuse is a serious problem but in certain cases people using drugs may not become addicts. There is a large number of people who try certain drugs and even abuse them for a period of time without needing treatment. A health survey shows that in 2010, 22 million people abused an illicit drug but only 4.5 million out of this number actually met the criteria for dependence on a drug.
So how do you determine when to draw a line? You need to understand that your loved one or you yourself need the help of an addiction recovery program when his drug habit starts to control him and all his or her decisions. When the concerned person make promises to do better at studies or job but fails, when his problems start to escalate: legal, health, money, relationships and family life starts to get severely affected – this is when you need to raise an alarm because right course of action can prevent a lot of damage. Taking help in the form of an effective rehabilitation program early in the appearance of these signs can save a life going down the path of destruction.
How long does it take to complete a Drug Rehab program?
The length of a drug rehab program usually depends upon the type program that you choose.
A residential or inpatient treatment program requires the patient to live in the facility for the duration of the intensive treatment. These inpatient programs usually last 30-90 days.
Outpatient treatment programs require ongoing medical monitoring of the patient but the patient is not required to live in the facility. An outpatient program requires the patient to meet at the hospital 3-5 days a week, 4-6 hours per day.