Inpatient or Outpatient

Generally, most people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol need to spend at least the detoxification portion of rehab in an inpatient facility. For people with a strong support system at home, and for those who are unable to miss work or school, outpatient programs may be suitable. The most important thing to consider when you are choosing between inpatient and outpatient programs is to be honest about whether or not you can stay clean and sober in a less-controlled environment. If you doubt your ability to stay clean and sober, inpatient treatment is likely the best option for you.

Program Model

Both traditional drug rehab centers and Christian drug rehab centers usually use a 12-step program model; however, the steps in each of the programs are different. In a traditional drug rehab program model, the main focus is on treating the addiction, finding underlying causes of the addiction and using mental health techniques to overcome the addiction. In a Christian rehab program model, the main focus is on strengthening you faith to help you overcome the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual causes of your addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Rehabilitation Team

Addiction specialists and mental health professionals, as well as medical professionals are integral components of the rehabilitation team for both traditional and Christian drug rehab programs. When you check into a Christian drug rehab facility, you will also have the support of religious team members. Some of these are nondenominational; however, in most Christian rehab facilities, you will also have access to clergy members from your preferred denomination. Additionally, you will likely find a church home for when you get out of rehab since most Christian rehab facilities work closely with at least one local church.

Program Materials

In both types of rehab programs, you will be presented with a host of program materials. For a traditional program, these materials will usually include a journal and some information to help you work through the steps in the program. For a Christian program, a journal and information about the steps is provided; however, you will likely also receive a Bible as one of your program materials. Prayer sheets and study materials to help you learn about the Biblical principles like honesty, forgiveness, trust and faith are also provided in most Christian rehab programs.

Other Considerations

Generally, people who opt to participate in a Christian drug or alcohol rehab program are more successful at staying clean and sober after leaving the treatment facility. This is because the program in a Christian rehab facility incorporates every aspect of your life. As a Christian, one of the reasons why you may have turned to addiction was because you didn’t feel accepted and you didn’t know how to ask for or accept help. These concepts are covered in a Christian drug or alcohol rehab program.

On top of the regular program materials, you will also have the option to get baptized, participate in an anti-addiction ministry, attend regular church services and take advantage of supplemental programs to help you be as successful as possible in your program. Some of the supplemental programs may include additional Bible study groups, prayer sessions or daily meditation time. All of these factors work with the basic Christian rehab program, so you aren’t likely to feel overwhelmed. If you continue these once you get out of the rehab facility, you will be able to stay busy, so you won’t have as much time to think about drugs or alcohol.

Tips for Making the Most of Rehab

The most important thing to remember when you are going through your rehab program is that you must fully immerse yourself in the program. This is true whether you are participating in an outpatient program or an inpatient program.

Should You Consider a Christian Drug Rehab? is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

Factors that Determine Success

The effort that you put into your rehab program will play a large role in whether you are successful in your treatment and also have the tools to remain drug-free and functional in all areas of your life long after you have completed the program. The type of program you attend will also play an important role. Keep this in mind when choosing a drug rehab program. There are many different components to addiction, so the more options a program offers in terms of addressing each and every aspect of your needs (e.g. psychological, health, emotional, social) the better your odds of overcoming your addiction will be.

Residential vs. Outpatient Treatment

When it comes to choosing a drug rehab program, you need to determine whether or not you need a residential facility an outpatient facility. While a residential facility is not financially feasible for every person, it is often the most beneficial approach to rehabilitation. Residential facilities that are located in beautiful, out-of-the-way settings offer a peaceful atmosphere. The tranquility that often accompanies this type of treatment setting is one that you typically can’t enjoy in an out-patient facility. The peace of mind can play an important role in the process of healing, as it restricts your interactions with the outside influences that can have a negative impact on your recovery.

Another important factor when choosing a drug rehab program is finding one that will continue to work with you after your initial treatment is over. It’s important that the program you enter offers guidance and help as you re-establish yourself into society. This part of recovery is just as important as the initial treatment itself.

Specialty Rehab Programs

There are some drug rehab programs that focus on a specific type of addiction while others cover a wide range of addictions. The more specific the program is that you choose, the more it will focus on the specific behaviors and complications that accompany your particular addiction. When choosing a drug rehab program that is specific to your type of addiction, you might have to go farther from home. However, for many individuals, this is a positive feature as they are more comfortable with the idea of receiving treatment away from the people and activities that were part of their life while indulging in their addictive behavior. There are also specializations in focus such as trauma or approach such as holistic rehabs or Christian drug rehabs.

12-Step Programs

Twelve-step programs have long been the standard in treating alcohol and drug addiction. There are many people who believe that they are the only way to become rehabilitated. Others, however, prefer a more modern approach.

Classic 12-step programs provide a set of guidelines that determines your course of action for recovery. It starts with your admission that you have lost control of your addiction, while you recognize that a higher power can give you the strength you need to overcome it. When you are choosing a drug rehab program, you need to decide if this is the best type of program for your needs and personality.

What is most important is that whatever program you choose – whether it’s a 12-step approach or another approach – provides the different types of treatment you need in order to address both your physical addiction along with underlying psychological factors that play an important role in recovery and relapse prevention.

Do Your Research

If location is an important consideration when choosing a drug rehab program, then you will want to narrow down your choices to the general location you desire. Some locations offer both residential and out-patient programs to meet a variety of needs.

Start your research online and narrow your choices down to a few that meet your specifications. Next, contact each by phone and ask questions about their program including what makes theirs stand out from other programs. Get facts on the effectiveness of their program and the qualifications of their staff.

If you have insurance, you will need to find a program that it covers – unless you want to pay the total cost out of pocket. This may be a deciding factor when you have narrowed down your list of potential programs, but it shouldn’t be your only consideration when choosing a drug rehab program. If your insurance won’t pay all or part of the expense, ask the rehab center about other payment options before you opt for a facility that doesn’t quite meet your expectations.

Some facilities pay special attention to the needs of the addict’s family. Since family is usually an important part of your life, it can be very beneficial if they participate in your treatment and recovery. This should continue once you have completed your treatment to help you stay on track and prevent a relapse down the road. Ask the facilities you contact how they incorporate family into their treatment approach.

Importance of Extended Care

Some rehab programs will only take you to the end of the treatment, leaving you on your own once you walk out the door. Extended care is an important way of making sure you continue to be successful once you have left their facility. This should be an important consideration when choosing a drug rehab program. Even though you may learn a great deal about your addiction during your treatment, you need to also know how to incorporate that information into your daily life once you are trying to survive drug-free in society.

There is no single rehab program that is right for every individual or every addiction. Choosing a drug rehab program that is the best fit for you is the most important part of getting treatment that will produce long-lasting results.

Choosing a Drug Rehab Program is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

The last couple months of the year are a time for reflection and celebration. But for those struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, it can also be a time for wallowing and socially acceptable denial. Even when we know it’s time to change, the unknown can be more frightening than maintaining the status quo, even if you and everyone around you are miserable.

Why wait until New Year’s to make long-overdue changes? Here are 10 reasons to go to drug rehab now and start off the New Year with some happy holiday traditions.

1. Addictions often intensify around the holidays.
As joyful as the holiday season is, it is also a stressful time. Most people are juggling work and family obligations as well as gift-buying and holiday celebrations. Holiday parties make it a popular and socially acceptable time of year to drink alcohol excessively. For some, this can also be a lonely time, which fuels addictive behavior.

The longer you wait, the more damage will be done not only to your physical and emotional health but to your relationships, your career and your future. Many people who struggle with addiction also suffer from co-occurring mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and addictions to sex, love, food, shopping and gambling. Delaying treatment means that all of these problems may worsen as well, putting your health and finances in jeopardy.

2. The weather outside is frightful.
In most parts of the country, the cold weather makes it a popular time to escape to warmer climates. Although drug rehab requires hard work, the process can be made more comfortable by choosing a program where it is sunny and mild most of the year.

Even more important than great weather are the opportunities it affords. You’ll be able to meditate on the beach, have sober fun playing outdoor sports and let the fresh air clear your mind after a long day of recovery work. Some facilities also offer gourmet meals, massage, acupuncture and other services that make drug rehab more comfortable.

3. Work and school slow down.
November and December are slow months for many businesses and schools. The kids have vacation time that they can spend with relatives, and your job may find it easier to cover your absence during this time of year.

4. Addicted family members detract from family gatherings.
Even in dysfunctional homes, people want to be home for the holidays. But instead of trimming the trees and hanging stockings with care, an addicted family member is likely to drain all the joy and replace it with the frustration, anger and confusion. As in past years, an addicted family member is more apt to create a scene than a celebration. The magic of the season can’t make an addiction miraculously disappear – only treatment and an ongoing commitment to recovery can make change a reality.

In addicted families, the dysfunction often goes both ways. Family members – often resentful and tired of dealing with a loved one’s addiction – may make comments or take actions that make you feel even worse than you already do. Perhaps other family members are struggling with drug or alcohol addictions of their own. Whether you’re greeted with blame and shame or enabling and rescuing, the stress of being around family may exacerbate your addiction.

5. Emotions are heightened.
It’s hard to say why, but emotions run high around the holidays. It could be the positive feelings of generosity and peace. Or perhaps it’s the expectation of joy, set starkly against a reality which may not be so perfect. Whatever the reason, take advantage of those emotions and direct them in a positive direction rather than letting them lead you on a downward spiral.

Just as the holidays are brimming with cheer, they can trigger strong feelings of sadness, loneliness and isolation. They also drum up personal shortcomings and family issues that have been suppressed all year. Drug rehab is a safe place to address these feelings and lay the foundation for drama-free holidays ahead.

6. Sobriety is the best gift of all.
Addiction is a family disease. Recovery from addiction is a gift not only to yourself but to everyone who cares about you. If they know you’re safe in drug rehab, learning the skills to get and stay sober, you free them to enjoy the holidays rather than worrying when the next crisis will erupt. Skip the expensive gadgets, what your family really wants is for you to be healthy, happy and fully present for years to come.

7. Drug rehabs typically have shorter wait lists around the holidays.
The last few months of the year are typically when drug rehab centers are quietest. With fewer patients, the therapists and staff have an even greater ability to get to know you and provide individualized care. If you’re looking at some of the smaller, more exclusive drug rehab centers, you’re also less likely to be put on a wait list around the holidays.

8. The holidays can be the most effective time to break through a loved one’s denial.
When family members stage an addiction intervention or help a loved one into treatment over the holidays, they send a particularly strong message: Recovery from addiction comes first. It’s the holidays and we love you and want you to share in the festivities, but you must get sober first.

9. The treatment experience can be particularly powerful around the holidays.
Addiction treatment professionals understand that it can be difficult to be away from home during the holidays. Some of the best drug rehabs provide special holiday meals and encourage patients to share their family traditions. They also host a family program so that family members continue to be an important part of your holiday.

10. Start the New Year off right.
Going to drug rehab during the holidays means starting the New Year already having achieved some important goals. Instead of making a New Year’s resolution to get well (we all know what happens to most of these resolutions come mid-February), you will have strategies and plans in place to start the year off right.

If you look hard enough, there’s always an excuse to avoid drug rehab. Work is too busy, the kids have a big school event coming up, the holidays are coming. But none of these things matter if you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol. Being physically present but emotionally absent (or worse) harms your family, career and self more than missing some of these events to get well. Don’t waste another holiday numbing your emotions with drugs and alcohol. Stop the downward spiral and start drug rehab today.

10 Reasons to Start Drug Rehab During the Holidays is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

1. Drug rehab is a process not an event. The old thinking was that once a person withdraws physically from drugs, he becomes a “former drug addict.” The new thinking, again based on outcome-based studies, is that overcoming drug addiction, like obesity, requires long-term lifestyle changes in behaviors and attitudes, and sometimes even environments. The process can may take certain individuals years to complete, based on their personal histories of dependency.

2. Relapses are a predictable part of the drug rehab process. The old thinking was that if a person returned to drug use even once, he was back to the beginning of the process of recovery. The new thinking is that the majority of people relapse more than once and relapses do not take away the progress they have made toward achieving their goal of drug-free lives.

3. Drug rehab usually requires intensive treatment of thirty days or more, depending on the individual. The old thinking was that an addict did not need to enroll in a drug rehab program after withdrawing physically from drugs, but could stay abstinent only by attending support meetings. New research indicates, however, an addict is much more likely to recover if she enters and completes an intensive drug rehab program.

4. Intensive treatment means a residential program where you live at the drug rehab center for a month or more. Research shows that people who complete such programs are much more likely to be successful at permanent change, because they learn to live in drug-free environments and start over when they return home. The second kind of intensive treatment is attending all-day classes and counseling sessions for several weeks or months, often from 9 AM to 5PM, although you sleep at home.

5. A drug rehabilitation program has to be the beginning of deep lifestyle changes that a former addict must make in order to live without drugs. A person in recovery has to find new ways of coping with stress without using chemicals, and this can involve big steps such as changing careers, ending toxic relationships, setting new goals, and taking up stress relieving activities such as sports, fine arts, or meditation. Trained counselors can guide the person through these major changes.

6. Dual diagnosis is a new important trend in drug rehab today. Many people who become dependent on drugs have underlying psychological problems, which are usually not diagnosed until they enter drug rehab programs. Depression, eating disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, and many other psychological problems have to be treated as separate issues from drug dependency in the drug rehab program.

7. Family involvement is necessary for a person to recover from drug addiction. The old thinking was you sent the person away “to get fixed.” The new thinking is that drug dependency occurs within complex systems of human groups at home, at work, at school, and among peers. To recover, you have often to change the person’s primary group’s dynamics.

8. Follow-up care is necessary after intensive treatment, and includes individual counseling, family and/or marital counseling, and attending support meetings such as Narcotics Anonymous. The old thinking was that a person could return to his old environment without formal support in place.

9. New medications are being discovered and approved all the time that are helping people more comfortably withdraw from drugs and remain abstinent.

10. People have more choices and diversity in selecting drug rehab programs. You can find programs that are individualized to specialized interests, such as ocean sports or fine arts, or in a geographical area you prefer. There are now specialty programs for gays, singles, Christians, women-only, men-only, and so forth.

11. Drug rehab programs are offering more payment options. Insurance companies are increasingly paying for longer stays, partly because of new legislation and government pressure. Administrators of programs are more willing to work with clients in terms of loans and payment plans. Private drug rehab programs that usually accept only private pay plans may work with you to get reimbursement from your insurance company.

REFERENCES

American Journal of Psychiatry 2009;166:1269-1277. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of vigabatrin for the treatment of cocaine dependence in Mexican parolees.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: An Overview. The National Institute of Drug Abuse, publication posted at http://www.drugabuse.gov/txmanuals/cbt/CBT3.html

Drug Treatment Outcome Studies (DATOS), see http://www.datos.org/adults/adults-intro.html

Kessler, Ronald. The epidemiology of dual diagnosis. Biological Psychiatry – 15 November 2004 (Vol. 56, Issue 10, Pages 730-737.

Ling, Walter, MD; Paul Casadonte, MD; George Bigelow, PhD; Kyle M. Kampman, MD; Ashwin Patkar, MD; Genie L. Bailey, MD; Richard N. Rosenthal, MD; Katherine L. Beebe, PhD. Buprenorphine Implants for Treatment of Opioid Dependence Journal of the American Medical Association 2010;304(14):1576-1583

Major Trends in Drug Rehab Treatment is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

The Role of Medication in Treating Addiction

Why do people go into rehab if it can’t cure their addiction? Since addiction is a disease, it may be helpful to think of alcoholism or drug addiction as compared with cancer or diabetes or heart disease. While there is considerable research and many promising medications that are being developed for various diseases – including different types of addiction – there aren’t any sure-fire cures. Some of this has to do with the fact that diseases affect people differently, and what works well for one person may have little or no effect, or an adverse effect, on another.

When you have a disease, often the best way to treat it is to manage the symptoms, to alleviate intense pain, or make functioning more optimal. In the field of addiction treatment, there are numerous medications that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in helping alcoholics and drug addicts undergoing detoxification to reduce or eliminate cravings or urges for the substances. The purpose is to get the person’s body clean of the substances – and not have them suffer in the process or be so crazed by desire to use that they can’t detox.

Medications have also been FDA-approved for use during active treatment – again, to help reduce cravings and urges, as well as to help combat anxiety, depression, or other mental or physical conditions. Naltrexone is one such medication that is used by treatment professionals both during detox and active treatment for patients suffering from alcohol abuse or alcoholism. In fact, naltrexone may be most beneficial for patients with a prior history of relapse, those who have been unable to remain in sobriety beyond 30 days because of intense cravings for alcohol. Between 60 to 70 percent of alcoholics also suffer from major depression or other psychiatric illness – diseases which also have to be treated. Simply taking naltrexone and not addressing the underlying issues will seriously compromise efforts at sobriety. There’s also the issue that naltrexone doesn’t work the same way in all patients. For some, it has less of an effect at eliminating cravings, or none at all.

Some medications are approved for long-term use, called maintenance, as in methadone maintenance for recovering heroin or other illicit opiate addicts.

There are, however, some drugs that show a great deal of promise, including NicVAX, a vaccine to prevent nicotine addiction. NicVAX is in late-stage clinical trials and may be on the market within a year. Other research centers on a potential vaccine for cocaine addiction and will involve a multi-site, controlled trial of cocaine vaccine TA-CD from 2010 through expected study completion date of July 2014. The cocaine vaccine clinical trial is sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the principal investigator is Thomas R. Kosten, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine. The medication will be combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Other medications are in various stages of clinical trials for either treatment of various addictions or potential vaccines. But coupling medication therapy with psychosocial, behavioral therapy and 12-step-group meetings is considered the optimum approach to achieving and maintaining sobriety. This is important to note, since simply reducing the cravings to use an addictive substance may not be enough to curb usage. Behavior needs to be changed as well.

But the search to find medications that can help individuals with addiction to want not to want (to help them overcome the desire for the buzz or the high), is perhaps the next biggest field of research.

What Drug Rehab Can Do

Now to the crux of the matter: what drug rehab can do? In order to be clear-headed enough to benefit from active treatment, the patient must be abstinent for a certain period of time. If the patient is going to a full-services residential treatment facility with medically-supervised detoxification services on-site, the first step is to cleanse the body of harmful substances. Otherwise, detox needs to take place in a hospital setting, where there is 24-hour medical supervision.

Most detox takes only a few days, although long-term alcoholism, certain drug or multiple addictions and co-occurring mental health disorders may require a longer detox period. As mentioned previously, medications may be prescribed to help alleviate moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms and to reduce or eliminate intense cravings and urges.

When the patient reaches the point where the harmful substances are out of his or her body, the active phase of treatment begins. The patient, at this point, may be motivated to become abstinent, or may be resistant to the process. As long as they remain in treatment, there is a better likelihood that they will be able to achieve the goal of sobriety. If they leave treatment early, say, upon completion of detox, all they will have achieved is a brief period of abstinence. Without counseling and therapy to help them understand the disease of addiction and how to change their behavior, relapse is not only a possibility, it’s almost a certainty.

So, the first step in active treatment is learning all about the particular disease of addiction. In addition, the patient learns how to identify and recognize triggers – the people, places, and things that cause him or her to use. Next is learning strategies and techniques to cope with intense cravings and urges. There are also various kinds of therapy – individual and group counseling, psychodrama, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR), and others – that may be part of the individualized overall treatment plan.
Participation in 12-step group meetings is a key part of the overall treatment plan and is the foundation for early recovery, since a strong support network helps the newly-abstinent patient maintain his or her sobriety.

Relapse prevention is critically important in the final phase of active treatment, since the patient is getting ready to return home, go back to work or school, and begin the process of transitioning back into society.

What can rehab do? It can help your loved one begin the journey to recovery.

What Rehab Cannot Do

Let’s be clear. Rehab cannot cure your loved one of addiction. The best that can be achieved by going into treatment is a sound foundation for recovery. It’s up to the patient – your loved one – to continue to practice the strategies and techniques he or she learns during treatment, to change his or her behavior to healthier and more productive behaviors, to make goals and work toward achieving them, to continue to go to 12-step meetings, counseling and aftercare. In short, once your loved one knows about the disease of addiction and how to manage it, it’s up to him or her to do it.

Be aware that some patients relapse following treatment. The most critical period is during the first 90 days. This is the time that your loved one will need the most support from the family and 12-step group network. Sometimes the patient doesn’t feel confident enough or is too vulnerable to be able to withstand the stresses and pressures and urges to use. He or she may need to return to treatment or may be able to get back on track by attending more 12-step meetings, talking with his or her sponsor, and participating in counseling available through aftercare.

What About a Future Cure?

As with any disease, the search for cures continues in the field of addiction. But having a medication that can reduce or eliminate cravings and urges is a good start toward helping motivated individuals achieve sobriety. Will there ever be a drug or a therapy that will make alcoholism and/or drug addiction – or a process addiction such as compulsive gambling, sex, or overwork – a thing of the past? In other words, will there ever be a magic cure-all?
 

While nothing is ever certain, it doesn’t seem likely any time soon. For now, the best way for your loved one to achieve sobriety is to go through treatment, learn how to change his or her behavior, attend 12-step meetings, and be fully committed to recovery. You can help greatly by being supportive of your loved one’s treatment, becoming involved in family therapy – so you know how to better help him or her in recovery – and recognizing that recovery is a lifetime journey.
While there is no cure for addiction, addiction does not define your loved one. He or she is not their addiction. With treatment and ongoing work – which is referred to as the long-term process of recovery -your loved one can and should be able to chart the future according to long-held or newly-discovered hopes and dreams – and be clean and sober in the process. That’s not rhetoric, it’s a fact proven by thousands of recovering individuals now living healthy, productive, and happy lives. Your loved one can be one of them. Best of all, your loved one can then rejoin the family with every hope of a bright future.
 

Can Drug Rehab Cure My Loved One’s Addiction? is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

Let’s remove some of the mystery right now by answering the question: What is drug rehab like?

Drug Rehab is Safe

If you’ve thoroughly checked out the licensing of the drug rehab centers and facilities and the credentials of the staff and satisfied yourself through personal inspection, asking questions, and checking independent reviews, you don’t need to be worried about the safety of you or your loved one.

In fact, drug rehab in licensed facilities with fully-credentialed staff specializing in the particular drug abuse or behavior disorder you need, is the only evidence-based way to give yourself the best chance of overcoming your addition. From detoxification with 24-hour medical monitoring to individual and group counseling, medical interventions as necessary (prescriptions to ease withdrawal symptoms, for example), to the physical amenities and recreational or therapeutic activities – you can be assured that everything has been checked and evaluated to meet the highest professional standards.

Drug Rehab is Tailored to Your Needs

Every person’s needs are different. Therefore, a personalized treatment plan will be created that meets your specific needs. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment program. Many individuals have more than one drug abuse or dependence. They may have problems with alcohol abuse and prescription drugs, or alcohol and illicit drugs. They may have a substance abuse and mental health disorder (known as co-occurring disorder). Effective treatment involves using an integrated and coordinated approach so that each condition is treated, during the active treatment phase (after detoxification, if necessary), simultaneously for maximum effectiveness.

Length of Drug Rehab Varies

Depending on the type of addiction, how long you’ve been addicted, whether or not you have multiple addictions or co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder, the length of your time in drug rehab will vary. The length of time may also be determined by how much your insurance will cover or other financial arrangements you may be able to make with the drug rehab facility. Some drug treatment programs are 30 to 60 days, while for some addictions it may take 6 months to a year of continuing treatment (possibly transitioning to a sober living facility, halfway house, or treatment on an outpatient basis).

Many Drug Rehab Choices

Depending on your budget and insurance coverage, there are many drug rehab treatment choices available. These include residential treatment centers that range from modest to luxurious, hospital inpatient or outpatient facility, and intensive outpatient retreats. To get an idea what types of drug treatment facilities are available in your area, check the Treatment Facility Locator offered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (http://dasis3.samhsa.gov/). You can also call their 24-hour toll-free treatment facility referral helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

Drug Rehab Requires a Commitment

The most luxurious drug rehab facility won’t be able to deliver positive results without a genuine commitment on the part of the individual to becoming clean and sober. While it’s true that you don’t have to voluntarily enter treatment for it to be effective (as in the case of court-ordered drug treatment), the only way a person can overcome addiction is to put him or herself wholeheartedly into the program.

Drug rehab isn’t easy. It’s not something you can do on a week-end and be done with it. Once you enter treatment, there are things that you learn about your disease of addiction, how to avoid triggers, overcome cravings and urges, and change your behavior to a healthier lifestyle. But treatment is only the first step into recovery. You will be in recovery for the rest of your life. And recovery is where you want to be – able, finally, to live your life to the fullest, free of alcohol and drugs.
What is drug rehab like? It’s the first step to the rest of your life.

What Is Drug Rehab Like? is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

Drug rehab treatment ranges from very basic, state-supported facilities to high-end luxury treatment centers.  There are many drug rehabs that fall in the middle of this spectrum.  Drug rehab can be an excellent way to build a foundation for recovery because it gives you 30 or more days, depending on the program, to develop a skill set and identify your relapse triggers.

The top drug rehabs offer individual therapy; specialized clinical focus for clients with underlying psychiatric issues; complementary therapies such as neurofeedback, EMDR, equine therapy, yoga, and meditation; and access to addiction  psychiatrists.

When considering a drug rehab, focus on where you think you will get the most effective treatment for your particular issue. Some things to consider are:

1. Size:  Do you mind being in a large facility?  Generally these are less expensive than smaller facilities because the staffing ratio at small facilities tends to focus on one-on-one therapy and process work.  You can ask questions such as:

• How often do you see your individual therapist and for how long?
• How many people to a room? (most people prefer no more than two to a room)
• How many people in the group therapy sessions?

2. Clinical Expertise:  Does the drug rehab have clinicians on board who specialize in mental health issues common among those with alcohol and drug addiction?  If you have clinical depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or other issues, you want to be sure someone at the drug rehab understands these issues and can assess and treat you for them. These underlying issues can be triggers for relapse, so it’s important to address them.

3. Reputation: Don’t just rely on the hype, ask around.  You can usually ask the drug rehab to give you some references from their alumni.  Beware of programs that hype themselves as the one that has found the ultimate “addiction cure” – there is generally no real evidence for such a claim. If it sounds like snake oil, it probably is.

4. After-care Options: The best drug rehabs that have been around for a decade or two have strong alumni networks that can serve as a support network for you when you return home. Does the rehab help you find a local therapist when you return home? Do they offer any form of follow-up or arrange support for you in your home town?

5. Cost: Some drug rehabs are covered by insurance, although many insurance companies will require you to do a step-up approach using cheaper outpatient services first, then if that fails, they may approve residential treatment.  Although some of the higher-end drug rehabs are expensive, this is often because they are very small, with only a handful of people in each treatment grouping. Some of the more expensive rehabs will be willing to negotiate the price somewhat if you are very committed to going and they have beds available.

Whatever your primary consideration might be in choosing a drug rehab, trust your instincts. If the intake person makes you feel understood and focuses on your specific questions and needs, you will likely feel comfortable with that choice. Do your research, and you will find the right drug rehab for you or your loved one.

What You Need to Know About Drug Rehab is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment