You need treatment for alcoholism – but where? Your loved one is drowning in drug addiction – but how do you cut through the endless information to get them into treatment that will work? Add the sheer volume of treatment options to the courage needed to take the important first step, and getting into treatment may just be the single most challenging decision a person ever makes.
On the positive side, consider that you are not just looking for a safe place with good alcohol and drug treatment. You are looking for firm ground on which to begin constructing a new life.
What is the Right Drug and Alcohol Treatment?
The best treatment center is not the one that promises to “cure” your addiction. As any recovering addict knows, there is really no such thing as a “cure” for addiction, a point at which the individual can drink normally or use drugs without abusing them. Once individuals become addicted, they will continue to have the psychological makeup of addicts for the rest of their lives.
Even the best drug and alcohol treatment centers have alumni who relapse. Addiction is a disease as complex as any chronic illness—and in some cases more complex, because it is a disease that resides entirely in your brain.
The best facilities begin treatment from this awareness, approaching the individual from multiple angles – medical, behavioral, physical, spiritual – and combining multiple treatment modalities, some modeled on the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program, some geared towards specific groups such as Christians or Atheists or members of the LGBT community, and some with specific philosophies. While your preferences as a member of a specific group are something that you should consider when choosing a rehab facility, there are some more important considerations as well.
Elements of a Great Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center
Once you strip away the differences, the best drug and alcohol treatment centers share a core of elements.
- Accreditation. Your treatment center of choice should be accredited by the state in which it’s located. You should be able to find some indication of the treatment center’s accreditation on their site, and there are also helpful apps on the Internet for searching for accredited facilities in your state or in other states.
- Licensed professionals. Many facilities hire alumni in support positions—as counselors, as medical assistants, and more. But the core staff—doctors, anyone who guides the treatment process—should have education and certification in the field. You should feel comfortable with and confident in the people who will be helping you learn how to live a sober life.
- Holistic treatment. This is not in the sense of aromatherapy or homeopathy; instead, holistic treatment refers to approaching the problem of addiction as a whole life problem. Good treatment centers help you to learn relapse prevention and aftercare, they provide personalization of treatment programs and family support, and generally focus on helping you and your family to move forward into life.
Personal Priorities
Treatment reaches into your health, your recovery, your tastes, your living conditions and many more personal conditions. Look at what elements of your life come into play when you go into treatment and set your priorities. Here’s a sample pyramid:
1. Health and Safety. Impacted by everything from detox to prescription alchemy.
2. Treatment potential. Impacted by everything from expertise to success rates.
3. Personal appeal. Impacted by everything from “Is this center my flavor?” to “Are they flexible enough to shape programs to my needs?”
These are a few considerations that can help you narrow down your selections and choose the best drug and alcohol treatment center for you or your loved one. Do not be afraid to ask questions; the more you know going into the process, the more likely you are to be open to the process.
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