Choosing a Rehab Center

Join David Westbrook in a look at how to choose the right rehab center to fit you or your loved one's needs. Learn to be a consumer when it comes to picking the right center since may make all the difference in a positive outcome.

Choosing the right alcohol or drug rehab center can make all the difference when it comes to entering long-term recovery from an addiction. The task of finding the “right” drug rehab center is complicated by the fact that there are over 13,000 drug rehab facilities around the country. Each of these treatment centers is unique, but being unique does not necessarily mean that they are all equally good. It does, however, mean that you have many drug rehab centers to choose from and if you do not find the right one immediately you should continue searching as there are many high quality centers.

Here are ten questions to help you in your search for the right drug or alcohol rehab facility.

1. How does the treatment center define success and what is their success rate?

Many drug treatment facilities will have had independent reviews of their success. However, success can be measured in many ways. One treatment center may say they have a 74% success rate, but only be considering clients who remain sober for 6 months; another center may claim a 68% rate based on the results of clients after one year. Whatever their claimed success rate you will want to know how they measured it and what they consider success.

2. Are they accredited as a drug rehab center? And if so by whom?

There are a handful of national accreditation organizations including Joint Commission On Accreditation Of Healthcare Organizations (JACHO) and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), among others. Organizations accredited by these bodies frequently have undergone site reviews and have measured up to national standards.

3. What are the credentials of their staff?

Most states have a system for credentialing drug and alcohol counselors. These individuals may be Certified Addictions Counselors (CAC) or Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC). These are minimum certifications, lead counselors should hold be MSW or LCSW level or higher.

4. Do they provide medically supervised withdrawal?

With some drugs proper withdrawal supervision can be a matter of life or death. If the treatment center does not have a detox center can they recommend one for attendance prior to treatment.

5. What does a typical week in their drug rehab facility look like?

There should be a balance of group and individual therapy. Education sessions, opportunities for reflection and support groups along with other components.

6. Can the provide testimonials?

True, no treatment center would put on display their failures, but they should be able to tell you about their successes.

7. How do they assist in setting up aftercare?

Aftercare has been found to be crucial to the success of long-term recovery. A good treatment center should either offer aftercare of be able to assist you in locating aftercare in your community.

8. Do they have a diverse group of counselors, and how will you be matched up?

One of the primary determinants of treatment success is a good client-counselor relationship. Therefore, a match between counselor and client should be worked towards.

9. What is their treatment modality or philosophy?

Find out if they are 12-step oriented, use motivational, cognitive or behavioral therapies, and then ask them to explain any terms you might not understand.

10. Do they work with your insurance company or can they set-up a payment plan?

Make sure you ask if they can work with your insurance company, or if your insurance does not pay for treatment work out how payment is to be handled.

Use a systematic program for identifying treatment centers which may be right for you. You may wish to print these questions out and keep a separate worksheet for each center’s answers. Remember, the right drug rehab center is waiting for you to call today.

About the Author: David Westbrook is a freelance writer and the creator of www.addictionsresources.com and www.alcoholismresrouces.com

Our drug and alcohol rehab website is an advocacy site for those with substance abuse issues and their loved ones. We strive to deliver the most accurate information about drug and alcohol abuse including rehabilitation methods, centers and current thought. Our hope is that everyone with a chemical dependency problem seeks some form of rehabilitation so that the damage to oneself and others can stop.

While we strive to bring the most accurate and relevant information possible, we are not doctors, clinicians and medical researchers. The information on this drug and alcohol rehab website should not be substituted for that of your own personal doctor or a trained physician in this field. We offer the information of this site as a public service, so as they say, "take what you need and leave the rest."