Right rehab: choosing the best program

If you're looking for the right rehab centre for yourself or a family member, there are some key factors to consider. From location, cost and program length, Amber Speck explains the points to remember when it comes to choosing the right rehabilitation centre. 

If you’re one of the 46 per cent of people with a family member who suffers from drug addiction, you’ve surely encountered moments of helplessness in your life. You may have attempted to run an intervention but were met with resistance and contempt. You may have given up because you were tired of trying, or you didn’t want to lose your loved one to estrangement. Or, you may have tried to choose the right rehab centre for them but they weren't ready or willing to proceed.

RELATED: 7 ways you can help your recovery from addiction

Whatever the scenario, watching a loved one with a drug addiction isn’t easy, especially when you’ve tried your best to help and nothing has worked. You might feel like you’ve failed, but you didn’t. It’s not your fault that the addiction is stronger than any of the forces at work.

Understanding addiction

Addiction isn’t limited to illicit street drugs. The addictive substance could be legal drugs such as alcohol or prescription opioids (prescription painkillers), or legal habits such as sex and gambling. Addiction treatment was once stigmatized because it was seen as a rehabilitation method for illegal drug users or signaled a fall from
grace.

And with millions of addicts abusing substances that are not illegal, the criminality behind substance abuse is no longer the case. Indeed, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders now classifies addiction as a mental health disorder.

“It might be difficult to convince an addict that it’s time to get sober, but when they’re ready, you can show your support by helping them choose the right rehab centre for them.”

Addiction treatment has changed quite a bit over the years, but despite the fact that it’s now widely considered as a physical and mental illness, stigmas still exist that prevent people from getting the help and treatment they need.

Which type of rehab?

It might be difficult to convince an addict that it’s time to get sober, but when they’re ready, you can show your support by helping them choose the right rehab centre for them. There are three main types of rehabilitation programs:
 

• Therapeutic Communities Sober living and residential communities run by non-medical peers; these might also include 12-step models.
   
• Outpatient Treatment The recovering addict attends meetings and counseling at specific hours but lives at home.
   
• Inpatient Treatment The patient checks into an addiction treatment facility for weeks or months at a time, until the doctor clears them for recovery and assimilation back into normal life. This can be followed by an outpatient program or community therapy to help maintain sobriety

Choosing the right rehab and support from family and friends is essential

Choosing the right rehab: 4 factors to consider

As you begin the process of selecting a rehab, it is essential to keep these four factors in mind:

1. Location If you plan to visit your loved one while he or she's in rehab, choose a centre that’s close to home. It helps recovering addicts to have sober support nearby, but they also need to be as far away as possible from potential triggers and negative influences.
    
2. Program type and length Some addicts will require longer stays to get sober, and others need shorter programs so they can get back to work or parenting duties. Alternate arrangements may need to be made to ensure a successful recovery. In the States, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protects you from being fired during medical leave for up to 12 weeks.
    
3. Cost Research a few different treatment centres to find the one with the right cost and payment plan for your family. If you have healthcare insurance, check whether it covers substance abuse treatment.
    
4. Recreational Programs Some rehabs will have recreational activities to life a patient's mood during recovery, promoting social interactions in a sober environment, and helping the recovering addict discover new hobbies and interests.

The right rehab makes it easier to break free from the chains of addiction 

To make sure you’re getting the best treatment available for your family member, you should ask questions based on your loved one’s own preferences and needs. When it comes to finding a rehab center, your family shouldn’t settle for cheap or convenient. Addiction is a serious disease that can cause permanent injury and irreparable damage if left untreated, and treatment is not where you should take the easy way out.

Do your due diligence as you choose the right rehab program, as a poor fit could ultimately lead to relapse. Be a source of love, support and encouragement without enabling the bad behaviors or letting yourself get hurt in the process. It’s a long road to recovery, but it can be done, together. ●

Main image: Pixabay

Written by Amber Speck

Writing about recovery saved Amber Speck's life. After four years of sobriety, she’s ready to share her story and hopes doing so will inspire and help others. That's why she created writeaboutrecovery.com. Writing played a major role in her recovery, guiding her on the journey to learn how to love herself again. She knows writing can play an essential therapeutic role for others too.