Top Questions to Ask Before Enrolling in a Drug Rehab Center

Once you’ve come to the decision that you must enroll in a drug rehab center to combat your addiction, it’s time to get serious about finding the right facility for your recovery.  Many factors come into play when finding the specific facility that will best suit your needs.  Some drug treatment programs offer only inpatient services while others are exclusively outpatient.  Some rehab centers offer traditional and alternative therapies while others are strictly traditional.  There are holistic clinics, facilities that include luxury accommodations and lifestyles, and facilities that are more of a medical or hospital environment.

In order to determine which drug rehab center is right for you prior to enrollment, you may want to ask a few questions.

• What kind of services do you offer to recovering addicts?
  This is one of the most important questions to ask of a potential rehab center. You will need to make certain that the treatment styles and services offered will match with your personality, and your ability to utilize them. For instance, if you are not a fan of horses, paying for equine therapy from which you will not benefit may not be your best option. On the other hand, if you respond well to touch therapy but the facility does not offer therapeutic massage to help with the effects of withdrawal, you may be cheating yourself out of a tool that can help you succeed.
• How long is the recovery program you offer?
  The length of programs varies from one facility to another. Determining how long each program is can help you choose the right one for you, based upon how long you can realistically afford to be away from your family. This is especially true if you happen to be the sole wage earner in your family or a single parent.
• Can I stay longer if I feel I need to?
  At the end of the treatment cycle, you may or may not feel as though you are prepared to leave. There are many cases where fear plays a part in this decision; however, there are other times when it is in the best interest of the addict to remain in treatment for a few extra weeks. It’s a good idea to determine, in advance, if additional time in treatment is a possibility.
• Does your facility accept insurance or bill my insurance company for me?
  Nobody likes to think about the cost of rehab treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. Unfortunately, most people must consider the financial impact that treatment will have on their family. Many insurance companies now provide at least some benefits for drug addiction recovery services. Make sure you find out if the facility in question can bill your insurance directly, and if not, can help you file for your reimbursements on a regular basis while you are residing at the facility. Having these regular reimbursements or disbursements to the facility will help to reduce the amount of stress associated with the early recovery process.

A List of Aftercare Support Groups for Recovering Addicts

For an addict, one of the most important days of their lives comes when their drug treatment counselor says, “You’re ready for aftercare.”  Aftercare is the part of the process that comes after an addict has successfully completed a drug treatment program.  It means they are ready to begin their lives anew.  That, all by itself, can be a scary proposition.  To help the recovering addict through the ups and downs of daily life, there exists several established aftercare support groups that are available - day and night - to help keep the recovering addict on the straight and narrow.

Narcotics Anonymous

Narcotics Anonymous was founded in the 1950s after the model of Alcoholics Anonymous.  It is an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping drug addicts and anyone who would like to join them along the way to stay clean and sober.  A quick visit to their main website can put the recovering addict in contact with a chapter close by.  If there isn’t a meeting available due to distance restrictions, there are phone numbers available for support.

The concept of this organization is based upon recovering addicts helping recovering addicts.  They do not care how much an individual used, what kinds of drugs were abused or how those drugs may have affected the life of the abuser.  They care about what will happen next, and they have had decades of success helping addicts reach sobriety.

LifeRing

LifeRing is a support network for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts based upon the concept that the positive self can reach out to support the positive selves of others.  In the same manner that two addicts may use together, LifeRing teaches sober individuals to stay sober together.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous, affectionately known as “AA” around the world, is a place where those addicted to alcohol can celebrate their sobriety, obtain counseling, reach out to others in service, as well as call upon others in their group for help when they need it.

Local Churches

For those addicts who reside in small, rural areas of the country, it is possible that there are no “famous” support groups in the area.  This doesn’t mean there are no places to turn to for support.  Local churches often have a support group that will meet locally, combining modalities and sharing life stories of victory and defeat.  If there are no organizations or support groups, a recovering addict may find support and help by starting a group of their own.

Local Hospitals

Because of the health implications involved in drug and alcohol abuse and recovery, it is not uncommon for local hospitals to have a list of nearby support groups.  A visit to a local emergency room when a recovering addict fears they may relapse is a better choice than the alternative, of course.  However, finding a support group prior to that situation is a better course of action.

There are many support groups available that can offer a recovering addict a safe place to talk with others who have been through similar life experiences.  This can be a crucial piece of the recovery plan and has proven to be beneficial in a great majority of successful recoveries.

Tips on Selecting the Best Treatment Program for Your Needs

There are many different types of treatment centers available to those who are looking to enter recovery from drugs and alcohol.  The reason there are so many options and opportunities is based upon the common understanding that there is no one treatment plan that will work for every addict.

So, how do you find the right drug and alcohol treatment program for your needs or the needs of a family member?  You can start by asking yourself these questions.

• Do you have a specific addiction that is more profound than others?
  What is your drug of choice? Are you an alcoholic? There is also the possibility that you suffer from multiple addictions. Finding a facility that has experience and knowledge in your specific addiction is a good place to start when you’re looking for a center. Many, if not all, treatment centers will be able to help with a host of issues, of course, but it is important that they are used to handling the issues most prevalent to your recovery.
• Do you want inpatient or outpatient care?
  The choice between inpatient and outpatient care is often one of cash flow or other responsibilities. If you need to keep working in order to support your family and pay for your recovery, choosing an outpatient facility may be the best answer for you. If you have the opportunity to enter an all-inclusive inpatient type of recovery center, perhaps you may want to consider this method of total immersion therapy.
• Do you prefer alternative treatment methods?
  For some individuals, the 12-step program is the best thing going in terms of treatment options. For others, holistic approaches that include alternative medicines like Reiki or acupuncture may be more effective. If your personality is better suited to alternative therapies, you may want to consider a holistic treatment facility that will combine traditional and spiritual healing methods.
• Will your health and medical insurance help pay for treatment?
  Because drug abuse and addiction is a mainstream issue with afflicted individuals crossing many socioeconomic lines, many health insurance policies offer some coverage for rehab treatment services. Finding the right treatment program may hinge, at least in part, on what kinds of services your insurance will cover. Ultimately, while finances have a great deal to do with seeking help and entering treatment, the kind of treatment program you decide upon should be based on how you feel about the program and not how much it will cost.
• Do you have dual-diagnosis issues that need to be addressed?
  Some treatment facilities will treat your addiction, helping you abstain from drug use while following treatment guidelines. Once you leave the inpatient facility or finish the outpatient program, you are left to find your way. If the underlying cause of your addictions stems from undiagnosed issues like bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other psychiatric issues, you may need more intensive treatment.

By answering these questions, you should be able to find the best possible treatment program for your needs.

Other types of Addictions

Other types of addictions that may be in need of a rehab:

When people think of the term addiction what most likely comes to their mind are drugs or alcohol. However, individuals can be addicted to a variety of substances and behaviors. Some of the most common ones besides alcohol and drugs are gambling, sex, pornography, video games, food, smoking, the Internet and even shopping. Because people are so different and there is so much availability, people can turn something that isn’t bad if used in moderation, into an addiction. People can conceivably be addicted to almost anything. In this article we will discuss a few of the major addictions, specifically gambling, sex, pornography, video games, food, smoking, the Internet and shopping.

Gambling Addiction: More and more people are becoming addicted to gambling. This is partly because it’s now available online. People who love to gamble often enjoy the rush and the thrill that’s associated with a potentially winning a lot of money.

Sex Addiction: This addiction has been getting more and more attention lately. It involves persons that have a problem controlling their sexual impulses. Subsequently, they are pretty indiscriminate about who they have sex with and where they do it. This can be a very damaging addiction because it can break up families and put people at risk for serious and even fatal diseases.

Pornography Addiction: The Internet has contributed to a lot of people, both men and women, becoming addicted to photography. Because it’s so readily available and free, lots of people begin viewing it and find them selves unable to stop. T

Video games Addiction: Video games and video-game systems are extremely popular. Some kids and adults play it much more than is acceptable or even safe. Some experts believe that video game addiction is partly the reason that many young people are overweight and obese. Because they are sitting in one place it is very easy for them to gain weight.

Food Addiction: Food addictions are pretty common. Often times, people who suffer from this are overweight. However those that binge and purge may be thin but have a dangerous and potentially deadly food addiction.

Smoking Addiction: Smoking is so addictive because of the nicotine in cigarettes. It is a very hard addiction to break and it takes some smoking addicts, years.

Internet Addiction: The Internet can be a great thing in moderation. But if people find themselves having a hard time getting off of the Internet or are constantly thinking about getting on it then they may have a problem.

Shopping Addiction: A shopping addiction is another one that is pretty common. People who suffer from it spend tons of money purchasing things that they don’t need and often times don’t use.

Who needs Rehab?

Rehab is designed for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. In many cases, their lives are out of control because of their addictions and they need outside help. Many people will try to quit drugs numerous times before they are finally able to do so. It does not matter whether or not they try on their own or need to enter several rehabilitation programs. While this can be frustrating for the addict themselves and also for people who love and care for them, this is typically a part of the process of getting clean. Very few people are able to quit cold turkey the first time they attempt to do so.

There are many types of rehabilitation programs, designed to treat different addictions. People find them selves addicted to not only drugs but also all gambling, sex and even pornography. If a person finds themselves out of control or getting out of control, they may be interested in getting some type of intervention and rehab offers this.

Rehab facilities are organized differently. Some are residential where persons actually get to stay in the group home or building. Others are outpatient programs where individuals are allowed to visit the facility for meetings and/or counseling. Some rehab programs take the form of support groups, giving individuals the opportunity to talk about their addictions, their successes and their struggles.

Individuals who need rehab may not necessarily be at a point in their lives where they are out of control. They make just be concerned with some of their behaviors and want to stop themselves before they end up in trouble or addicted. In this sense, it is a preventative measure. It is much easier to nip a problem in the bud before it gets out of control, versus waiting until you feel overwhelmed.

Mostly, rehab is for people who need professional help and who have not been able to stop a certain behavior by themselves. They recognize that they need someone outside of the situation to help turn things around.

Persons who are in an environment that is not conducive to getting clean may also choose to go to rehab. This gives them an opportunity to focus on their sobriety and to get away from people or situations which make it easy or enticing to take drugs, drink alcohol or engage in behaviors that are unhealthy and that they would like to quit.

Finding a Rehab

Finding a rehab program facility can be one of the most difficult parts of the rehabilitation process because it is so important to find the right one. The right rehab center or facility will be one that an individual feels comfortable at and which the center’s treatment philosophy is one that the patient feels comfortable with. Other considerations will include cost, location and whether or not a person requires outpatient or inpatient stay.

If an individual is employed, one of the first things that they should investigate is whether or not their insurance covers drug rehabilitation.  They can simply go online in most cases to the insurance company’s web site.  Avoiding having to discuss one’s addiction with their employer is probably something that most people want to avoid.

Cost will also be very influential when it comes to choosing a drug rehab facility. Obviously, if an individual can not afford a particular treatment center, then it won’t be an option. Finding an affordable drug rehab facility requires a bit of research. Individuals should create a list of potential drug rehab facilities, then simply contact them and ask them about their programs and pricing.

Location is also a very important consideration when it comes to finding a drug rehab facility.  Some people prefer a local outpatient program.  Others may need inpatient stay but would still like to be near their family and friends.  Some individuals may need to get away as far as they can from family and friends who may make it difficult for them to get clean.  In these cases, while whether the facility is an outpatient or inpatient one is important but what is even more important is that they get out of the city, state or even the country so that they have the best opportunity to beat their addiction. There are a number of ways to find a drug rehab facility.

Using a website such as this one is a great start in learning about drug rehab cost, drug rehab information and the seriousness of drug addiction.