Drug Rehab

When you’ve got a serious problem with drugs or alcohol and when you come to the realization that you can’t stop using on your own – it’s time to get help.

But what sort of help do you need – do you need to go away to a drug or alcohol rehab? If you need drug rehab, what kind of drug rehab do you need or want, and what are the options available anyway?

Also, how long is drug rehab going to take and how much is it going to cost!?!

Addiction treatment of any kind works best when a treatment program is matched to the needs and wants of the individual. There is no one-sized-fits-all answer to drug or alcohol addiction and what works for one person may not work for you. That being said, by gaining an understanding of your options and of what’s available you become a better informed consumer and have a greater likelihood of finding a drug rehab (or other type of treatment program) that’s going to work well for you.

Here is a brief overview of the drug rehab experience and of some of the options you have available to you.

What Is Drug Rehab?

A drug rehab is a residential treatment facility that provides drug and alcohol addicted people an intensive and wide ranging addiction treatment experience.

Drug rehab program elements can include:

• Private and group counseling
• Medication management of cravings
• Medical detoxification services
• An introduction to community support groups and philosophies
• Vocational and life skills training
• Drug and addiction education
• Family counseling
• Holistic activities, such as yoga or meditation
• Exercise and recreation
• Relapse prevention classes

Although it can be hard to get away from work and family responsibilities and although the costs of a stay in rehab can be high, there are some real benefits to a residential period of addiction treatment, such as:

• Giving yourself an uninterrupted period to concentrate on your own health and well being (without outside distraction)
• Getting out of an environment of temptation and away from access to drugs or alcohol to build an initial period of abstinence.

How Long Is Drug Rehab?

Many drug rehabs operate 28 day programs, although 90 day programs are also common.

Longer is better - According to the national Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) rehabilitation programs of less than 90 days are of limited effectiveness. That being said, rehabilitation programs can occur on an outpatient and/or residential basis. For example, a person might choose to enter into a 28 day residential program and then step-down to a further 90 days of outpatient rehabilitation treatment, to make 4 months of rehab in total. ¹

How Well Does Drug Rehab Work?

Before putting your life on hold (and likely paying a lot) to check into drug rehab, you want to know if it’s going to work – and ideally, you want to know what your chances of success are.

Addiction treatment does work, although it’s hard to predict who will find success in any bout of treatment. Variables that can affect the likelihood of success include:

• The length of involvement in treatment (longer is better)
• The presence of a mental health condition
• The stability and sobriety of the home environment
• Motivation to change

In general, addiction treatment works about as well as treatment for other chronic health conditions, such as diabetes treatment or treatment for hypertension. Relapse is a normal part of a life of addiction and a relapse does not mean that previous treatments were failures; simply that treatment is once again required. ²

How Much Does Drug Rehab Cost?

Drug rehab price tags range from free or almost free at charity programs to $50 000 a month or more at exclusive facilities. Health insurance can defray some, or in some cases all, of the costs of a private drug rehab.

Although for those on limited budgets, finding care can be tougher, many drug rehabs will offer care on a sliding scale fee schedule to those of more limited means, and your county health office can often refer you into subsidized care.

Subsidized care is generally available to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay for services, but waiting lists are sometimes an issue.

Do I Need Drug Rehab?

Should you get addiction treatment in a residential environment at a drug rehab, or will staying at home and attending an outpatient addiction treatment program provide you with what you need to stay clean and sober?

In general, the kinds of people that need the intensity of a residential treatment experience include:

• People with symptomatic mental illness
• People who cannot maintain sobriety, even for brief periods
• People who have previously attempted an outpatient program and received limited benefit
• People who do not have a sober living environment
• People with very severe and long lasting histories of substance abuse

Addiction treatment works best when it’s well matched to the needs and desires of the individual, and so it’s worthwhile to take some time to think about what you want and need from a drug rehab experience and to choose a program that’s going to make you feel comfortable and that’s going to work for you.

Here is a brief overview of some of the different types of drug rehab programs for you to consider.

• Christian or other faith based drug rehabs –These drug rehabs encourage people to use faith as well as a belief in the power of prayer and the Bible as cornerstones of recovery.

• Men only or women only – Many people feel more comfortable sharing personal information in single gender groups. Single gender drug rehabs can also focus more exclusively on the issues unique to men’s or women’s experiences (child rearing, issues of masculinity, etc.)

• Drug Rehab for people with co-occurring mental health conditions – Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses frequently co-occur with addiction. People with a dual diagnosis need integrated treatment for both conditions and so depending on the seriousness of the mental health disorder, may want to consider a drug rehab specializing in the treatment of mental health disorders.

• Adolescent drug rehabs – Teens don’t do well in treatment with adults; their experiences and understanding of the world differ too greatly from people even a few years older. For best success, adolescents require treatment in a program with peers of a similar age and staffed with professionals experienced in working with troubled teens.

• Wilderness programs – Outdoor adventure programs are sometimes suitable for teens and young adults with substance abuse issues, particularly for teens that may also have behavioral issues.

• Executive drug rehabs – More exclusive and luxurious drug rehabs or drug rehab programs. These drug rehabs tend to boast 5 star accommodation, facilities and amenities, and offer a greater degree of privacy and more individual attention from program staff. Executive drug rehabs are more costly, as a result.

• Charity or very low cost programs – examples include The Salvation Army, The Union Mission, Oxford House and others. Charity or very low cost drug rehabs are often faith based in nature.

• 12 step or non 12 step programs – Many drug rehabs use the 12 steps as a philosophical framework for treatment. Some drug rehabs offer a program without the 12 steps for those who do not feel comfortable with treatment based on this somewhat spiritual philosophy.

• Drug rehab for older adults – Drug rehab programs open only to older adults can increase the comfort level of those who share little in common with those 30 or 40 years their junior

• Drug rehab for professionals (specialty programs for doctors, law and order professionals, lawyers, etc.) – Addiction is an occupational hazard for those from certain professions. Professional drug rehabs allow people who share similar experiences and pressures to recover together, and in more complete privacy.

Some of the many thousands of addiction treatment facilities across America are better than others. While most drug rehabs are run by people sincerely interested in helping you get better, you still want to make sure you get the help you need at a place that offers you a real chance at lasting recovery.

Look for these signs of quality:

• A licensed and accredited facility
• A clean and well managed facility
• A facility that boasts a high program completion rate (arguable this is the only statistic that really matters)
• A facility that takes your insurance or will work with you to arrange suitable payment arrangements
• A facility that uses medication, when appropriate
• A facility that offers an extended aftercare program
• A facility that encourages family involvement in the process¹