We’ve talked in our Recovery Now blog section about addictive cycles and how difficult it can be to get out of them. But what if the problem isn’t your addictive nature, but the treatment center itself that you went to? Every place is different, and every protocol is different. When you’re searching for treatment, it’s important to keep the following things in mind.
The program must match the urgency of your addiction issues.
Those seeking treatment are on their own unique journey of recovery. Some need immediate attention while others can function and still play a role at work and at home. It just depends on the individual and how dire their situation is. If someone is experiencing withdrawal symptoms, they need a program that offers medical detox. Make sure they have actual clinicians running their detox center and that suboxone is offered to help manage comfort.
If someone’s gotten to a place where they can’t function in society without using, then they need to look into residential inpatient treatment. This is where you live in a facility for 30-90 days (length varies depending on the place) and don’t have much contact with the outside world without the supervision of a counselor or therapist. And someone on staff keeps an eye on you 24 hours a day.
Then there’s outpatient treatment. Outpatient programs allow you to go to a facility every day for treatment, but you get to stay in your own home at night. You can maintain a work or school life and a more normal routine. If someone realizes they have a problem, but they aren’t yet dependent on drugs or alcohol and don’t need detox, an outpatient program might be the right fit for them. Accountability also enters the fray with almost all outpatient programs performing routine drug tests on patients. Recovery Now offers MAT Telehealth for those who prefer to recover in their safe space at home in private.
Beware of warning signs.
No matter what kind of industry you’re exploring, there will always be people and facilities trying to take advantage of those who are at their most vulnerable, and the world of addiction treatment is no exception. Online reviews and testimonials are a good place to start. Spend some time reading what people have to say that have already been to whatever facility you’re looking at. Poor reviews may not necessarily mean a treatment center isn’t worth it, nor do bad reviews from unsatisfied patients guarantee the same outcome for you. But if there are red flags to be spotted, you’ll notice common threads sprinkled throughout the reviews.
Some big warning signs to consider are organizations that only seem interested in your money and not your well-being, facilities that want you to sign paperwork without discussing course of treatment, and places with staff that have boundary issues (inappropriate or rude comments, etc). At Recovery Now, we want you to feel as safe as possible while we work with you.