What to Look for When Choosing Treatment Options

by Cristina Utti, MA, MFA | Sep 7, 2016 | Addiction

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The decision to get clean and sober can be exhilarating and terrifying.

When you know that you cannot continue one more day, one more hour, or one more minute in your addiction and want to get help, it may be daunting to find the right place to begin your journey of recovery. The first step in knowing what to look is honesty. If the substance that you are addicted to has caused horrible withdrawal symptoms when you have tried to stop in the past, you may do best committing to an inpatient facility so that you can be supervised 24 hours a day while detoxing.

For example, many people think that alcohol is the lesser of the evils in substance abuse, but this is the one drug that can cause fatality during detox. If you have tried numerous times to get clean and keep relapsing, you may need a structured environment for a set amount of time to build a foundation for recovery. Maybe you are a weekend warrior. If this is the case, an intensive outpatient program or committing to meetings may be what is needed. Every case is different, and the answer lies in being honest with yourself about the severity of your addiction.

If you are still unsure of what kind of treatment option would best for you, call a treatment facility and ask for an assessment. Most facilities offer these assessments free of charge, and they will be able to offer professional guidance on what level of treatment you need.

Here are some things to look for when choosing treatment plan options:

Joint Commission Accredited – If you are considering entering a residential drug treatment facility, check if their program is state licensed and nationally accredited. Those centers that hold this accreditation are highly qualified with trained staff.
After care programs – When speaking with intake personnel, ask questions about their policies for aftercare planning. Going into rehab is a huge first step, but addiction will not be cured in thirty or sixty days. Having a plan in place for when you leave treatment is of utmost importance to help prevent relapse.
Intensive Outpatient – If you cannot commit to an inpatient treatment plan, outpatient may be right for you. IOP gives the flexibility of staying home to care for your responsibilities while receiving intensive treatment. Find out all that IOP offers, including times of meetings, if individual counseling is offered, and how long the program lasts.
Insurance – Call your insurance company to find out exactly what options you have and what is covered for addiction treatment. This could be a deciding factor in choosing care for your recovery. If you do not have insurance, do not fret. Many addiction treatment facilities are government based and free. Your insurance company may be able to point you in the right direction.
Meetings– Committing to a plan of going to 90 meetings in 90 days is a good starting point for many individuals who cannot go to an inpatient facility. Again, be honest with yourself about the severity of your addiction. Many people have quit and stayed clean and sober by committing to the twelve-step program, but you do not want to put yourself in danger if medical detox is necessary.

A good starting point is to make some phone calls.

You can call drug treatment centers and speak with an intake professional who will guide you in the right direction. Search online for contact numbers in your area to get in touch with AA, NA, or SMART Recovery. People in these programs have been in your shoes and will be happy to help you make the right decision for your life. If you are reading this, you have already made the first step, the next step is to gather information to make an informed decision about the best avenue to take to begin building a foundation in sobriety.