In the U.S., drug-related overdoses are at the top cause of accidental deaths, resulting in 44,000 deaths a year.
That’s an incomprehensible number of people, isn’t it?
It’s clear that some sort of solution is needed. For people who are dealing with substance abuse issues, going to drug rehab is the best and first choice.
Are you currently suffering with addiction and thinking you’re finally ready to go to rehab? There are a few questions you should ask potential treatment centers to ensure that they’re right for you.
1. What are your Expectations with a Rehab Program?
As you might expect, different drug rehabilitation programs will expect different results.
For example, some programs may define “success” as someone who completes the program. Others may consider recovery successful if you continue to attend meetings and take your prescriptions as advised. Finally, some programs will measure success by the number of people who continue to abstain from drugs upon returning home.
Before making a decision, you’ll need to decide what kind of result is acceptable to you. Knowing this will make it easier to go through the process of finding the right facility for your needs.
Be sure to ask each facility how they measure success and what the success rate of their programs is.
2. Is This a Short or Long-Term Rehabilitation Program?
28-day programs are among the most common type of rehab programs.
However, they might not give you the time you need to support a life-long recovery. This is a big consideration to make when looking for a rehab facility.
3. During Treatment, Is Another Drug Substituted for the One the Patient Was Addicted To?
Some rehabilitation programs will substitute Methadone or Suboxone for drugs like heroin or opioids like Oxycodone. The primary goal of this is to reduce the amount of harm addicts experience through drug use.
All these types of treatment programs are supplementing one addiction for a more tolerable one. It works for some, but not all.
4. Does This Rehab Program Rely on Other Drugs for Treatment?
Similar to substituting, some rehab programs rely on other drugs to alleviate withdrawal symptoms like distress. In some instances, they may be a solution for symptoms…but they may lead to further addiction, too.
However, they are not the only one. Some are holistic rehab programs that take a more alternative approach to addiction treatment and use exercise, vitamins, and minerals to alleviate symptoms.
5. Does the Treatment Program Aim to Eliminate Substance Cravings?
Naturally, when you’re trying to quit anything – from cigarettes to drugs to sugar – your body is going to experience cravings for that substance. Finding a program that can help you alleviate these inevitable cravings is of utmost importance.
When you’re craving something, it often feels like it’s the only thing you can think about. This makes it difficult to really focus on getting sober and making amends with those you’ve hurt.
Additionally, rehab facilities that don’t properly deal with these cravings can cause patients’ urge to use drugs to come back – and it may be even stronger than it was when they initially began treatment.
Ensure that your program doesn’t simply resort to treatment via other drugs, and you’ll be much better suited for long-term recovery.
6. What Kind of Role Does Nutrition Play in the Program?
Drugs and alcohol can wreak havoc on our bodies. That’s no secret. However, when you become dependent on them to function, there’s a good chance that you have neglected other vital areas of your life like your diet – and you may begin the substance abuse treatment with feeble health overall.
You’ll want to ask what kind (and how big) of a role nutrition plays in each of the programs you’re considering.
If you’re deficient in the vitamins and minerals that your body needs, it can create barriers and make it more difficult to recover successfully.
7. Does the Rehab Teach Life Skills Utilized in Sober Life?
When it comes down to it, above anything else, teaching patients the important life skills in alcohol or drug rehab is necessary to successfully continue living a sober life after rehab.
These skills involve learning different coping mechanisms they can use when they inevitably face a difficult situation – so that they don’t resort to using drugs to cope instead. If the program doesn’t teach life skills like these, the chances of long-term success and sobriety are very slim.
Additionally, in the midst of heavy drug use, addicts often develop destructive methods of thinking and acting. These destructive tendencies need to be unlearned if they want to be able to live a stable, sober life.
Patients will also need to relearn how to act responsibly, not only for themselves – but for the well-being of those around them as well.
8. Am I Comfortable with the 12-Steps in the Rehab Program?
Finally, the most important step before enrolling in a rehab program is to ensure that you’re comfortable with all of the steps in the program.
If something doesn’t sit right with you, it may not be the right program for you.
On Making the Decision to Go to Rehab
Deciding whether or not to go to rehab isn’t easy. Of course, you want to get sober and get your life on track, but making the transition to do those things can often be quite scary.
To make the transition easier, we offer a full-service program in a real-life setting which features a dual diagnosis to optimize your stay to the best of our ability. We aim to provide a fulfilling life in recovery at an affordable price that’s sustainable for all.
