Drug rehabilitation gives people necessary treatment and support when they’re struggling with alcohol or drug problems. Before choosing a rehab center, people need to understand the available options and what makes the most sense for them.
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When Should You Consider Drug Rehab?
It’s often hard for people to admit that they have a drug problem. In response to a suggestion of addiction or alcohol and drug abuse, people become defensive. They feel ashamed, angry, and frightened.
If you’re not sure whether you have a drug or alcohol problem, consider the following signs. One or more may apply to you:
- You’re struggling to quit or to consume less of the drug.
- Your drug-taking behavior is spiraling out of your control. Maybe you feel as if you need the drug more frequently or in greater quantities. The drug may be dominating your thoughts, as you keep planning how to obtain more of it and when to use it.
- You’re experiencing various physical, cognitive, or psychological problems, such as memory difficulties or bouts of depression.
- Other people, such as your family and friends, are telling you that you have a problem.
- Your drug-taking behavior is interfering with your life. Maybe you’re neglecting your obligations, skipping work or classes, and damaging your relationships. You may be losing interest in activities that used to be meaningful and enjoyable for you.
- You’re behaving in ways that are unethical or outright illegal, such as lying or stealing to obtain more of the drug.
You don’t have to wait until a medical emergency or a major setback, like a job loss, to seek help. Even if you think your addiction is mild, you can still benefit from rehab services.
Also, keep in mind that many people from all walks of life attend rehab programs. You don’t have to feel like you’re stuck dealing with your problems alone or that your alcohol or drug abuse is uniquely horrible. Reaching out for help isn’t shameful; in fact, it’s a healthy, worthwhile, and responsible choice.
Which Rehab Center Should You Choose?
What’s best for you will depend heavily on your personal circumstances, including the severity of your drug or alcohol problems. There are a variety of rehab facilities, and they differ in various ways, including the following
Detox Services and Inpatient or Outpatient Programs
The first stage of rehab involves detoxification and withdrawal from a drug. Through their detox services, rehab centers can provide medical assistance to people who experience life-threatening or severe withdrawal symptoms. Clinicians may offer medications and other interventions to help ease withdrawal.
After the detox stage, rehab centers may offer inpatient programs, outpatient programs, or both.
During an inpatient program, people live at the treatment center, which is a supervised and drug-free environment. They may stay in the program from a few weeks to a year.
Outpatient programs don’t involve a round-the-clock stay at the center. While living at home or in another environment, such as a sober living house, people go to the center for their addiction treatment. Depending on the program, they may need to be at the treatment center several hours each day or maybe only a few times a week.
In many cases, people start with an inpatient program before transitioning to outpatient services. Other times, especially when their addiction isn’t severe, they may start with an outpatient program. Rehab can also be combined with other interventions for drug problems, such as a local support group for addicts.
Types of Therapeutic Interventions
Common interventions in rehab include medications, group therapy, and one-on-one therapy sessions.
Some centers offer a wide variety of therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. They may also have an integrated dual-diagnosis approach, in which they treat both the substance use disorder and other mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress or anxiety disorders.
Rehab centers also differ in the number of wellness programs they offer, such as exercise classes, meditation, and nutritional counseling. These activities aren’t classified as treatments, but they can still play an important role in facilitating recovery. Furthermore, rehab services may include various forms of assistance with employment, housing, and general life skills, such as time management and communication.
Demographics
Some treatment centers limit their programs to certain segments of the population. They may focus on young adults, pregnant women, or people with low incomes.
Treatment Philosophy
A rehab facility may follow certain principles that influence treatment. For example, some facilities offer faith-based programs. Many facilities adopt a holistic approach that goes beyond alcohol and drug abuse and addresses an individual’s overall health and well-being.
Level of Luxury
The most expensive treatment centers offer luxury rehab, which provides people with the environment and services of a high-end hotel. In luxury rehab, people may have access to personal chefs, gorgeous swimming pools, and other perks.
Cheaper centers offer more basic accommodations and a more limited number of services and amenities. That said, you can still receive effective therapeutic interventions even in a center that doesn’t have any luxuries.
What Should You Generally Expect From Rehab?
Even though treatment centers vary in a number of ways, the ones with high-quality services will give you the following benefits:
- Evidence-based treatments and compassionate guidance from licensed professionals and experienced counselors.
Opportunities to talk to and learn from other people who are fighting drug addiction. - Individualized treatments that respond to your specific needs, including your medical and psychological health and your life circumstances.
- Assistance in developing strategies for resisting cravings, maintaining sobriety, and building a meaningful life free from drug abuse.
How Do You Pay for Rehab?
Sometimes, people avoid rehab because of the price tag of a particular treatment program. However, the cost of rehab is generally much less than the cost extracted by continued substance abuse. The U.S. loses roughly $600 billion each year to the effects of substance abuse, including medical and psychological problems, missed work, accidents, criminal activity, and incarceration.
By going to rehab, you’re investing in your health and your quality of life. You’re also reducing the chances of paying the much steeper costs of untreated addiction.
Fortunately, there are multiple payment options for rehab. Each rehab center has its own payment policies, so you need to check the specifics. In many cases, your options involve insurance coverage, private funding, or some mix of the two.
Insurance
Insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare, may cover at least part of your rehab program. You need to check if a particular rehab center accepts your insurance plan, and you need to review your plan’s limitations. Consider the following:
- The length of the program. Your plan may cover only a certain number of days or weeks of treatment.
- The percentage of coverage. Some plans may pay for 60 percent of the costs of rehab, while others may offer greater coverage.
- The types of treatments. Your plan may cover certain medications or psychological therapies, but you’re less likely to receive coverage for experimental treatments or wellness activities, such as yoga or acupuncture.
- Evaluations and referrals. To use your insurance for rehab, you may first need to undergo a clinical evaluation and receive a diagnosis of a substance use disorder.
Keep in mind that you may be able to negotiate with your insurance company for adjustments to your treatment coverage. Even if your policy doesn’t explicitly cover some aspect of your treatment, it’s worth calling to ask about it.
Private Funding
Sources of private funding include your own paycheck or savings, financial help from family or friends, and money raised through a crowdfunding platform.
Also, ask rehab centers about their options for financial assistance. Some centers offer financing plans and guidance about taking out loans. They may also provide a limited number of rehab scholarships to help cover treatment costs.
Public Assistance
Some rehab programs are entirely publicly funded. You’ll need to meet various eligibility criteria to participate, and you’ll have more limited options for types of treatments.
You may also be able to obtain assistance through programs funded by government grants, such as the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. Another possibility is to turn to local nonprofits for guidance on funding your rehab treatments.
Making Your Decision
Many factors will influence your decision about rehab programs, including addiction severity, treatment options, and financial constraints. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for additional information about treatment centers for drug abuse.