Choosing an addiction treatment program is one of the most important decisions you will make on this journey. While there is no right or wrong treatment center choice, there are some characteristics to look for. The best residential treatment centers share the same strengths, which is why they tend to have lower relapse rates and more successful patient recoveries.
As you review the options for treatment, here are the features we recommend paying attention to.
Medical Detox
Detox is the first step in getting clean. It’s not easy, but there are ways to make this process more manageable. Aside from getting through detox in one piece, there is also the safety aspect to consider. Withdrawal from some drugs can be fatal if you are not under medical supervision. For example, alcohol, benzo and opiate withdrawal can lead to breathing complications that may result in death.
Addiction Education
Not all treatment centers offer education, but it’s a crucial piece to the recovery puzzle. Without some understanding of addiction, it’s easy to revert back to the same negative thinking and behaviors. Through patient education, you will learn about addiction, what led you down this path and how to avoid making the same choices again. Education should also be available to your loved ones.
Individual Therapy
In individual counseling, you work closely with a counselor to work through your personal issues. This is a very important part of treatment, as many addicts suffer from childhood trauma, abuse or co occurring disorders such as anxiety, depression or PTSD. The best treatment facilities will offer several opportunities each week to meet with a counselor, particularly in the first and second weeks.
Family Counseling
Another sign of a great rehab facility is family or couples counseling. Addiction affects many people, usually those closest to the addict. If you are married, have children or are living at home with your parents, this addiction has almost certainly affected them. Rather than returning home to a hostile environment (or even one where drug/alcohol use is condoned), family counseling provides support and education.
Follow Up Care
Follow up care, or aftercare, is an important part of treatment. Once you leave the facility, your journey is not over. Having a trusted team of addiction treatment specialists holds you accountable for your goals. Your aftercare plan will be centered around the behaviors you learned in treatment as well as ways to resist triggers.
The River Source offers integrative care for adults 18 and over struggling with substance abuse. Call us today to and find out why we have lower-than-average relapse rates and a recovery guarantee!
