Choosing the right alcohol or drug rehab center can make all the difference when it comes to entering long-term recovery from an addiction. The task of finding the “right” drug rehab center is complicated by the fact that there are over 13,000 drug rehab facilities around the country. Each of these treatment centers is unique, but being unique does not necessarily mean that they are all equally good. It does, however, mean that you have many drug rehab centers to choose from and if you do not find the right one immediately you should continue searching as there are many high quality centers.
Here are ten questions to help you in your search for the right drug or alcohol rehab facility.
1. How does the treatment center define success and what is their success rate?
Many drug treatment facilities will have had independent reviews of their success. However, success can be measured in many ways. One treatment center may say they have a 74% success rate, but only be considering clients who remain sober for 6 months; another center may claim a 68% rate based on the results of clients after one year. Whatever their claimed success rate you will want to know how they measured it and what they consider success.
2. Are they accredited as a drug rehab center? And if so by whom?
There are a handful of national accreditation organizations including Joint Commission On Accreditation Of Healthcare Organizations (JACHO) and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), among others. Organizations accredited by these bodies frequently have undergone site reviews and have measured up to national standards.
3. What are the credentials of their staff?
Most states have a system for credentialing drug and alcohol counselors. These individuals may be Certified Addictions Counselors (CAC) or Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC). These are minimum certifications, lead counselors should hold be MSW or LCSW level or higher.
4. Do they provide medically supervised withdrawal?
With some drugs proper withdrawal supervision can be a matter of life or death. If the treatment center does not have a detox center can they recommend one for attendance prior to treatment.
5. What does a typical week in their drug rehab facility look like?
There should be a balance of group and individual therapy. Education sessions, opportunities for reflection and support groups along with other components.
6. Can the provide testimonials?
True, no treatment center would put on display their failures, but they should be able to tell you about their successes.
7. How do they assist in setting up aftercare?
Aftercare has been found to be crucial to the success of long-term recovery. A good treatment center should either offer aftercare of be able to assist you in locating aftercare in your community.
8. Do they have a diverse group of counselors, and how will you be matched up?
One of the primary determinants of treatment success is a good client-counselor relationship. Therefore, a match between counselor and client should be worked towards.
9. What is their treatment modality or philosophy?
Find out if they are 12-step oriented, use motivational, cognitive or behavioral therapies, and then ask them to explain any terms you might not understand.
10. Do they work with your insurance company or can they set-up a payment plan?
Make sure you ask if they can work with your insurance company, or if your insurance does not pay for treatment work out how payment is to be handled.
Use a systematic program for identifying treatment centers which may be right for you. You may wish to print these questions out and keep a separate worksheet for each center’s answers. Remember, the right drug rehab center is waiting for you to call today.
© 2005, David Westbrook
About the Author: David Westbrook is a freelance writer and the creator of www.addictionsresources.com and www.alcoholismresrouces.com
© 2005, David Westbrook
About the Author: David Westbrook is a freelance writer and the creator of http://www.addictionsresources.com and http://www.alcoholismresources.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Westbrook
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Drug Rehab
A Drug is any substance that is taken to suppress an unwanted condition. Extremely chronic or habitual use of such substances to alter states of mind or body, other than for a medically wanted purpose, is called drug abuse.
The inappropriate use of drugs is drug abuse. There are many illegal drugs on the market, which are potential sources of drug addiction. These may be classified into Narcotics, Depressants, sedatives, stimulants and steroids.
All kinds of drugs can be abused, including illegal drugs (Cocaine, heroin), prescription drugs (tranquilizers or pain killers) and off-the-shelf medicines like cough mixtures.
Anabolic steroids are abused by athletes and sportsmen to build up their bodies. Nicotine in cigarettes and caffeine in coffee can be abused. Narcotics include morphine, opium, heroin and methadone. Depressants are alcohol, barbiturates and sedatives. Stimulants are drugs such as Cocaine, and amphetamines, hallucinogens and marijuana.
An individual is said to be addicted when he becomes physically and mentally dependant on any of these drugs and experiences withdrawal symptoms when the drug usage is stopped or reduced.
Drug Rehab is the umbrella term given to the process of medical and psychotherapeutic treatment for abusers of illegal and prescription drugs. Most Drug Rehab programs teach patients to interact in a drug-free environment. They are asked to avoid the company of others substance abusers.
Drug Rehab is sometimes a part of the criminal justice system. Persons convicted of minor drug offenses are sometimes sent to Rehab centers instead of prison.
The treatment of drug addicts has two major areas--behavioral therapies and medical therapies. Behavioral therapy includes counseling and family support, and medical therapy is administering certain drugs to counteract withdrawal symptoms.
The drug treatment program consists of different methods according to the needs of different persons. The first step is Detoxification, when the individual is systematically withdrawn from addictive drugs, overseen by a doctor who takes care of the physiological effects. After this there is a choice of various programs according to the severity of the problem.
An outpatient drug-free treatment program consists of individual and group counseling and no medication. Short-term residential programs have a 3-6 week inpatient treatment that resembles the 12-step program of groups like Narcotics Anonymous. After this, the patient joins an outpatient program or a self-help group.
Therapeutic communities provide 24-hour care in a non-hospital setting. Patients stay for 6-12 months in a highly structured program. They are usually long-term addicts with highly impaired social functioning. There are also Maintenance programs for certain drugs like heroin to stop withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and use alternate drug (methadone) therapy.
In sum, Drug Rehab must aim at rebuilding the life of the drug addict. This is possible only by educating the addict and his family through psychotherapy. Through Drug Rehab programs tailored to their needs, drug abusers can learn to control their conditions and live normal, productive lives.
Rehab provides detailed information about rehab, alcohol rehab, cardiac rehab, drug rehab and more. Rehab is the sister site of Medical Alert Bracelets.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Gluckman
The inappropriate use of drugs is drug abuse. There are many illegal drugs on the market, which are potential sources of drug addiction. These may be classified into Narcotics, Depressants, sedatives, stimulants and steroids.
All kinds of drugs can be abused, including illegal drugs (Cocaine, heroin), prescription drugs (tranquilizers or pain killers) and off-the-shelf medicines like cough mixtures.
Anabolic steroids are abused by athletes and sportsmen to build up their bodies. Nicotine in cigarettes and caffeine in coffee can be abused. Narcotics include morphine, opium, heroin and methadone. Depressants are alcohol, barbiturates and sedatives. Stimulants are drugs such as Cocaine, and amphetamines, hallucinogens and marijuana.
An individual is said to be addicted when he becomes physically and mentally dependant on any of these drugs and experiences withdrawal symptoms when the drug usage is stopped or reduced.
Drug Rehab is the umbrella term given to the process of medical and psychotherapeutic treatment for abusers of illegal and prescription drugs. Most Drug Rehab programs teach patients to interact in a drug-free environment. They are asked to avoid the company of others substance abusers.
Drug Rehab is sometimes a part of the criminal justice system. Persons convicted of minor drug offenses are sometimes sent to Rehab centers instead of prison.
The treatment of drug addicts has two major areas--behavioral therapies and medical therapies. Behavioral therapy includes counseling and family support, and medical therapy is administering certain drugs to counteract withdrawal symptoms.
The drug treatment program consists of different methods according to the needs of different persons. The first step is Detoxification, when the individual is systematically withdrawn from addictive drugs, overseen by a doctor who takes care of the physiological effects. After this there is a choice of various programs according to the severity of the problem.
An outpatient drug-free treatment program consists of individual and group counseling and no medication. Short-term residential programs have a 3-6 week inpatient treatment that resembles the 12-step program of groups like Narcotics Anonymous. After this, the patient joins an outpatient program or a self-help group.
Therapeutic communities provide 24-hour care in a non-hospital setting. Patients stay for 6-12 months in a highly structured program. They are usually long-term addicts with highly impaired social functioning. There are also Maintenance programs for certain drugs like heroin to stop withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and use alternate drug (methadone) therapy.
In sum, Drug Rehab must aim at rebuilding the life of the drug addict. This is possible only by educating the addict and his family through psychotherapy. Through Drug Rehab programs tailored to their needs, drug abusers can learn to control their conditions and live normal, productive lives.
Rehab provides detailed information about rehab, alcohol rehab, cardiac rehab, drug rehab and more. Rehab is the sister site of Medical Alert Bracelets.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Gluckman
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