Rehab
Understanding the Factors that Make Rehab Work
Are you losing faith on the effectiveness of Rehab programs? You see people going in for detox and in-patient treatments, see them go back to the real world and suffer from relapses again. If someone you love suffers from substance addiction, it is only too easy to lose your faith in rehabilitation. So what makes some Rehab programs work? What do they have that others do not?
Holistic approach
Rehab should look at the bigger picture for it to work for any patient. Rehabilitation programs should consider the possibility that there is a bigger problem outside of the addiction. The substance dependence may be triggered by other factors, including possible personality disorders or peer/social pressure. For example, some who is depressed may turn to alcohol in an attempt to "numb" the pain s/he is feeling.
If the Rehab program only treats the alcoholism and overlooks the personality disorder, the person may revert back to the addiction or move on to a harsher substance.
The problem can also be peer pressure, problems in the family or the loss of a loved one. If these external factors are causing or contributing to the addiction, in-patient counseling is the best program to treat the patient. Overcoming alcoholism or addiction requires more than obtaining a "discipline" against drinking alcohol. Counseling sessions are needed to help the patient overcome the bigger issues that are triggering the substance addiction.
Strong family support
Successful Rehab programs encourage the close involvement of family and the patient's closest friends. These people will create the support system that the patient will be interacting with once s/he is out of the rehabilitation center. When you choose a Rehab program, make sure to choose one that recognizes the importance of the family's role in the recovery process.
A Rehab center should orient and educate family members about the patient's progress regularly and teach them to cope with the recovering addict's emotional and psychological needs. Without counseling, many families remain hostile because they were hurt by the addiction as well. Unless they are able to forgive the addicted individual and offer their full support for his/her recovery, the rehabilitation attempts won't be successful.
Patient's willingness to get better
Of course, the Rehab program will not be successful unless the patient decides that she wants to get better. If the patient resists counseling and detox treatments, they will not be able to recover. People suffer from relapses or take months and even years to complete their rehabilitation because they are not willing to work through the addiction. As long as they put more importance on the "high" they get from the substance and as long as they are still on the road to self-destruction, they won't be able to recover from the addiction properly.
Even if the patient is not completely committed to recovery, rehabilitation attempts are not completely wasted on them. These patients just require more time for treatment. Once they realize that their substance dependence is hindering them from enjoying life, they will slowly but surely be able to rid their addiction.
Choosing a Facility
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Facility for Rehab
If this is your first time seeking rehab for yourself or a loved one, it would be helpful to know which questions to ask when searching for possible programs.Recovery Now TV will guide you in making the most appropriate decision based on your individual needs.
When researching rehab programs, consider the questions below to help guide you to making the most appropriate decision for treatment:
- Will the facility work with your health insurance company? If you have health insurance, please click here or scroll to the bottom of the page to access the complete Insurance Guidance Information page.
- Where is the facility located? Oftentimes facilities will urge you to travel out of your area to receive treatment. Consider the list of pros and cons below for traveling out of the area for treatment.
Treatment out of the area-
- PRO- Getting out of the area for rehab will help an alcoholic or addict to focus on themselves rather than their familiar surroundings.
- PRO- Going out of the area for rehab creates a mindset where a client is taking a journey for their recovery.
- PRO- If the going gets tough in treatment, a distance between the home and the treatment facility might affect a person's decision to not give up and to stay in treatment.
- CON- Going to a rehab program out of the area puts distance between you and your loved ones. Most treatment programs offer a family component and a long distance could make it difficult for supportive family and friends to participate in the treatment program.
- CON- Going to a rehab program out of the area might make it difficult to return to the home environment. If you choose to go out of the area for treatment, it is crucial to make sure that the treatment facility has a discharge planning process which includes assistance in finding outpatient and Twelve Step Support systems for when you return home.
- What governing body is the treatment facility licensed through? All rehab programs providing therapeutic services and treatment planning, must be licensed by a State governing body. If one of the facilities that you are considering is NOT part of the RecoveryNowTV network, then you will need to make sure that the facility is licensed through the state.
- Is the facility accredited? If so, what is the accreditation agency governing the facility? Accreditation is a true sign of a quality and safety assurance plan for a facility. While accreditation is not mandatory for a facility, it does provide a higher level of standards for a facility to adhere to. The two major accrediting bodies are The Joint Commission (JCAHO) and Commission on Accreditation of Rehab Facilities (CARF). Both accrediting organizations ensure that the facility actively participates in rigorous quality and safety improvement protocols.
- What does a typical day entail? Ask the rehab facility go through the daily schedule and feel free to ask questions of each item on the schedule. This will give you an understanding of all of the services offered. This will allow you to take full advantage of the treatment protocols being offered.
- What is the price of the treatment? Are there additional costs over and above the stated cost? Is there a daily rate? Is there an early termination policy?
- Is there an extended care program? When searching for a rehab facility, if time and your schedule permits, it is recommended that you enter an extended care program or a structured sober living environment. This will ensure that the re-entry back into daily living is a safe transition. Many programs offer a step-down or sober living program which includes mandatory Twelve Step participation, curfews, and drug testing.
- Is there a program in place for relapse? It is important to know if the rehab program will support you during a relapse. Many programs have relapse prevention or a refresher course in case of a relapse. Although many people do not want to consider readmitting to a treatment facility, it is important to know that your treatment program will support you if you have a relapse.
