With quite literally thousands of rehabs to choose from, deciding which one to choose can be quite a daunting process.
The majority of rehabs in the US will offer quite similar addiction treatment programs, the majority of which will be rooted in the 12 Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Some people will want to go into a rehab close to where they live, others will want to go to a rehab as far away as possible, either in another state or in another country completely.
Some people believe that a complete change of scenery and location can help someone in their early days of recovery, others believe they should confront their issues in a more known and local environment.
This means that the choice of rehab can literally be a worldwide one for everyone.
Very few rehabs will advertise any type of success rate, although some will talk of a percentage rate of completion. These are two very different things.
A rate of completion is simply the number of people who complete their course of treatment, which is normally 28/30 days, although in some cases this can be longer.
The reality of recovery from alcoholism and addiction is that it is a tricky road for most people, and no one really knows how many people make it in the long run.
Some rehabs will keep in touch with as many of their ‘alumni’ as possible, but very few if any will talk of a success rate. Recovery is a long-term process, often taking many years to embed in the individual.
A stay in rehab is relatively short, and is seen by most people as initially breaking the cycle of alcoholism and addiction, and laying the foundations for long-term recovery.
There are however a number of factors can that be used to determine how effective a rehab treatment center is likely to be, and all the information required should be available via the rehab’s website.
State Regulation
Wherever you are looking in terms of location, there are likely to be a number of legal requirements for any type of clinical facility that is offering addiction treatment programs.
It is well worth checking what these are, and making sure that the rehab adheres to them. If in doubt ask the rehab itself.
If they are at all reluctant to help, it may be an indication to move on and find somewhere else.
Location
As already stated, for many people location is an important issue. Within the geographical area make sure that the facility itself is an attractive and comfortable place for a short-term stay.
Some rehabs will offer single accommodation, others will insist on sharing a room and facilities as part of the recovery process.
Also make sure there is plenty of outdoor space, ideally near water, as this can be very therapeutic for a number of people who need time to have a break from the intensity of the rehab itself.
Staff
All rehabs will employ a wide variety of staff, both clinical and administrative.
Clinical/ therapeutic staff can/should include a medical doctor, nurses, psychiatrists / psychologists, therapists, yoga teachers, tai chi teachers, reflexology practitioners, acupuncture practitioners, art therapy practitioners, meditation practitioners, politicians, nutritionists, social workers, transitional living workers, and priests/rabbis.
Obviously this is a wide range of differing staff, but should give a fairly good indication of the facilities that the rehab offers as well. In addition to the numbers and types of staff, it is worth checking the qualifications and experience of the most senior staff available and their experience of addiction and alcoholism.
Detox
All rehabs should have their own clinical facilities and staff that allow them to assess at the outset of treatment whether a medical detox is needed or not for any individual entering the treatment center.
If they do not have such facilities, then they should have access to a local clinical facility such as a hospital, who can make this assessment for them.
This is a crucial element of any rehab or treatment center, because of the necessity to assess the need for a detox for anyone coming off alcoholism/drug addiction.
Cost
Most rehabs do not advertise how much they charge, but it is probably fair to estimate a charge of between US$ 28,000 / $35000 for a 28 day stay in most treatment centres in the USA.
It should be noted that there are a number that describe themselves as luxury rehabs that can easily charge three or four times this amount.
Most of this cost is normally covered by insurance, but there are one or two things to be aware of.
Many insurance companies will agree to cover the cost of rehab, but will sometimes review this on a weekly basis while the individual is in treatment.
This means that they could withdraw cover at any point during the individuals stay in rehab if they deem it not necessary any longer.
Also be aware that some rehabs offer loans to help pay for the cost of their treatment, especially if the individual does not have insurance, or their insurance plan does not cover rehab treatment.
This can end up being very expensive indeed, and is an option that should probably be avoided if at all possible.
Addiction Treatment Programs
Most treatment programs should begin with an assessment of need for a medical detox as referred to above.
Most rehabs will base their addiction treatment programs around the first five steps of the Alcoholics Anonymous program.
Some will be slightly more specialised, and based around certain steps such as step one, or steps three and 11.
There is also likely to be a significant amount of personal therapy/counselling done, either on a one-to-one basis or in group. Some rehabs also offer specialised therapy such as CBT/EMDRA
Most treatment centers will also encourage, sometimes insist, that individuals attend meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous whilst in treatment.
These may sometimes be held on site, by local groups or in the locality where the treatment center is based.
A number of rehabs will also offer so-called alternative therapies, which are recognised by the therapists listed above.
They may also include things such as adventure programs which can be things such as white water rafting, hill or rock climbing or equine therapy.
Aftercare
A rehab’s approach to what happens when someone leaves rehab is almost as important as what happens to them when they are in treatment.
It is generally recognised that a rehab is something of a bubble, almost intentionally, that takes the individual out of their normal environment to provide a safe place allowing them to lay the foundations for their recovery.
Like all bubbles, a return to normality has to be thought through and carefully planned.
Thus a rehab should from day one lay the foundations for being able to integrate what happens in rehab back into the individuals normal life once they have returned to their home and family.
Most rehabs will encourage continued attendance at meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, and in addition could have their own regular meetings, normally monthly, that are open to any residents or former residents to attend if they so wish.
Former residents are normally referred to as alumni and are encouraged to return to the treatment center, both for their own good and as examples to current residents.
Sober Living / Transitional Living
Some rehabs will have links to what are referred to as sober living or transitional living houses.
These are normally long-term shared houses, normally under some type of supervision, where people in early recovery can live together, and stabilise their own lives once sober.
This is an option foro some people who need an additional degree of stability around where to live and what do for work once they have finished treatment.