3 Things to Consider When Picking a Rehab Center

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Deciding to take that first step toward recovery and even recognizing oneself as someone with a substance use disorder is a brave, bold move that, from the onset, deserves applause. With that being said, picking a rehab facility might be an unexpected task as you embark upon this process.

While the conversation surrounding rehab and the overall stigma associated with therapy has been on the decline, the perils of a booming addiction industry have turned what should be a wholesome and spiritual process into one of tricks and hoops. Don’t lose hope. There are many good recovery programs out there. It can be difficult to tell legitimate rehab programs from unethical ones.

1. We’re in an Addiction Gold Rush

The first thing you should know while picking a rehab center is that we are in an addiction gold rush. The 5th Edition 2020 U.S. Addiction Rehab Industry report valued the industry at $42 billion last year and, while studies reveal that high-quality medical care makes a difference when it comes to long-term recovery, it is crucial not to let that suck you down the rabbit hole of unaffordable and gaudy treatment facilities.

The February issue of the journal Health Affairs released a peer-review study showing just how bad admissions practices and the cost of care has gotten. The paper explains how many for-profit rehab programs charged inflated fees and used misleading sales practices to attract clients without evaluating their actual medical needs. In these instances, salespeople answered the phones at for-profit rehab programs instead of nurses, and they often weren’t asking medical questions at all. Furthermore, researchers found the sales pitch at for-profit clinics often focused on things that have nothing to do with medical care.

“It used to be a spa for the rich and famous,” a rehab program salesperson told one of the paper’s researchers, according to notes of the conversation provided to NPR. “It’s got all this extra stuff, outdoor and indoor pools, five-star chef, massage, acupuncture.”

2. Are You Being Set Up for Life or For-Profit?

This is why when you’re looking for the right treatment center, the question you should be asking is: Are you being set up for life or for-profit? Because the current model doesn’t incentivize long-term outcomes, as patients who relapse are worth more future value to the facility.

Think about it: most facilities will treat you for 30 to 60 days before sending you back out into the world, which, at most, is a band-aid fix, as recidivism rates for substance use have been reported as high as 91percent for some individuals.

However, at White House Recovery and Detox, we understand that addiction is a chronic disease and needs to be treated as such. Here, we emphasize goals and accountability rather than time stamps and challenge ourselves to keep you (our clients) on track. Even while recognizing that relapse is a part of the process for many people, we will not enable you. We are not trying to drain your pockets and do not give people endless “chances.” Sometimes you may need to try a different route to recovery through a higher level of care or change of scenery, and if that’s the case, so be it. We’re not here for your money; we’re here for your survival.

3. Do They Cater To Individual Needs?

Another factor to consider when seeking out a rehab center is whether or not they cater to individual needs. Every client has unique needs for addiction treatment. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all type of treatment when it comes to recovery, and you should be aware of this fact when talking to a rehab center.

Rather, drug and alcohol rehab facilities should be goal-oriented on a client by client basis. For example, the client looking for a treatment to compete as a professional athlete again is going to have goals considerably different from the client who is looking to establish a connection with family. That is why it’s important when you’re looking at facilities to check and see how diverse their specialist and clinicians are as well as the different sets of alternative therapies.

At White House Recovery and Detox, we offer multiple approaches to comprehensive medical and mental health care. We designed all of our programs using evidence-based treatments and personalized therapies for those who may not have found what they needed in other rehabilitation centers. We feature a holistic approach providing emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical support and do not force anyone to participate in ways that make them uncomfortable.

Whether or not your choose treatment with White House Recovery and Detox, we want you to make the best steps towards restoration instead of being duped by money-hungry facilities and insurance vultures. The process of recovery is a vulnerable and courageous one, which is why our hope is to offer transparency and even welcome you to vet us the same way. When picking a place for treatment, remember to: keep in mind that the addiction industry is booming due to the ongoing opioid crisis, that some are out for your money, not your well-being, and, most of all, that you are your own individual and need to be treated as such. Learn more about our services and facility by calling our office today at (800) 510-5393. We are not here to try and win you over or sell you on our facility but rather show you how the good guys look.