It can be overwhelming selecting a rehab program for a loved one. There are dozens of facilities, all claiming that they have the best methods, success rates, and level of care. When everything feels upside down due to addiction, it’s hard to take one’s time to sift through options, and inevitably pressure to get someone treatment soon overrides a calm and collected approach.
However, by knowing what questions to ask, families can vet programs according to what matters most instead of marketing ploys. Certain questions reveal how programs operate, what’s most important, and if they even have what it takes to help.
What Level of Care Do You Provide?
Not every program offers the same treatment. Some feature medical detox, residential components and ongoing therapy; others do not offer counseling or medical efforts at all. Knowing what’s included avoids catching anyone by surprise come admission.
This is especially true for substances where withdrawal can be dangerous (namely alcohol and benzodiazepines). If a facility has no medical staff, it cannot properly monitor medically-based symptoms. Programs like Habitat Therapeutics are effectively one-stop-shops in this regard, as clients will not need to be transferred from location to location during this vulnerable early recovery period.
Specifically inquire about medical staff, what happens upon admission if complicated issues arise and if there are psychiatric considerations for dual-diagnosis issues.
What is Your Treatment Method?
There are vast approaches to treatment. Some programs are completely 12-step based; others use various evidence-based modalities – cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, trauma-informed approaches. Many compound various approaches.
Knowing the method allows one to discern if it’s appropriate. For instance, someone who is opposed to spiritual elements may have difficulty in an entirely 12-step program; someone with trauma may struggle within a program that does not acknowledge their unrelated history.
Ask about type of therapy administered, how applicable treatment plans are to needs and if they are evidence-based or a homogenous approach.
What is the Staff-to-Client Ratio?
If there are too many clients per staff, adequate attention cannot be met for individualized needs. Recovery is more than merely being in a room with others who have similar troubles; it’s about personalized care.
The more staff available for each client means more access to therapists, better monitoring and faster response when someone is struggling. The more clients per staff means a more generalized programming approach that could leave individual needs by the wayside.
Inquire about average caseloads, how often clients meet one-on-one with their designated therapists and if medical staff is always on site or merely during operating hours.
How Do You Treat Co-Occurring Disorders?
Most clients treated for substance use disorders have comorbid mental health concerns – diagnosed or otherwise (depression, anxiety, trauma, bipolar). Programs that only focus on substance use needs provide those prospective relapsers with a snowball’s chance at success.
Programs that treat comorbidities with the same treatment plans yield better outcomes than those who treat separately (or ignore mental health all together).
Ask if psychiatric evaluations are involved in the intake process, if mental health considerations are included or an extra fee and what kind of trained staff exists for dual-diagnosis-related considerations.
What’s Your Aftercare Plan?
After one experiences residential treatment, they’re just beginning recovery. What comes next makes all the difference of treatment, and programs should accurately assess aftercare plans for outpatient care, follow-ups and support groups.
To discharge someone back into the world without a plan – or during an incredibly vulnerable time – is almost as good as abandoning them. Good programs build bridges instead of walls between discharge and subsequent care.
Inquire how early discharge plans are formed while still in treatment, what aftercare resources exist – and if any other staff members keep in contact with individuals from outside the treatment facility.
Can Families Participate?
Addiction does not only affect individuals; it affects families. Therefore, family involvement in treatment allows for better success for everyone in recovery. Programs that promote family wellness opportunities (family therapy, communication skills development) acknowledge this fact.
Some facilities have no family component; some offer “family weekends” or ongoing family therapy. Knowing the family aspect helps set expectations so families know what role they’ll play.
Inquire about family programming and whether it’s optional/required – as well as how families can best support treatment without enabling.
What’s Your Success Rate?
While this can be somewhat sticky because success is subjective, some facilities don’t even address success. Some define success as completion of the program; others check in three months down the line to see who’s still sober. Many fail to check in at all.
If a program doesn’t want to discuss success rates – or vague claims – should raise a red flag; programs willing to discuss how they’ve measured success over time – and acknowledge recovery is complicated – are far more honest than those boasting guaranteed success.
Ask how success is defined, at what point success is granted (what percentage of people complete) and if the program checks on success after the fact. It’s worth being wary of any facility boasting incredibly high claims (because we all know recovery isn’t easy – and if it’s too good to be true…)
What Are the Real Costs?
Costs range greatly – from thousands per week – to working with insurance options/sliding scale fees – to free. Knowing this upfront saves headaches after admission.
Ask about any inclusive pricing versus added fees for meds/activities/special needs on top of expected costs; check insurance for up front coverage and if payment plans are assessed after the fact should it be more than expected.
Making the Decision
Comparing rehab programs to one’s values – from location to cost – to clinical components like approach and qualification – all contribute to the fact that there is no single best fit for anyone. However, these questions assess whether a program possesses basic competency for genuine results versus boasting policy which they can’t follow through on.
Ultimately the goal is to find a program that makes the most sense for individual needs so adequate medicalized support understands where applicable root causes stem from (if applicable) and how best to foster success going forward. Asking direct questions about these scenarios can provide clarity during a confusing time when families seek help.
