Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

5 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Drug Treatment Center

If you or a loved one is addicted to drugs and needs help, you should be prepared to present a series of questions when trying to choose between the variety of addiction treatment centers that are available. If you are looking for a drug rehabilitation hospital or outpatient drug rehabilitation program, or some less invasive treatment center program, these are the questions you should ask to help you make an informed decision. You should ask the following questions before choosing a drug treatment center for yourself or for someone who you love.

How long is the drug treatment program?

It is important that you ask how long a standard program for drug treatment lasts as well as how long the average client remains in treatment or drug rehabilitation as a foretaste of what to expect. If the average customer stays in a drug treatment center for less than 90 days then chances are the program will not be as effective as it could or should be. The average drug treatment program lasts at least 90 days in order to assure the greatest possible chance for a successful recovery from addiction.

As the cost of drug treatment, what services are available at this price?

You’ll want to know what treatment services are provided by the treatment center and also what the drug treatment will cost. There are many drug treatment centers that offer the luxury of full service, but it means nothing if you can not afford such treatment. When choosing a drug treatment center, ask many questions about costs, services, and insurance and payment options to assure that you understand fully what you will pay and what you will get.

Is detox included in the drug treatment program?

If you are addicted to drugs then chances are you will have to undergo drug detox prior to entering a drug treatment center program. Ask the drug treatment center if they offer drug detox and what the service charges for such a program would be. If there are any other questions you have about drug detox such as how long it will take, what medications will be provided or how emergency situations will be handled, make sure you ask these questions as well.

How many clients are in the drug treatment program at one time?

Finally, you should also ask the number of customers, which are managed at a time. If the drug treatment center cares for a large number of people at a time it is likely that a lot of single or one-on-one meetings with counselors will be limited. Recovery and treatment can suffer if you do not receive adequate treatment so make sure that the drug treatment program you choose is not overloaded with clients at one time.

Can my family be involved in the drug treatment program?

If you have any relatives who you wish to be involved in your treatment program then you will want to ask the drug treatment center what types of programs they offer for families. Some drug treatment centers provide advice to families and opportunities for family interaction. Many even offer special programs that will help to heal the family post addiction. If you have a strong support system and you want your family to be involved in your treatment, consider asking the treatment center about such options prior to making a final decision.

More Treatment & Detox Articles

Drunkorexia: Drinking And Not Eating

Not eating before drinking alcohol is something young people have been doing for years but now there’s a slang term for it — drunkorexia. College campus health facilities are starting to take a closer look at the problem and how to curb the dangerous fad. “‘Oh I’m going to drink my dinner tonight,’ is a….

Alcoholics' families need support, too

Alcoholics Anonymous is well known as a self-help programme for people who regularly abuse alcohol, now known to be one adult in five. But the despair, confusion and resentment suffered by the alcoholic is invariably felt by their family too. I know this from both sides of the fence: as the child of a drink-dependent….

What to Expect at a Drug Treatment Center

Drug treatment centers provide a number of different services that are aimed at helping people who are addicted to drugs to change their behaviors and overcome addiction. Depending on the type of drug treatment center that you attend the number of counselors and staff members as well as their experience you may encounter various different….

New coalition attacks 'culture' of alcohol use

In Dane County, more young people between seventh and 12th grades are abstaining from alcohol than regularly using it, according to a 2005 assessment. Still, the fact that nearly 30 percent of local youth are considered regular drinkers is a cause for concern for many. About 30 people turned out Monday night for the first….

Middle class wine drinkers ‘harming their unborn children

Middle class women who regularly drink a bottle of wine at home with their partner are at ‘high risk’ of having a child with developmental problems, researchers said. In some cases women may damage their unborn child before they even realise they are pregnant, doctors said at a conference. Drinking during pregnancy can cause foetal….