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

Who Answers?

Things to Avoid When Choosing the Right Treatment Center

The decision to seek treatment is a tough decision to make but the challenge doesn’t end there. Once you have opted to seek help there are a number of challenges that surround you such as trying to find the best type of treatment and choosing between various treatment centers that provide a range of services and treatment programs. When performing your search for the right type of treatment center, here’s a look at some things you should avoid when choosing the right treatment center.

Promises for Recovery and Rapid Detox

Treatment centers that promise you will make a full recovery cannot be trusted. This isn’t because they don’t provide a solid foundation for recovery but because no treatment center can guarantee that you will recover from addiction. Recovery is ultimately up to you so any treatment center that guarantees that you will recover cannot be trusted. Additionally, treatment centers that offer 24 hour detox or rapid detox may be unsafe. Detox typically takes days or even weeks to complete so you should consider this when choosing between treatment centers. Studies show that the most effective treatment programs last at least a period of 90 days or more so consider this when searching for treatment centers.

Shameful Treatment

Refrain from treatment centers who’s treatment programs consist of shaming the individual into getting well. Although shaming people into recover was once the primary method of treating addiction, this type of treatment is inhumane and no longer widely accepted. In fact, treatment centers that use shame and berating as a means of treating patients are not only not effective, they actually increase the chance that an addict will relapse post treatment.

Does Not have a Proven Track Record

Don’t be afraid to ask the treatment center what their track record is like when you are seeking help. Treatment centers who provide effective treatment are typically proud to talk with you about their track record. Ask about how often one of their patients returns for followup care or additional treatment as a result of relapse and also ask what portion of their patients sustain long term recovery. Treatment centers with a proven track record for success clearly have something that works and should be your first choice for help.

More Treatment & Detox Articles

Sober statistics bear out the fact that our attitude to alcohol is deeply unhealthy

OPINION: ‘MILAN HAS banned the consumption and sale of alcohol to young teenagers in an effort to curb binge drinking,” said yesterday morning’s news as I staggered downstairs to make a cup of tea. “Parents of children under the age of 16 caught drinking wine or spirits will be liable to heavy fines of up….

Harsh truths about your alcohol intake

This summer has been another wet one. With all the rain it’s enough to drive you to drink! Most of us enjoy a tipple now and again, but do we really know how much is safe and when to stop? Am I better off having an occasional pint or should I cut it out altogether?….

SOS offers addiction recovery without religion

For atheists who are addicted to alcohol or drugs, recovery programs that urge reliance on a “higher power” can be problematic. What is this higher power? Despite protestations to the contrary, the term is obviously meant as a synonym for God. Substituting “nature,” “or “science” or some such thing doesn’t quite cut it. There is….

More help could be on way for heavy drinkers

Moves to improve ‘appalling’ services for people with alcohol problems look likely in West Sussex, amid concerns over the impact on hospitals. The West Sussex health overview and scrutiny committee was told a review of the services would follow a new five-year strategic commissioning plan for health services, to be unveiled soon by the West….

Our problem with drink

The lowering of the drinking age has led to an explosion in teenage drink-driving convictions, new figures show. Sunday Star-Times’ analysis of drink-driving convictions over the past decade show teenage New Zealanders, women and those aged 40-plus are our worst drink-drivers. But the teen figures are the most alarming in 2006, excess breath-alcohol convictions for….