While there is currently no cure for addiction, residential treatment has been proven the best way to contain it. A study done on doctors and airplane pilots who were forced to go to residential treatment programs for substance abuse for 90 days produced results that showed 90 or more days of residential treatment produced a 90 percent success rate. The theory behind these results is the longer people are away from the substance and the environment that they used it in, the less they likely they are to return to substance use. The addiction and mental health crisis have prompted residential treatment centers to pop up all over the country, but only certain types of residential treatment programs are effective. Knowing what to look for when looking for residential treatment will make your search easier.
Factors that You Consider When Looking for Residential Treatment
Joint Commission Accreditation
Having the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval is the highest honor for a treatment facility. That seal indicates that the treatment facility reaches supreme standards in safety and care. You can find out if a treatment facility has received that accreditation by checking their website. The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval may also be printed on ads and brochures for the facility.
Cleanliness
A quality treatment center will value the aura it gives off to visitors and clients; therefore, it will make the efforts to keep the facility clean and well-kept. Cleanliness is an important factor to prevent the spread of disease. The medical detox center should be as sterile as a hospital. Light-colored walls, windows that allow light to penetrate through, and comforting décor are good signs.
Amenities for Holistic Treatment
Addiction treatment is not just about meetings and talk therapy. The mind, body, and spirit also need to be addressed. The treatment center should offer a variety of food options or chef-prepared meals that contain the nutrients to bring your body back to optimal health after an extended period of substance use. There should be a recreational area to introduce you to new hobbies and allow you to socialize as a sober person. Part of the treatment program should be to have you travel offsite for certain activities (e.g. beach, movies, park visits, etc.). Chiropractic care, acupuncture, bio sound therapy, yoga, and other modern treatment should be available.
Safety
A quality treatment facility should not have bars on the window. However, safety is a must to prevent intruders and the flow of illicit substances. A quality treatment facility should have appropriate safety measures.
Empathetic, Qualified Therapists and Counselors
When it comes to treating addiction, the best therapists are those who have struggled with addiction themselves because they can empathize with the physiological aspects and psychological obsessions. Therapists who have had family members who struggled with addiction are also effective because they have witnessed the disease and have most likely dealt with their own addiction of codependency. While people can become addiction counselors with just a high school diploma, the best education for an addictions counselor to have is a master’s degree. While licensed professional counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, and licensed clinical social workers can be hired as therapists in certain types of drug treatment programs, the therapists should carry the addictions counselor credential.
Far Away from the Place Where You Were Active in Your Addiction
The most successful cases are of those who went to a rehab that was far away from the place where they were active in their addiction. Going to a rehab that is far away from the place where you were active in your addiction will ensure better privacy and fewer relapse triggers. Choosing residential treatment Los Angeles or Florida is beneficial because those rehabs have decades of experience and offer beautiful healing environments.
