What to Look for in a Quality Drug Rehab
Treatment facilities are designed to help you understand the source of your substance use disorder and to learn (or relearn) how to live a happy, joyful life without the crutch of drugs and alcohol. Usually, addiction is a symptom of some other underlying issue, not the disease itself. Drug rehab provides a safe place free of triggers for you to heal and recover.
When you arrive at the recovery center, you’ll normally meet with a staff member for your intake. They’ll assess your physical condition, by taking vital signs, drawing some blood, or taking a urine sample. They’ll also want to know what drugs you’ve been taking, how long you’ve been taking them, and how much you usually do at a given time. While you may previously have tried to hide your usage from friends and family, you’re better off telling the truth at rehab.
They might also have you undergo a psychiatric assessment. It’s very common for people with addiction issues to suffer from mental health disorders, with ADHD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and schizophrenia being pretty common. Even if you’ve never been diagnosed with one of these before, co-occurring disorders can also be treated at drug rehab.
Once you’ve been assessed, the staff will make a recommendation for your treatment going forward. You may need detox so that you’ll be monitored and kept comfortable during the withdrawal process. After detox, you might need inpatient treatment, which is highly structured. You live at the facility for the duration of the program.Â
After inpatient, you might be offered outpatient treatment as part of your transition to the “real” world. Some people are able to go directly to outpatient rehab, but others need a longer time in treatment to make sure that they are able to stay clean and sober after they leave.
Whether you attend inpatient or outpatient or both, you’ll be in therapy, typically in both one on one sessions and in group settings. Along the way, you’ll plan your aftercare as well so your recovery journey continues after treatment.