Finding a Substance Abuse Recovery for a Loved One or Friend

Published 10/31/2022

Around 60,000 people die yearly from opioid overdoses alone, many due to a lack of support. This fact stresses how important good rehab options are in preventing further harm. Sadly, the search for a good substance abuse recovery center can be difficult, and you might not know what to look for in finding the best options.

Below, we list some of the things that you should think about when trying to help out a friend or a loved one find a rehab center. So, read on to ensure you make good decisions when compiling your list of options.

Would They Prefer Inpatient or Outpatient?

In the world of substance abuse rehabilitation, there are two different types of facilities. Each one offers a very different method of treatment.

Inpatient rehab means that the individual remains at the facility. This can offer a better sense of all-encompassing help and removes the individual from negative influences in the wider world. It tends to have a much higher success rate but is both more expensive and incompatible with a patient's regular life.

Outpatient rehab allows the patient to leave between treatments. This means that they can return home and still enjoy the rest of their life when not at the facility. This can give people a greater sense of freedom and prevent them from feeling trapped.

Outpatient options are also much cheaper but do not have the same level of success as being an inpatient.

Can They Talk to a Treatment Provider?

Someone who engages in substance abuse is likely to recognize that they need help or treatment. There may be any number of reasons why they have not started the process, though, and fear of the unknown is a major one. Because of this fear, they might not have researched the treatment process properly.

If that is the case, it might be a good idea for the person to talk in more detail with a treatment provider to find out more about what they provide. That way, they can know if that specific provider is for them or if a different location would be better.

Some locations can provide in-person support, and if that is the case try to bring the substance abuse victim along to talk to the staff. Others describe their process in great detail online. Try to find this information for the person who is having trouble so that they can put their worries to rest before they set foot near the facility.

Through this knowledge, they will find many answers to their questions. This will help them overcome many of the hesitations they have in choosing a location.

Do They Need Specific Specialty Help?

Abuse recovery is not the same for everybody. Some individuals have undergone trauma, or engaged in activities that might affect them long-term. They might also have physical or medical needs that must have support before they can enter a space such as a rehab center.

Another possibility is that the substance abuse victim might have a specific type of problem. For example, they might be addicted to more than one substance, which could complicate matters compared to normal.

On top of this, certain types of rehab centers only treat specific abuse issues. Others might offer every type of treatment but are much better at some forms of recovery than others.

Look into how each location deals with different substance abuse sufferers. Try to find the best place for the specific issue your friend or loved one has. Online reviews or inspection results might give you a good idea of the track record of each area so you can make these decisions. 

Is the Location Close?

Having a rehab facility close to where one lives is not always the best option. Breaking the link with one's normal life can do wonders for providing an environment where a person can focus on recovery. This is especially true when it comes to removing a person from bad influences who might prevent their recovery.

At the same time, it is not always true that a facility far away is always the best either. Sometimes a person needs to continue with their original life while also aiming for rehabilitation. They might want to also receive regular visits from peers, especially close to holidays when people are most vulnerable.

This is likely to interact with many other factors too, such as whether they are an inpatient or an outpatient. Whichever path you discuss, try to ensure that you are helping the patient make the best choice for them and not for others in their circle.

Have They Researched Different Options?

You are not the only person who must research these options. On top of you putting in the effort to help your friend or family member, they must invest in the process themselves. If they do not feel like they are a part of making the decision, then they may resent any drug abuse rehabilitation they take part in.

Before you start making the list, talk to them about whether they want to go into rehab. Once you know they do, start working on the list with them and working out what options they want to go for. Then, when you have the final list, whittle it down alongside them.

Try not to push them too hard for any specific option, but be a supportive person to help them make the right decisions. Ask questions, and try to make sure that they are going to each facility for the right reasons.

How Comfortable are the Facilities?

It is easy to understand how someone might want a more comfortable stay in a facility where they are going through a difficult period in their life. To that end, your friend or family member would likely want somewhere with luxury rooms if they can afford it.

Luxury rehab focuses more on the individual care of the person who attends. Because of this, the accommodation is closer to a set of hotel rooms than in other facilities.

Many of these locations even offer specially-prepared meals, massage, or animal therapy. The location of the facility and the surrounding area can have a large impact on what it can provide in this regard.

On top of this, more expensive facilities might have more comprehensive medical options available. These locations have trained experts on staff who can help to help create a more comfortable withdrawal process. They will also have more experience in dealing with seizures or any other side effects of coming off of substances.

Yet more facilities model themselves around safe residential areas. These can help people feel like a part of a community of others who are having trouble.

Such facilities sometimes include anger management or spiritual study areas. These can help to enrich their patients' lives once they leave and might prevent relapse.

How Long Does a Facility's Program Run For?

The length of the program will have a direct impact on both how much it will cost as well as how much impact it will have on the patient's life. You can expect most programs to take between one and three months to complete.

Despite these differences, it does not always mean that the longer stay will be more successful. Many 30-day programs have a very high success rate and you should review what they offer too when debating which to pick.

Also, you will want to think about how a longer program might cause harm. If a person cannot get time out of work or works freelance, such a long break could mean that they do not have enough money by the end. Such a financial impact could cause a relapse if not handled properly.

As such, try to balance the medical needs of the patient with what they can afford while aiming for the best care possible.

How Much Does it Cost?

The big question when looking at all these issues is a very simple one. How much will the rehab cost?

There may be many different things that feed into this, including what treatments someone gets and for how long. There also might be a patient's special needs that might cost extra money. No matter what the price, you need to know that your friend or family member can afford it.

Talking about money is not always an easy topic. You might need to break through a few social barriers to get them to open up. This is especially true if their substance abuse cost them their financial security.

As well as doing the above, you can also talk to the rehab location. They might have payment plans or other methods to prevent the issue from getting out of control. The last thing that you want is for someone to be in a negative mindset when entering rehab because of financial fears.

What Are Their Rehab Goals?

This can be a very serious conversation that you need to have with the victim. If they are prone to alcohol abuse, for example, they might have different aims than someone who takes illegal drugs. Recovery from substance abuse is not the same for everyone, and it is important to choose a treatment that matches the individual. 

Also, success might look different to every person. If all they want to do is get through a detox period and see how they are afterward, that is a worthy goal. The process for them will look very different from someone who wants to be substance free for a full year, though.

Each different rehab center might be able to handle these goals in different ways. Some only handle detox, while still others can support a full range of results instead.

Talking to the patient about what they want can help to clear this up. They might also want to discuss this with their friends or family to get a good idea of what they can do to regain any trust they have lost. 

What Treatment Works Best for Them?

Look through all the different treatment types with the patient. They are likely to know if something sounds like they will stick to it. Still, if they are new to this you should try to encourage them to try new methods of therapy.

Sometimes, a person will know what is best for their own recovery. This is especially true if someone has been through the process of addiction recovery before. Though you should be careful in case they are making the same mistakes, as they should seek out therapy types that plug up these holes in their process.

Put It All Together

Eventually, you will have to enroll the person in one of the rehab centers. If you still have a large list, though, you might be unsure of which one to pick.

Like with every hard decision, try to make a list of positives and negatives associated with each choice. On top of this, try to follow your gut. If something feels too good to be true or makes you feel uncomfortable, do not be afraid to cut it from the running.

When you have eventually found the perfect place, make sure to check their rules online. It might be that people are not allowed certain personal possessions, or there might be other limitations. You do not want to turn up and have any nasty surprises, you want the experience to be as comfortable as possible.

The Perfect Substance Abuse Recovery Center

We hope that the above information helps you understand what makes a good substance abuse recovery location. Our facilities, for example, fit many of those criteria and might be able to help anyone you know overcome a crippling addiction.

If you have further questions, you should feel comfortable talking to one of our staff. They will be able to resolve any concerns that you might have and offer you options to move forward with. So, fill out our residency application form and let us know more about your situation today.