When someone is in need of addiction treatment, many questions can arise.
What’s the right place?
Will my insurance pay for addiction treatment?
How long does it take to be admitted?
How do I get my loved one to agree to go to rehab?”
All of these are valid questions and have been asked many times before.
Actively searching for a drug and alcohol addiction treatment facility can be a daunting task on your own, especially if you have no experience doing so. With one Google search, you can find hundreds of possibilities, and while that seems great at first, it can be very overwhelming. Therefore, we would like to give a step-by-step manual on addiction treatment, how to find the right facility, what the admissions process looks like, and what to expect.
What If My Loved One Is Not Willing To Go To Drug Treatment?
Firs
t, seek out the help of an Addictions Specialist and/or Interventionist. Attempting to approach your loved one alone is not necessarily the best idea, and can be detrimental to your overall goal. Often times, when confronting them about their drug or alcohol problem, the situation can become argumentative and unreceptive. Having a third-party present, who is experienced and trained in the field of Drug & Alcohol, could lessen the chance of a negative outcome or confrontation.
Staging an intervention requires some planning. There are various elements to consider, such as who will be present, the timing of the intervention, and what your plan will be if you are met with resistance. These considerations should all be discussed with a professional beforehand, thus to increase your chances of having a successful intervention.
Furthermore, it is important to remember, forcing someone to enter addiction treatment does not usually go over well. Alcoholics and addicts need to be ready and willing to make that step if the goal is to achieve a lasting recovery. Nevertheless, do not give up hope. Even if you are met with resistance and refusal at first, the seed has been planted. Your loved one now knows they have a place to turn when they are ready to receive help.
How Do I Choose The Correct Addiction Treatment Center?
There is not necessarily a right or wrong way to choose a facility, but you should have some things in mind when deciding. Questions you will want to ask yourself when actively researching include, but are not limited to:
- What is the center’s treatment modality/philosophy: Do they believe in medication-based treatment, abstinence-based treatment, 12-step model, etc.? Will they address underlying issues such as trauma and/or mental health?
- Is the center licensed and accredited? What licenses do they hold?
- Do they have medical staff present to address the detoxification process and/or health issues?
- Do they have a waiting list?
- What is the length of stay for the average patient?
- Where are they located?
- Do they work with insurance policies or provide other options for payment?
You should also inquire with your healthcare provider as to what addiction treatment facilities are covered under your plan. This not only gives you an idea as where to start, but it may also narrow the search from 100 different options to 5 very specific selections.
What If I Don’t Have Insurance?
Many times the question is asked, “What if I don’t have insurance, can I still go to rehab?” There are several different options available to enter treatment if you are uninsured. The first would be to pay on a private pay or out-of-pocket basis. Many addiction treatment facilities have a standard self-pay option available and sometimes are able to adjust that number on a sliding-scale depending upon your finances and circumstances.
If the self-pay option is not a possibility, due to lack of funds, do not be discouraged. You may qualify for health insurance provided by the state, or commonly known as Obama-care plans. If for some reason, you do not qualify or the process of enrollment is taking longer than you would prefer, a third option is available. Each county within each state is generally allotted funds every fiscal year, intended specifically for drug and alcohol treatment. This is often known as “County Funding.” Below we have provided links to state and county offices for drug & alcohol treatment.
Pennsylvania
https://www.compass.state.pa.us/Compass.Web/public/cmphome
http://www.luzernecounty.org/county/departments_agencies/human_services/drug-and-alcohol-program
http://www.northamptoncounty.org/northampton/cwp/view.asp?Q=620637
http://www.dauphincounty.org/government/Human-Services/drug-and-alcohol-services/Pages/default.aspx
New Jersey
http://www.njfamilycare.org/default.aspx
http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmhas/resources/services/treatment/addictions.html
New York
https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/
https://www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-details/1637
How Does The Admissions Process Work?
After having an intervention, speaking with your healthcare provider, and deciding upon a facility, you want to begin the admissions process. You should know, if you are calling on behalf of a loved one who is over the age of 18, the Admissions Specialist assisting you will only be able to gather a small portion of information from you. In order to be most effective, the facility needs to collect the majority of information from the individual in need of care. You may be wondering, what questions will be asked and what information should you have in front of you at the time of your call.
The questions asked by each addiction treatment center may differ in some regard, but some standard inquiries will include:
- Name, Date of Birth, Address, Phone Number, Social Security Number
- Emergency Contact information and relationship
- Insurance information
- Substance(s) used, quantity/amount/dosage used, duration of use
- Is there prior treatment history
- Are there any mental health diagnoses
- Are there any health concerns the facility should be aware of, especially in the case that it may affect the person’s ability to participate in treatment program(s)
The Addiction Treatment Process
While every addiction treatment center may have different programs in place and operate on different modalities and/or philosophies, they all have one common goal; to help the individual achieve sobriety and give them the tools to maintain a life free from chains of addiction.
Clearbrook Treatment Centers, for instance, has the mindset that addiction and alcoholism is a disease, and needs to be treated as such. With their philosophy of “Patients Come First”, they are able to effectively treat each patient on an individual basis, offering customized detox protocols, treatment plans and aftercare programs.
When a patient first arrives at Clearbrook’s addiction treatment facility, they are greeted by someone in the Admissions Department. At that time, they will go over all initial paperwork and sign any forms and releases needed for their stay. Once they have completed this first step, the patient will then meet with someone from the medical staff. Upon a full assessment, the medical team will determine proper detoxification protocols, which may include medication to ease withdrawal symptoms. Furthermore, the patient will be evaluated for any other medical conditions and the staff will take necessary steps to care for any conditions that may arise during their stay.
While the patient is meeting with the medical staff during admission, the family members will be greeted by a Family Counselor, who will discuss the facility’s treatment program, the Family Educational Weekend Program and answer any questions loved ones may have. It is important for the families to know and understand that support is available for them as well and attendance at support groups and family weekends is strongly encouraged.
Once the detoxification process is complete, the patient will begin participating in the addiction treatment program. Depending upon the schedule, each day will incorporate an array of different therapies, such as individual sessions, group therapy, relapse prevention and family education. If there are underlying issues of mental health or trauma, the patient will be evaluated by the facility’s psychologist, when appropriate.
What Happens After Addiction Treatment?
Thi
s portion of treatment is essential for continued sobriety. The clinical team at Clearbrook will work closely with the patient, family, other additional support and the Aftercare Coordinator, to design a customized continued care plan. Recovery is a life-long process and while inpatient treatment is the necessary first step into achieving that, 28 days of care is simply not enough. Thus, treatment providers such as Clearbrook, will recommend plans that best support recovery and a healthy lifestyle.
As each patient comes to treatment with an individual story, background and circumstances, their aftercare plan will be designed to best suit their needs. Clearbrook Treatment Centers has worked closely with several other treatment providers, county offices, EAP’s and judicial systems to effectively treat each patient and offer continued care plans that support lasting sobriety.
Additionally, every patient will be provided with 12-step meeting lists, alumni group schedules and a “Contact Person”. A Contact Person is someone who is actively engaged in the local 12-step community that is willing to meet the patient at a meeting and introduce them to other recovering people. Many addiction treatment centers believe in maintaining strong relationships with their alumni. Clearbrook, for instance, puts on annual alumni events, such as a Christmas party and summer picnic. They also welcome alumni to visit year round and attend open AA meetings at their facility.
Contact Clearbrook For Addiction Treatment Today
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, help is available. For more than 40 years, Clearbrook Treatment Centers have been effectively treating alcoholism and chemical dependency. We understand how difficult it can be to initially ask for help, but we also know that getting help is worth it. If you are ready to make a change, contact our Admissions Specialists today, and begin your road to recovery. They are available 24 hours a day and we accept several health insurance plans. Click Here for a list of insurance providers accepted.
