Choosing an Alcohol Treatment Program
Deciding which alcohol treatment program is best for you or your loved one can be a difficult, taxing process. There are many important factors and considerations that one may face. According to the SAMHSA (the federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) there are 12 questions people should consider when selecting an alcohol treatment program:
- Does the program accept your insurance, and if not, will they work out an affordable payment plan?
- Is the program run by trained professionals who are state-accredited or licensed?
- Is the facility clean, organized, and run well?
- Does the program cover the full range of individual needs from medical through vocational and legal?
- Does the program address sexual orientation and disabilities, and provide age, gender, and culturally appropriate treatment services?
- Is long-term aftercare encouraged, provided, and maintained?
- Is the treatment plan continuously assessed to ensure it meets changing needs?
- Are there strategies to engage and keep the individual in longer-term treatment, which increases the chance of success?
- Are there counseling and other behavioral therapies that enhance the ability to function in the family and community?
- Is medication, if appropriate, part of the treatment?
- Is there ongoing monitoring of possible relapse to help the person return to abstinence?
- Are there services or referrals offered to family members to ensure they understand the process and support the individual in recovery
www.samhsa.gov
It’s clear that there are many important factors involved in the difficult choice of selecting an alcohol treatment program, but once an individual commits to a program, their chances of recovery improve drastically.