Overcoming Challenges of Inpatient Drug Rehab

Once you decide that you need inpatient drug rehab in order to recover from your addiction, you may realize that there are many challenges involved in finding and attending inpatient rehab. However, if it is the best decision for you, there are ways in which you can overcome the challenges of this particular treatment type.

Every type of treatment will raise challenges with which, as a patient, you will need to cope. But if your addiction experience includes issues like a need for 24-hour care, little to no social support system, debilitating mental disorders aside from addiction, and/or the necessity of being somewhere safer or more controlled while going through recovery, then it may be extremely necessary for you to attend inpatient drug rehab.

Cost

One of the first challenges you may need to overcome in order to attend inpatient drug rehab is the cost. In many instances, the cost of inpatient treatment can be rather high. According to the NIDA, outpatient treatment “costs less than residential or inpatient treatment,” but it is also “more suitable for people with jobs or extensive social supports,” which many individuals who attend inpatient treatment do not have. Inpatient treatment also provides better assistance to those who need intensive care whereas some outpatient programs “may offer little more than drug education.”

There are many facilities that actually provide low-cost and even free inpatient treatment to individuals who need it. These facilities usually base payment assistance and acceptance on income and other factors. SAMHSA states that, among facilities in the United States, only 23.7% offer no payment assistance whatsoever. This means that the higher percentage of facilities, inpatient included, will provide some assistance when it comes to payment. This can help you attend an inpatient facility when money may otherwise be an issue.

Finding a Facility

Finding a facility, and especially the right facility, can also be a challenge. But websites like Inpatientdrugrehabcenters.com can help. Starting with your state, you can search for inpatient drug rehab centers in your area and find ones that are close by and provide the type of treatment you need. There is also information giving the facility’s mapped location, address, and phone number so that you can get in touch with them before you decide to attend.

This information can help you decide whether or not a facility is right for you. When you call or make a visit to the inpatient center of your choice, you can ask questions about their policies including payment, treatment, and patient care. If there are any specific treatments you are hoping to receive or needs of yours that should be met, you can find out if the facility itself will be able to provide these services and be a good fit before attending.

Websites like Inpatientdrugrehabcenters.com allow patients to find many inpatient facilities in their area so that they are not choosing one particular treatment program but the right kind of program for them specifically.

Time Away from Loved Ones

Being away from your loved ones is difficult but sometimes necessary during substance abuse treatment. However, with inpatient care, it can be a problem for many patients. Someone who needs inpatient treatment may refuse to attend it because they don’t want to be away from those they care about.

It is important for the individual to still feel connected to those important in their life, should they need to attend inpatient treatment. While it can be hard, regular visits from friends and family can make inpatient treatment much easier. It gives the individual something to look forward to as well as a reminder of why they decided to seek help for their substance abuse in the first place.

Also, in certain cases, exceptions can be made. Specifically in the case of mothers of young children, it can be very difficult to attend inpatient rehab even when necessary. That is why some facilities actually allow mothers to bring their children with them. This way, they are able to receive the treatment they need while also being able to continue bonding with their very young children.

Unease with a Facility

Discuss your anxieties with the medical staff.

There are some individuals who experience unease with their particular inpatient facility: they either did not visit beforehand to realize it would be uncomfortable, only realized their discomfort after they began their stay, or another reason is making it difficult for them to stay on at the facility. This can be dealt with in one of two ways.

The patient should discuss their unease with their doctor, nurse, counselor, or another caregiver. This is an important way to start because there may be something they can do to make you feel more at ease in the facility. If there is still nothing that can be done, you may need to be moved to a different inpatient center. According to the NIDA, “An individual’s treatment and services plan must be assessed continually,” and if something about it isn’t working, a change needs to be made, especially since the individual lives at the facility for a prolonged amount of time.

Transitioning Back to Life Outside the Facility

Once you finish with inpatient treatment, it can be extremely difficult to transition to life outside the facility. This is why aftercare can be necessary for many individuals. According to the NCBI, “Preventing relapse among treated abusers is the primary goal of aftercare.” There are many different aftercare programs that an individual could possibly attend after inpatient treatment including

• Support groups
• Halfway houses
• Sober living houses
• Outpatient facilities
• Individualized drug counseling

These different treatments vary in their intensity and their goals, but helping patients transition back to their lives are key elements of each one. An individual who has been in inpatient care for a long time may need aftercare in order to transition more smoothly.

However, some individuals just need caring friends and family members to help them through the changes and remove as many triggers as possible from their home and lives before they return to them. Some former patients may need both. Either way, these solutions are very beneficial in helping a patient overcome this challenge of inpatient drug rehab.