Choosing Inpatient Drug Detox for Yourself or a Loved One

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, inpatient detox is one of the most effective ways to treat drug addiction. With all of the different inpatient rehabs available it is difficult to choose which one is right for you or your loved one. As with everything, inpatient rehabs have both advantages and disadvantages. Only by looking at these can you make an accurate informed choice about which inpatient rehab is right for you.

What are the Advantages of Inpatient Treatment?

Inpatient treatment has some distinct advantages over other types of treatment. Many of these advantages are unique and only found in during inpatient care. These advantages are:

• 24 hour care during the worst of detox – detoxing is extremely difficult, particularly when you are alone. In inpatient rehab, you are not alone. You have 24 hour care.
• 24 hour counseling – counseling can take place any time of day or night. When symptoms get bad or you are feeling depressed there is always someone to talk to.
• You have a place to stay while you are detoxing – many drug addicts lose their homes due to their drug use. Also many people become drug users because of violence in the home, inpatient detox gives you a place to stay while finding other living arraignments.
• You are away from the temptation of using – you are out of the environment where you would normally do drugs.

What are the Disadvantages of Inpatient Treatment?

There are also disadvantages to inpatient drug detox treatment. These disadvantages are something that you have to consider before entering inpatient treatment.

• Most inpatient treatment lasts 30, 60, or 90 days – this means you are away from your home and family for the length of the treatment.
• You cannot attend school or go to work while in detox – not only are you away from work or school, you sometimes have to explain why you are away. It can cost you your job or your grades in school.
• In some people their family is their major support structure – you are away from your friends, family, and the familiar.
• It is very restrictive – some people do not do well in a restrictive environment. Just the fact that you cannot leave is enough to make some people uneasy.

Some people experience these disadvantages more than others. Inpatient detox is normally an intensive program but it does require you to be isolated.

How to Choose an Inpatient Detox Center?

There are several things that you need to look for when you are trying to choose the best inpatient treatment for you or a loved one. Most people know to look for good reviews and accreditation but you also need to look at:

• The length of the treatment program – every addiction is different. Sometimes treatment happens quickly and others more time is needed to recover completely. Leaving too soon has serious repercussions and can lead to relapse. You need to make sure that the treatment program you choose is long enough for you to recover but not too long.
• The types of treatments available – not all treatments work for everyone. A good inpatient clinic offers a variety of treatments. Some of these treatments are:

o medication assisted treatment,

o medication replacement treatment,

o individual counseling,

o group counseling,

o holistic medicine, and

o alternative treatments.

• The amenities offered – not all inpatient facilities are the same. Many offer different –

A few of these amenities are:

o private rooms,

There are advantages and disadvantages to inpatient treatment.

o private bathrooms,

o herbal medicine,

o pools and aquatics,

o exercise facilities,

o personal trainers,

o gourmet food,

o massage therapists, and

o meditation and guided relaxation.

• The amount of treatment time – some inpatient facilities offer a few sessions a week, while others offer intensive daily treatment. You need to choose the one that is right for you.
• The amount of individual treatment time – individual attention is necessary for many people to recover completely. Some treatment centers have staffing problems that makes individual attention impossible. It is important to ask about individual treatment as well as general treatment.
• The cost – although cost should not be a factor in the availability of treatment, inpatient treatment is very expensive. When you are on a budget treatment cost is a very important factor to look at. Check whether the treatment center:

o offers a payment plan – many treatment centers have payment plans for those that need them.

o have a sliding scale fee – some treatment centers are income based.

o takes insurance – some insurance companies pay for drug treatment. This means that if the treatment center accepts your insurance, they might pay for all or part of your treatment.

o participates in government programs – there are drug rehab programs available. If you need it, it is important to ask if the center works with any of these programs.

• If they cater to your population – many groups have different reqirements when it comes to drug addiction treatment. Women, men, lesbians, gays, and transgender populations all have different treatment needs.
• If they have a good aftercare program – good aftercare can mean the difference between relapse and recovery.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, inpatient treatment is one of the most successful forms of rehab. Finding an inpatient treatment center for you or a loved one can be an extremely difficult choice. We can help with this tough decision by helping you understand all of your options. Call us at 800-430-1407Who Answers?.