Treatment Center

Treatment Center

Substance abuse and addictions bring about immense pain and risk to the suffering individuals, their families, and the local and national communities. The total economic cost of alcohol and drug abuse is over $245.7 billion.* Even more disturbing to individuals are the personal relationships and families that are so often destroyed by substance abuse, addictions, eating disorders, depression, and other mental disorders, not to mention the physical devastation caused to self and others.

Because addictions and other disorders are chronic and progressive, intervention and treatment is essential. Twelve-Step meetings, counseling, and outpatient programs can be very beneficial and effective for some individuals. An inpatient experience at a treatment center holds many advantages, however, as it allows one the opportunity to work on his or her personal issues for a significant amount of time without the distractions or interruptions of daily life.

By immersing one's self in treatment for 28 days or more, one is able to look at all the facets of life, get to the roots of issues, evaluate relationships and patterns of living, and reprioritize and restructure his or her life to begin a healthier, more fulfilling future. It is a time of total honesty with one's self in a supportive, nurturing, and healing environment. Medical care is available, if needed, in a hospital environment, and the family can also begin to heal with therapy from a family program.

What to Look For in a Treatment Center
Consider the following criteria when evaluating a treatment center.

1. Is there a specific program for my need? Can this treatment center treat coexisting disorders?
   Most treatment centers treat substance addictions, but not all are equipped to simultaneously treat mental health disorders such as depression, grief/loss, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual addiction/compulsivity, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or bipolar disorder. A select few treatment centers are skilled and qualified to provide a variety of specific programs as well as advanced medical, psychiatric, and psychological treatment of concurrent diagnoses.
   
   
2. What is the treatment philosophy?
   The treatment philosophy should be broad enough to address the reasons that people used drugs or addictive behaviors in the first place. For example, the Sierra Model®, used at Sierra Tucson, recognizes that we all exist as mind, body, spirit, and emotions and is designed to treat the whole person. Individualized treatment addresses both causes and symptoms, thereby assuring the greatest possible chance for long-term recovery.
   
   
3. What types of therapies are provided?
   A progressive approach applies traditional and complementary therapies to help address defenses that might otherwise block recovery. Traditional 12-step, group, experiential, and cognitive/behavioral therapies integrated with psychodynamic role-playing, equine-assisted therapy, acupuncture, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), yoga, creative expression, and adventure therapies provide a diverse and effective treatment experience. Pharmacotherapy (prescription medications used in therapy) can greatly improve treatment outcomes for many.
   
   
4. Is a family program available?
   A family program offers family members and significant others an opportunity to focus on their own issues as they relate to the primary patient’s dysfunction. Some treatment centers have children’s and/or teens’ programs that use age-appropriate activities to help young people set healthy boundaries and deal with anger, shame, resentment, and forgiveness. This can produce the extraordinary reward of breaking the generational cycle of family dysfunction and addiction. Referrals and recommendations should also be offered as support to family members.
   
   
5. Will the patient leave with a clearly mapped out aftercare plan for relapse prevention?
   A written, specific aftercare plan will help the patient maintain sobriety and recovery. A continuing care plan that is developed by the patient and the treatment team, with input from the referring professional and family members, will allow for a smoother transition to the next phase of recovery and prepare the patient to handle difficulties in everyday life. Staff follow-up with alumni can help keep them on track and provide additional resources, and alumni activities indicate a commitment to the patients.
   
   
6. What are the staff’s credentials?
   Look for experienced professionals including medical doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, master-level therapists, certified addiction counselors, registered nurses, nutritionists, and fitness specialists. It can be helpful if some staff have walked the path of recovery themselves. Those who know first-hand about the painful process of recovery know how important it is to create a safe place in which patients can open up and confront fears and hopes with absolute confidence.
   
   
7. Is there a reasonable ratio of counselors to patients?
   The actual number of certified counselors working with patients is an indication of the facility’s commitment to high-quality care. Easy access to a counselor can be very important during inpatient treatment.
   
   
8. What type of licensure and accreditation does the treatment center hold?
   Most treatment centers are licensed by their respective states, but it is worthwhile to identify the specific license(s) held. A special psychiatric hospital must pass more rigorous standards than a residential center, for example. Ideally, a treatment center that is also licensed as a special psychiatric hospital is qualified to treat a wider range of diagnoses with medical services and high-quality patient care. Accreditation by The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) provides additional assurance that a treatment center is capable of delivering quality treatment.