Monday, November 16, 2009

Do Not Waste Your Time In The Wrong Drug Rehab Center

By Bertha Dunlap

Are you trying to learn more about how to select a drug rehab facility? If so, you are probably confused by all of the choices out there. However, in the end you need to avoid the commercials and slick internet and phone book ads. Instead seek the recommendation of a trusted professional who can refer you to a drug rehab facility.

The best drug treatment centers are properly accredited and use a traditional approach to therapy. Take a few minutes to read this article and learn how each of these factors can "make or break" your efforts to get clean and sober for life.

Do not become discouraged by the overwhelming number of options available for substance abuse treatment. You can avoid a lot of confusion by ignoring the slick internet and telephone ads as well as the television ads.

Instead, visit with your mental health or medical adviser to get a recommendation that is motivated by something other than financial gain. But, do not stop there. You need to make sure that your candidates are properly accredited as well.

Drug rehab facilities typically need to be accredited to be considered as a serious contender for drug treatment. There are two major accrediting agencies. The first, and most common, is the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Case Organizations (JCAHCO). The second agency is the Commission on Accreditation Of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

Of course, having both accreditations is best. Once you have narrowed your choices to several accredited substance abuse facilities, you can refine your search even further by using the internet to examine their approach to therapy and aftercare.

Typically, there are three phases to the standard drug treatment program. These include: detox, therapy and aftercare. While the detox portion of the program is pretty much the same, the approach to therapy follows two types of treatment.

The approaches to therapy and aftercare typically either follow the traditional "12 step model" made popular by Alcoholics Anonymous or an "alternative" 12 step model. You should opt for the traditional 12 step model as it has been shown to be the most successful across a broad demographic of people.

Now that you have learned more about how to evaluate a drug rehab facility, you are in a position to make an informed decision. Remember to get the referral of a professional for an accredited drug rehab facility.

Evaluate the drug treatment center's approach to therapy and aftercare. Be careful to select a facility that follows the traditional 12 step model, unless you have a good reason to select an alternative. With this additional information, you really are out of excuses to get up and get clean. So, do it.

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