When someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol is ready for treatment it can be challenging to decide what type of program would be best. There are a variety of options, ranging from inpatient care to outpatient programs and sober living. The good news is that most reputable recovery centers can help patients and their families make the right decision. But what are the options? Here’s a breakdown of program types and how the process works.
When evaluating what level of care is right, the first thing a program should do is an assessment. According to Kelley Story, clinical director at Crestview Recovery Center, this evaluation should look at the following criteria to determine the best level of care:
- Withdrawal potential.
- Biomedical conditions and complications.
- Emotional, behavioral or cognitive conditions and complications.
- Readiness to change.
- Relapse, continued use or continued problem potential.
- Recovering/living environment.
“You want to make sure people at the program talk to the family during the assessment,” Story says. “Family members are going to have a different view of things than the client. Then they’ll gather collateral information from other programs and providers in the client’s life so they get a full holistic picture of the person they’ll be treating before they make the recommendation.”
The plan will include one or more of the following levels of care:
Hospital or medically managed inpatient services. This involves 24-hour nursing care and access to medical staff and counseling. It is also known as inpatient or residential care. This is best for someone who needs several weeks of help to overcome addiction and/or mental health issues.
Clinically managed residential services. These services include 24-hour living support and a structured plan with trained personnel. It’s also known as a partial-hospitalization program or PHP. This allows patients to receive the support they need to function without a hospital stay.
Intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization. This provides the patient with between nine and 20 hours of services at a facility each week and allows the patient to return home during nontreatment hours. This is also known as an intensive outpatient program or IOP. It’s best for a patient who needs counselors and groups for several hours each day.
Outpatient services. With this level of care, adult patients receive less than nine hours of services per week and patients are allowed to return home during nontreatment hours. This allows patients to live at home and work while being in a program.
Regardless of the level of care that is chosen, Story says it’s important that the provider have a multidisciplinary approach that includes licensed and certified drug and alcohol counselors as well as medical support personnel, mental health staff, psychiatric support and providers who specialize in substance abuse. And look for some providers to have lived experiences so they can be role models for the patient’s recovery.
What should you look for beyond that? Story recommends asking questions like the following:
- How much is the family involved?
- What are the staff’s qualifications?
- What does a typical day look like?
- How are medical issues handled?
- How are emergencies handled?
- What will the family be contacted about?
Story says it’s important how they respond to these questions but it’s also important to find a place that is willing to provide transparency. If a treatment center isn’t willing to give you a tour or make time to answer your questions then you probably want to find another center.
When you are ready to get treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction, you want to go to a facility that offers a diverse array of addiction treatment programs so your addiction can be treated comprehensively. There’s no one-size-fits-all addiction treatment program for those struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction.
“I think bottom line is that every program should be clean,” Story says. “It should be well organized and professional. The food should be nutritious and offer a well-balanced diet. When you are ready to get treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction, you want to go to a facility that offers a diverse array of addiction treatment programs so your addiction can be treated comprehensively. There’s no one-size-fits-all addiction treatment program for those struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction.
Crestview Recovery is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Portland, Oregon. Our caring and understanding staff members are among the most experienced in the field. Crestview Recovery makes it easy to get help through this unique contact form.