How to Choose an Alcohol Treatment Center

When a loved one suffers from an alcohol addiction so severe that it warrants care in a residential facility, the task of choosing one can be overwhelming. If you’re the one making the decision, take your time and do a little research. Choosing the wrong alcohol treatment center can increase the patient’s risk of relapse. Thankfully, there are questions you can ask that will help you make an informed decision.

Instructions

• 1

  Locate all the available alcohol treatment centers in your vicinity by contacting the U.S. Department of Health. They will have access to every certified treatment center in your state.

• 2

  Call each potential rehab center and them questions that will reveal which facility is the correct one for your loved one.

• 3

  Question a counselor or representative about the facility’s typical patient. Recovery is more likely if your loved one feels accepted in the center. Ask what the average gender and age of their typical patient is and inquire as to how many patients finish the program.

• 4

  Find out what the relapse rate is for their patients who complete the program. In addition, ask about accreditation and the qualifications of the staff. You will also need to know how the staff deals with violent patients and how many violent incidents occurred in the last six months. The level of violence often relates to lack of control by the staff or untrained staff.

• 5

  Determine what philosophy the rehab center uses to treat alcoholism. Treatment approaches vary greatly from center to center. Some centers base their program on a spiritual understanding while others are secular and work with the patient through other means. Choose a center with a philosophy that suits your loved one.

• 6

  Talk about your loved one’s situation and ask what a hypothetical treatment plan for someone like him would be. Get specifics. If the counselor claims she can’t discuss that without knowing your loved one, clarify that you’re asking a hypothetical question. You just want to know the typical treatment for a person who has similar symptoms. Be wary of centers that are not eager to discuss their plans.

• 7

  Ask the financial questions that weigh so heavily on everyone’s mind. Many centers receive government funds or private donations and seek to provide treatment to everyone, regardless of the ability to pay but others are very expensive and if your insurance will not cover the cost, you might end up footing the bill. Request a financial aid application package to you so you can study it in depth.