Finding the Best Inpatient Drug Treatment Program
Finding the best inpatient drug treatment program depends on many different factors. When you are looking for a program specifically catered to your needs, you should consider all of those which may be affected by your treatment and pursue those programs which meet the most important of those needs.
Finding the best program for inpatient drug treatment usually isn’t easy but if you ask other individuals for help and don’t mind doing a little research, you can find a facility that fits your needs the best, which will be especially beneficial to your overall recovery.
How Do I Find the Right Inpatient Drug Treatment Program?
Consider Your Needs
The first thing you should do before looking up any inpatient facilities or programs is know your needs and which specifically must be met so that you can successfully begin to recover from your drug addiction. According to the NIDA, “To be effective, treatment must address the individual’s drug abuse and any associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal problems.” But this is not all. The patient’s
- Age
- Gender
- Ethnicity
- Culture
also must be taken into account in order to set up the right treatment plan. As an individual, you should also consider your needs that may arise from your decision to attend inpatient treatment like
- Child care
- Home care
- Proximity to your home
- Visiting rights and hours for friends and family
If there is any need or specific requirement you have that you think might affect your treatment, make sure to list it. Then when you are considering facilities, choose one that meets all of your most important needs. For example, if you feel most comfortable speaking Spanish and the facility you choose only has English-speaking caregivers, this might not be the ideal program and facility for you. Make sure you take everything into account so that you can feel comfortable and well taken care of when you attend your inpatient treatment program.
Calculating Cost
One of your most important needs will be finding a program you can afford. It is best not to spend more money than you are comfortable with on an inpatient treatment program, as many individuals who have struggled with drug addiction are already in financial debt. But calculating the specific cost that you are able to afford and looking for facilities that meet this requirement can give you a more comfortable experience in treatment.
SAMHSA states that some “inpatient service providers” are part of the “essential benefits” which are now covered under the recent Affordable Care Act. This means that some individuals who otherwise might not have been able to afford inpatient care can through their insurance. There are also even free or extremely low-cost inpatient programs that individuals who cannot afford expensive treatment but need inpatient treatment can attend. Finding these facilities can be difficult but worth the extra work. Remember that a program that fits your budget is just as essential as one that fits your treatment needs.
Asking for Help
After you know what type of program will be necessary, enlisting the help of others can be extremely beneficial and important toward finding a facility that will be ideal for you. Some individuals consult their personal physicians about nearby inpatient facilities that have programs which may fit them. This can work because, often, your own physician will know your needs, medical history, and other important information that could determine which type of facility you might need.
Other individuals to ask about inpatient drug treatment programs are:
- Doctors and nurses at a clinic
- If you don’t want to consult or cannot consult your personal physician, doctors and nurses at local clinics often get asked about this type of treatment and where a person could go to find it. They often have pamphlets and information about local treatment programs in the area.
- Sponsors at Mutual-help Group Meetings
- If you attend a Narcotics Anonymous or another type of meeting either in a community center, church, or another facility, sponsors and other group members can often have information about the treatment programs they used or they know of. There are usually meetings of this sort every day somewhere in your area.
- Local Government Workers
- Many times, there are government-run inpatient facilities that provide less expensive treatment programs to individuals with lower incomes. Someone at your local government office might be able to help you with finding these facilities or could direct you to someone who can.
- Your friends and family
- They may not necessarily know of a facility, but they can help you research, visit, and learn more about specific places you are considering. They can also provide comfort during the difficult process of finding one of these programs.
Check Internet Databases
There are many Internet databases that list inpatient treatment facilities by proximity, available treatment types, specific patient requirements, etc. Because there are so many types of inpatient treatment programs catered to certain individuals and their needs, you may want to search for a facility that is specifically geared to you. Some facilities create programs specifically for women, teens, etc.
SAMHSA‘s treatment locator is one such database that can provide this type of specialized look at the treatment programs available at certain facilities. You can check many databases like this online and compare the treatments provided from each facility to the other by visiting the specific facility’s website or the center itself. Although this takes a bit more research, this is one of the best ways to find the inpatient drug treatment program that fits you.
What is the Best Inpatient Drug Treatment Program?
The best program is the one that caters to all of your needs, makes you feel comfortable, and facilitates your recovery in a healthy, beneficial way. If your needs are not being met or you are worried about other aspects of your life that you have left behind, it will be much harder for you to work on your recovery. That’s why, using all the ways listed above, you should search for a program that takes all of your most important needs into account.