Living with a drug or alcohol addiction can seem like a long uphill battle without hope, and it can destroy our lives and the lives of those we love. However, if you have a substance use disorder (SUD), knowing you can receive treatment for it is important.
In fact, many treatment plans are available, and each drug rehab center may offer slightly different services or operational approaches. Understanding what these centers do and how they operate will determine which one a person might need, especially for inpatient rehab.
If you’re considering an inpatient facility for rehabilitation, you may have some questions, and you’ll certainly need to know the basics of what these centers do. This guide will help you better understand all the ins and outs of inpatient drug rehab centers and try to answer some of your questions.
What Is Inpatient Rehab?
Residential treatment programs are among the most popular and comprehensive options for helping people with alcohol or drug addiction. Unlike outpatient programs, inpatient rehab means patients live at the rehab facility during the treatment process, focusing on specialized care customized for each individual.
Benefits of an Inpatient Facility
When someone enrolls in an inpatient rehab program, they begin a comprehensive recovery process. Residential treatment centers provide 24/7 care and assistance from trained medical professionals. An additional feature of enrolling in an inpatient facility for treatment is the mutual accountability and emotional support that comes from others who are also on their recovery journey in a sober living environment.
The entire process for patients results in supervision, care, and structure, leading people on the road to recovery while fostering an atmosphere of relapse prevention. The design of residential treatment programs builds a foundation to give people their lives back in a safe and caring way.
Things to Consider When Choosing an Inpatient Drug Rehab Facility
There are many things to consider when it comes to choosing the right addiction treatment center for inpatient rehab treatment. Here are some of the important things to keep in mind:
What the Facility Specializes In
Most facilities will offer the same treatment options, but that doesn’t mean each facility is the same. Often, a facility has one or two specialties that set them apart from other options. Some examples of specialties include the treatment of the following:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Co-occurring disorders
- Alcohol treatment
- Drug addiction
- Mental health disorders
The Facility’s Treatment Philosophy
It is important to choose a facility that takes a comprehensive approach to help patients overcome addiction by cultivating personal skills such as integrity, teamwork, education, and personal growth. A good treatment philosophy will help you build a strong foundation that empowers you to thrive after you complete your treatment.
Therapies Offered
Most treatment offerings for drug and alcohol rehab facilities will include various kinds of therapies, such as:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- 12-step programs
- Dual-diagnosis treatment
- Group therapy
- Holistic therapy
Facilities will evaluate your needs and determine the best therapy or combination of multiple therapies to help you. However, it is also helpful to research or ask each facility what it offers to determine if it is right for you. Part of the huge benefit of inpatient rehab is the fact that your 24/7 care allows medical professionals to evaluate your unique situation, prescribe a treatment plan, and adjust it along the way to ensure you the best pathway to recovery.
Typical Day at an Inpatient Rehab
Completing detox is foundational to the entire rehab process. During this process, patients can be helped with any psychological symptoms or mental health disorders that may co-occur with detoxing. The 24-hour care provided during inpatient rehab protects each person from the side effects and withdrawal symptoms that may occur during the detox process.
When patients reside at the rehab facility, they have access to three meals every day during structured times, which helps to establish a routine and repair their bodies’ clocks. This can also serve as part of the treatment method for people who experience eating or sleeping disorders.
Each day’s itinerary will often include group therapy and one-to-one therapy meetings to discuss their addiction, ongoing treatments, and recovery progress. While being away from the normal daily environment and surrounded by a professional and emotional support system, patients can make progress.
Most often, inpatient rehab lasts 30 days. However, since each treatment plan is unique to everyone’s recovery needs and the possibility of co-occurring mental health conditions, it is common for inpatient treatment programs to last beyond 30 days.
Licensing, Accreditation, and Leadership Team
It is important to spend some time looking into the kind of licensing and accreditation a treatment facility has. You can usually find this information on a facility’s website. Still, the organization’s consultants can also answer these questions, including those you may have about the team of professionals responsible for your care.
Payment Options for Inpatient Drug Rehab
Paying for inpatient drug rehab can often seem like the most stressful part of the process, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s important to know which options are available to you and which is best.
Will My Insurance Pay for Inpatient Drug Rehab?
The easiest way to confirm whether your insurance company will cover inpatient treatment is by reaching out to them on their website or by calling them. It can be helpful to reach out to the professionals at a recovery center who can help you work through the stipulations of your insurance coverage.
Private Pay
Insurance coverage is not the only way to pay for treatments at a recovery center. In fact, there may be times when insurance coverage pays for only a portion of the treatment plan. A private pay option is one way to supplement insurance coverage. If you are considering this option, consultants can assist you in deciding if private pay is the best option for your unique needs.
Financing Options
It can be devastating to learn your insurance will only cover some of the costs associated with undergoing a medical detox, or worse, if you want to enroll in a residential treatment plan but lack the insurance or personal funds to pay for treatment. Many treatment facilities have partnerships with loan financing companies, or they can point you in the right direction to get the financial help you need to undergo treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Do I Know If I’m Qualified?
Your personal healthcare provider will often refer you to a treatment facility for a consultation to begin the qualification process. However, it is also common for people to refer themselves (self-referral) to a treatment facility. Once you schedule a consultation, a professional can walk you through the process.
Who Arranges My Transportation?
Transportation will vary, depending on how far away the facility is from your residence. You can do your research to arrange things like airline tickets and hotel reservations, but many facilities provide information on the best travel options in the nearby area. It is always good to ask about transportation, as some facilities offer complimentary transportation to and from local airports.
What Is the Inpatient Rehab Admissions Process Like?
After choosing your facility, entering an inpatient rehab facility is as simple as reaching out to the admissions office and scheduling your first day of inpatient therapy. If applicable, be sure to coordinate time off work and your personal responsibilities with family and friends. Regardless of the facility you choose, staff members are available to help you and answer questions you might have about the admissions process.
Sources
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Substance Use and Co-Occurring Mental Disorders. Retrieved https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/substance-use-and-mental-health#:~:text=Health%20Topics%20webpages.-,Finding%20help,your%20ZIP%20code%20to%20435748.
National Institute of Health. (2015 June). Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Programs: Assessing the Evidence. Retrieved https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4152944/
Harvard Health Publishing. (2019 June 2019). Treating opiate addiction, Part I: Detoxification and maintenance. Retrieved https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/treating-opiate-addiction-part-i-detoxification-and-maintenance
National Library of Medicine. (2009). Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings. Retrieved https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310652/
National Library of Medicine. (2006 February). Rates and predictors of relapse after natural and treated remission from alcohol use disorders. Retrieved https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1976118/