What To Expect At A Drug Treatment Facility

Alcohol or Drug Addiction

If you are struggling with a drug or alcohol problem, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to seek drug treatment and counseling. This is because drug and alcohol addiction is a disease and needs to be treated like a disease, with the proper treatment and therapy. However, one of the biggest problems with drug or alcohol addiction is that the majority of those afflicted by this condition rarely seek the treatment they need to recover. Without the proper treatment and medication, drug addiction will simply not go away on its own, and will just get worse over time. If you are thinking about seeking treatment at a drug rehabilitation clinic then you at least recognize that you may have a problem, which is the first and most important step at beating an addiction.

What to Expect at a Drug Treatment Facility

If you are considering seeking treatment at a drug rehabilitation facility it may be helpful to better understand what to expect during your treatment. If you have never been to a residential drug treatment facility before you may have some common misconceptions about what exactly takes place during your rehabilitation. First of all, most rehab facilities are not built on a punishment and discipline model, and instead emphasize care and recovery. They do monitor you to make sure you are staying substance free, but they do not physically punish you or belittle you if you relapse. However, they may kick you out of the program if you are repeatedly breaking their rules on drugs or alcohol during treatment.

Secondly, there are no locks on any of the doors and you are free to leave any time you want. You are not forced to stay there, and even if you are adjudicated by your court to enter the rehab program, you can still walk out anytime you want. However, there may be legal consequences for leaving the program, if you were assigned to go to rehab as a court order.

When You First Arrive

When you first arrive at a drug treatment center you will go through a lengthy admission interview. Here you and a highly skilled therapist will rigorously go through your past addiction and mental health history to better lay out the best course of treatment. After your interview you will probably receive an orientation packet that will explain to you your rights as a patient, what’s expected of you, a schedule of activities, insurance details, as well as the drug rehab center’s history and goals. You will then be directed to your living quarters and begin treatment.

Treatment Options Available

Once you are settled you will immediately begin some sort of drug detox program. Once your body has been fully detoxed you begin various counseling, addiction education, and group therapy treatments. Most inpatient treatment facilities can last anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months depending on the severity of your addiction. Once you have completed your treatment you may enter some type of sober living post treatment phase where you will live in a controlled environment until you are ready to return to your normal life drug and alcohol free.