Five Questions to Ask When Seeking Treatment for a Substance-Use Disorder

15 Feb, 2022
physician noting down symptoms of a patient

If you have decided to seek professional help and treatment for substance use, this means that you have overcome the greatest barrier to sobriety—denialism. But when it comes to how to choose the best treatment plan for your own condition, there can be more challenges ahead. If you choose a treatment center that best fits your needs, then you have a better chance to achieve long-term recovery.

The difficulty of choosing a treatment plan also lies in the fact that there are many options these days. You need to have a certain level of knowledge about the recovery field in order to compare available services out there. Certain programs may just focus on one or two aspects of recovery, while others offer a wide range of services. You should also consider whether to use short-term or longer-term care.

Question #1: Do They Offer Multiple Treatment Options To Help Fit Different Needs?

A comprehensive approach to recovery from addiction often involves a combination of treatment options. Not every treatment options are not a one-size-fits-all, they are a journey and a process where the client needs to find what fits for them.

A professional staff with addiction recovery and medical experience can help you create a treatment plan that works for you. Having multiple options like therapy, medically-assisted treatment, inpatient care, outpatient programs, and more working together helps ensure that you’ll maintain your sobriety.

Question #2: Do Their Programs Address Trauma and Mental Health Needs?

It is common for people who have substance use disorder to develop co-occurring mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other conditions. A holistic approach to recovery means addressing both the body and the mind. Both physical and mental conditions need to be treated at the same time.

Most treatment centers now offer mental or behavioral health therapies alongside medically-assisted detox. But you still need to find out if they have trained staff, such as professional counselors and therapists. If you have been struggling with traumatic events in life that affect your emotional and mental health, you should look into if there are any trauma-informed programs.

Question #3: Do They Provide Group Therapy?

Recovering individuals need a strong support system to achieve sustainable, long-term wellness. Group therapy is an essential part of a recovery-supportive ecosystem. You need to know that this is not a battle you win on your own. The more connected you are to a recovery community, the more likely you are in making long-term progress.

Group therapy can take the form of 12-step groups, peer groups, or group counseling. Or maybe you want to find a treatment center where it offers both individual and group therapy. Individual therapy gives you enough space and privacy to talk with a therapist. Group therapy provides strong social support where people share common experiences.

If your family wants to be involved in your treatment and care, you might want to find out if they offer support groups for family members. Treatment centers that value family-based intervention tends to offer such programs, and they have proven to be highly effective.

Question #4: Do They Offer a Relapse Prevention Plan

Many people have tried to quit substances but failed before they enter treatment. If this has happened to you, it means that you know what “relapse” means. It can be a constant reality for a recovering individual. Even if you successfully complete detox treatment at a medical facility, it does not guarantee that you do not relapse.

Good treatment centers that care for their patients have built relapse prevention plans into their care. You need to understand how solid that program is and what is the rate of relapse among people completing treatment. If there are outpatient programs that prevent relapse, you can also use the resource when you need it.

Question #5: Do They Have a Strong Alumni Program?

Even before you enter detox and treatment, you need to think a few steps ahead, like what it would be like to move on after you complete residential treatment. Since a treatment center is where you are likely making new friends and connections with the recovery community, it is ideal that you can stay connected with them through a strong alumni program.

Alumni programs can serve many purposes other than keeping people connected after achieving sobriety. It is a social network supporting all kinds of needs. You can communicate with peers and staff about how to maintain sobriety, how to overcome relapse, and how to build a healthy lifestyle. Some alumni programs partner with community services so recovering individuals can engage in altruistic acts of serving others.

Are you thinking of starting detox treatment for substance use? Do you know what to look for in a treatment program? Recovery is for both the body and the mind. You would want to work with health professionals who value a holistic approach by integrating medical assistance and mental health care into the treatment plan. You may also benefit from a family-based approach which will involve your loved ones in supporting your recovery. Furthermore,  getting connected to a strong recovery community can highly boost your chance of sustainable, long-term recovery. Do you know where to look for this ideal place? Sober Life Recovery has all. We value a holistic approach while focusing on individualized care for mental health and substance use problems. We have a strong peer support group and alumni program. We are experienced in family-based intervention. You do not look further than Sober Life Recovery. Call today at (619) 542-9542.

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