What Are Substance Abuse Treatment Centers For?

Substance abuse treatment centers are designed to help anyone addicted to anything that could potentially harm their health or lives get the treatment they deserve. Some people will enter them of their own free will, hoping to return to the lives they once had, free of their addiction to a drug, alcohol or other obsession. Others will be sent there by families, or the court, because their actions have shown that there is no other choice for them. However they arrive, they will all be treated by staff with one goal in mind: getting them sober, and in control of their lives once more.

The goal of substance abuse treatment centers

Everyone who enters this type of facility, whether state owned or privately run, is expected to cooperate fully with the staff, and follow any orders they are given to complete their treatment. The goal of these facilities is for the people who come there to get clean and free of the substance that sent them there, and to learn how to get their old lives back. This can be done in any number of ways, and each patient is given a customized program to follow to bring them back into health, and the proper mindset for a full recovery, if possible.


Which is better, state run or privately owned?

That choice lies ultimately in the patient, or the loved ones who send them to a treatment facility. Before admitting anyone to one of these facilities, do as much research as you can on their programs, how they are run, and what treatment plans are offered. State run facilities are larger, have more staff than some, and offer some effective programs to treat substance abuse. Privately owned facilities may offer more specialized treatment programs, focusing on a particular drug or other addiction, be run by people with personal experience in abuse, or may be more cost effective than a state run facility.

What should I look for when researching these facilities?

If you are looking on behalf of a loved one or friend, you may want to research if there is one available that focuses on their drug of choice. Rehabs that focus on one substance, like cocaine, heroin or methamphetamines, will have more intense programs for healing, designed to work faster, with a higher success rate. The type you choose should follow a distinct pattern of detox, education, counseling and rehabilitation. Good follow up programs can make all the difference for a complete recovery.

Does location play a role in success?

It goes without saying that for an addict to truly kick the habit, they need to be separated from the environment that allowed them to fall so deeply into their addiction in the first place. Some people will have no problem attending one in their hometown, and may work harder to get clean because of it. For others, remaining in the same locale as their failing lifestyle may be too tempting to ignore, and could lead to backsliding as soon as they can manage it.