Residential Drug Treatment Program Best Practices

When searching for residential drug treatment program understanding what industry best practices are should guide which program you eventually sign yourself into. Not all drug treatment programs are alike or provide the same effectiveness. By understanding what the industry’s best practices are in relation to residential drug treatment programs you can better evaluate the programs you are considering. These best practices were established by the US National Institute of Drug Abuse to relate across all providers expectations for effective treatment.

Tailored Treatments

Every patient is different and requires a treatment program that is tailored to their specific abused substance, personal health history and other personal issues that may affect recovery.

Readily Available Treatments

The nature of individuals seeking treatment for drug addictions requires the clinics be readily available to accept patients as it is crucial to accept patients when they are ready for treatment. With patients timing is often critical as there are windows were patients are more reticent and willing to sign up for treatment.

Full-service Treatments

Treating a substance abuse problem is a complex issue that requires tailored solutions as mentioned above but should include a multifaceted approach to other issues within the patient’s life that may affect their successful treatment. This could include physical illness, mental illness, social, legal or vocational problems; all issues that arise that could affect relapse should be included within any treatment plan.

Continual Reassessment

The plan should also hinge on the fact of continual reassessment by qualified medical personnel to ensure the treatment program is progressing as necessary. Individual needs may change and so the program should change to meet these needs.

Adequate Length

remaining in a treatment program for an adequate length of time in order to effectively treat all aspects to prevent relapse and is generally felt to be at least three months in duration.

Counseling and Group Therapy

it is been proven that counseling and group therapy is a necessary component of any effective drug abuse treatment program to address issues of motivation and to build personal skills that help reduce relapse.

Detox and Medication Treatments

Depending on the severity of dependence detoxification and medication treatments should be included within any program but should not be the sole focus of the program. Detoxification is only one aspect of drug rehabilitation and only deals with an immediate problem and not the underlying causes.

Mental illness

Those patients dealing with mental illness need to be treated in an integrated program for both the mental disorder as well as substance abuse issues. Without an integrated program many individuals fail and relapse.

Mandatory Treatments

Sometimes patients for their own good can be sanctioned or enticed into treatment through programs in the government, justice system or through their employer to encourage treatment. Although voluntary treatment is preferred involuntary treatments can be effective as well.

Long-term or Multiple Treatments

As with any illness drug abuse requires continuous monitoring, especially during the treatment phase yet may require multiple episodes of treatment to deal with drug relapse.

Ensuring that your residential drug treatment program has all of these best practices in place will also ensure your long-term addiction free status.

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