Frequently Asked Questions

Without health insurance and depending on what type of program a patient chooses; current sources suggest one could expect to pay an average of anywhere between $2000 and $20,000, depending on the treatment, facility, and level of care. 

Yes, there are some facilities funded by the government, private donors, or other organizations that offer free or more affordable care for people who are in need. By contacting your local county administration, you can see if you qualify for treatment sponsorship.

Most rehab facilities are for-profit, which means that they bill insurance companies. However, there are government-funded programs that use government grants and other private donations to fund the facility.

There are approximately 16 000 substance abuse treatment facilities in the US.

Rehab centers are facilities that specialize in helping people recover from various forms of addiction by providing them with a safe, monitored place to detox and adjust to recovery. They also provide counseling, therapy, and education to further aid in the recovery process and help create a healthier and more resilient mindset.

In rehab centers, patients engage in various group therapies and private counseling to help them identify triggers of their addiction, such as certain people, places, or dysfunctional thought patterns. The staff members will help the patient put relapse prevention strategies in place to avoid going back to drug use after they leave the center.

Addiction treatment centers frequently offer a variety of treatment options that can be customized to meet the needs of each patient. Most rehab centers, depending on the type of addiction, start by helping the patient get rid of harmful substances by first going through a detox. They then move on to therapeutic activities such as individual, group, recreational, and sometimes family therapies where they learn how to cope with daily stressors without resorting back to old habits. Different therapeutic methods will be used depending on that facility.

Most rehab centers resemble hospital-like environments in the early stages of detoxification. However, once the patient achieves physical stability, they are placed in the residential part of the program. These programs can vary considerably. However, they tend to be peaceful settings that allow individuals the space to grow and heal into their sober selves. Patients can expect to have peer support as well as staff members who are invested in helping them recover.

Rehab centers do work if the recovering individual is willing to put the effort into their recovery program. It is not uncommon for patients to experience relapses. Do not let this discourage you. Many people achieve long-term sobriety after attending rehab multiple times.

Yes, rehab centers are profitable. However, they aren't run like normal businesses. They are highly regulated for their business practices and their methods of treatment by the government and professional health boards. They're required to meet certain standards of care and accountability so that they can offer their services safely, effectively, and legally.

Although not every rehab facility has a uniform policy on phone use, most of these facilities will restrict or outright prohibit the use of smartphones and other electronic devices. This is so patients can optimize their time and truly be able to focus on themselves without distraction or risk of triggers brought about by social media or contact with people considered a trigger.

Most facilities do allow visitors, but only after a period of time and within certain hours. It is common for facilities to have a family program, which allows family members to visit their loved one, engage in family therapy, and receive education about their loved one’s addiction.

Yes, there are some facilities that are contracted with Medicaid, but not all of them are. Programs and recovery coverage will depend on your type of addiction and preferred state, as many states will have their own Medicaid contracted program.

Detoxing is a medically supervised process that rids the body of toxic substances like drugs or alcohol. During this time, patients are monitored by medical professionals and given medications to ease withdrawal symptoms. This helps them safely withdraw from substances and prevents them from experiencing serious side effects. While it’s important to know that detox isn't a cure for addiction, it does provide an important starting point for patients to begin receiving treatment that can set them on the road to recovery.

Rehab facilities are highly concentrated in warmer states such as Florida and California. This is because many people like to go out of town for privacy reasons, and these warmer states also tend to provide an idyllic, calming environment to reset and begin the journey to recovery!

The main difficulty is trying to manage the logistics of completing schoolwork for the time that is missed (if the student is attending treatment during the school year). Additionally, it is challenging for high school students to achieve sobriety because of their social and home environments, which can be barriers to overcoming addiction. It is recommended to first seek an online rehab support solution in these cases. However, for more serious cases where a longer-term intervention may be needed, there are Recovery High Schools that are becoming available. These might be a more suitable option than conventional rehab facilities so as not to interrupt their schooling career.

No, rehab call centers are not illegal, but patient brokering is. Patient brokering is when a third party conducts business transactions where they take commissions for referring patients into their programs. It is important to be wary of scams conducted over the phone and internet when searching for treatment.

No, an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) is a type of outpatient hospital that offers surgical care and other procedures all on the same day.

Yes, 100% confidential. The staff of any rehab facility is legally bound to not disclose any information about the patient or their treatment to anyone else without the patient’s explicit consent.

Yes. Although the primary treatment method in rehab facilities involves counseling and/or psychotherapy, many facilities do evaluate and prescribe medication as part of the recovery process, depending on the patient’s needs.

Yes. Most rehab facilities are always taking new patients. However, it will depend on each facility’s availability at the time. To find out if a specific facility is available, simply complete the enquiry form through Rehab Bookings, and they will advise if or when they are available to welcome new patients.

No

Yes, there are several wilderness programs available that help individuals get sober. These are especially effective options for patients who do not do well in a traditional rehab setting.

No, the use of polygraph testing in rehab facilities is not necessary nor part of any rehab treatment plan.

Most facilities do not allow pets. However, there are a small number of facilities that do. However, it is important to note that, even if pets are allowed, there may be limitations as to what type of pets are allowed, including breed, size, etc. They may also be limited as to where and when they are allowed in at the facility.

Yes, depending on what type of aftercare planning patients need, facilities can offer referrals to third-party doctors.

Yes, most rehab centers will have patient liaisons. They are often a patient’s first point of contact with the rehab facility. The liaison is often responsible for admitting the patient and serving as an intermediary throughout the treatment process.

Yes, registered rehab facilities will always have social workers and/or therapists available to help with the therapeutic goals of families struggling with or affected by addiction.

Yes, facilities are required by law to keep patient records for 7 years. These records are available to the patient upon request. However, they are never shared with outside parties, unless the patient specifically signs a consent form to release these records to a particular person or doctor.

There are special facilities that are geared towards helping elderly patients (who may or may not also have physical disabilities) with addiction. These facilities have extra medical staff on hand to accommodate these needs. All rehab facilities are required to have handicap ramps and other accommodations to be in compliance with their state licensing requirements.

Rehab centers vary considerably. The first steps to personally consider are:

• 1. Do you need detoxification?
• 2. What kind of health insurance do you have?
• 3. How far do you want to travel?

After answering these three questions, patients can narrow down several facilities that will fit their specific needs. It is also worth noting that facilities that are accredited are considered to have the highest standard of treatment. For a facility to achieve accreditation status, its programs are thoroughly assessed by third-party evaluators who determine the quality of care. Achieving accreditation status is competitive and expensive for facilities. Therefore, if you see a facility that is accredited, there’s a strong possibility that it is state of the art!

Treatment centers face the challenge of patients terminating treatment early. This is why contacting outside family and friends is very limited because it can be a distraction to the person trying to get their life on track. Additionally, it is a challenge to help patients put a relapse prevention plan into place for when they leave the facility. Some relapse triggers can include toxic home environments/relationships/friendships/thought patterns, lack of transportation, financial problems, etc. Therefore, it is important for rehab facilities to hire staff that are trained in helping identify and overcome these problems.

Holistic treatment centers focus heavily on more natural remedies. In other words, they tend to avoid methods like ongoing pharmaceuticals (if they can) and focus more on practices like meditation, equine therapy, massage therapy, and other natural methods to achieve sobriety.

Some facilities can accommodate patients on dialysis. However, because it is a specialized need, it is important to ask your preferred facility directly before checking in.

Facilities are typically overseen by professionals that are trained in addiction treatment. Many for-profit and non-profit facilities have a board of directors and registered regulatory bodies that make decisions about the ongoing success of the facility.

Pharmaceuticals are typically supplied by outside pharmacies that are local to that facility.

Rehab facilities have a wide range of professionals working together to help treat patients, but they are generally divided into two groups:

1. Administrative workers will arrange treatment, aftercare planning, insurance authorizations, financial planning, marketing, and other business-like operations.
2. The clinical staff are in charge of implementing the actual treatment. This includes medical doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, and other staff responsible for monitoring group and recreational therapies.

Centers are required to submit documentation to their licensing boards to prove that these staff members hold the proper credentials to facilitate these job functions.

Rehab tends to be expensive because of several factors:

1. Many rehabs are staffed by clinicians with master's or, in some cases, doctoral degrees and years of expertise in the field of addiction treatment. The level of expertise and training of the professional team will have a big impact on how much a rehab costs.
2. Facilities require extensive 24/7 staffing. They are unable to close the facility because it is common for patients to require care during all hours of the night. This is especially true for patients during detoxification.
3. To ensure that patients have the peace of mind they need while in treatment, the facility itself needs to be constantly well maintained, cleaned, and looked after.

Rehab centers make use of call tracking for customer service purposes. The calls are recorded (and the caller should be made aware of this) and these calls are generally used to help facilities provide better care and to market their services better according to what patients need and are looking for.