Guest Post – How to Choose an Alcohol Rehab Facility

You always thought you had your life under control. Yes, you liked to enjoy a drink, maybe daily, but you didn’t think it interfered with your relationships with others or your ability to function. You always figured you could just stop drinking whenever you wanted.
However, your friends and family have grown very concerned recently. Perhaps even your coworkers or your boss are upset for you. Everyone in your life thinks you drink too often and it’s becoming a real problem. You don’t see what the big deal is. Drinking helps you get through life, so it’s okay, right? Wrong. The people in your life are encouraging you to select alcohol rehabilitation centers near you.
Just how do you narrow down your options, though? Here are five ways to decide.
1. The Location — There are plenty of alcohol rehabs across the country. Maybe there’s a reputable one in your neighborhood, or maybe you want to fly halfway around the world to attend a more renowned facility. That’s all up to you and your budget. When choosing alcohol rehab facilities, remember to think about your needs and go from there.
2. What the Program Consists of — At these alcohol rehabilitation centers, the program is most likely going, to begin with detox from the alcohol. During this time, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms, which can be uncomfortable and painful. You should also speak with a counselor or psychologist to discuss behavior modification and ways to cope. If a program doesn’t have these and other components, it’s not likely that it will work as well. As a result, you may relapse and have to attend rehab again.
3. The Duration of the Program — Yes, some alcohol rehab facilities guarantee quick results in a few days or weeks. They say their patients are alcohol-free in that short span of time. However, that’s not always realistic, and chances are, the results won’t stick. You want a program where you can take your time and work through your issues with alcohol so you can enjoy real, lasting sobriety once you leave the facility.
4. The Cost of the Program — Depending on whether you have health insurance, the cost of your stay at an alcohol rehab facility may be covered. This may be in full or you may only receive partial coverage. Contact your insurance coverage provider to learn more. If it does indeed turn out that you’re not covered and you have to pay for most or all of the cost of the rehab, you’ll have to decide, as mentioned above, if that’s something you can afford.
5. The Reputation of the Facility — By now, you’ve probably narrowed down a few rehab programs that seem like they will best fit your needs. Before you make your decision, though, research the reputations of these facilities. You want to choose a rehab program that has a record of success with its patients. These patients should come out of the program sober and feel good about their lives. If that’s not the case, you may want to keep looking for a facility that better fits your goals.
Choosing an alcohol rehab facility is a difficult and monumental choice, but it’s not an impossible one. If you feel like you can’t quite make the decision yourself, don’t be afraid to reach out to your friends and family and ask for their advice.
Although it’s never easy, admitting you need help is an act of bravery. Making the decision to get treatment for your alcohol addiction should be applauded. With the right rehab facility, you can learn the skills you need to cope with a life without alcohol and come out of the other side healthy and happy.