Recovering from drug and alcohol addiction is no easy feat. Attempting to detox and get sober on your own can be incredibly difficult. When someone has a physical dependence, withdrawal can be dangerous and can result in relapse. Many need structure, support, and guidance to navigate a new life without the use of drugs or alcohol. Depending on the length, frequency, and severity of your substance use, you may want to consider admitting to an inpatient rehab.
There are several types of inpatient rehabs with different specialties, clinical modalities and amenities. Addiction is different for each individual, and not all inpatient rehabs are the same. If you’re looking for an inpatient rehab, it’s important to understand what inpatient rehab offers and what to look for when choosing a facility that will best fit your needs.
What is Inpatient Drug Rehab?
Inpatient rehab is a form of addiction treatment where individuals attend rehab 24 hours a day, seven days a week in a highly structured environment away from home, or the environment where they were using alcohol or drugs.
Designed to set a calm and soothing atmosphere to promote recovery, professional staff are typically on the premises at all times to monitor and ensure individuals are safe and supported. When someone enters an inpatient setting, they receive therapeutic and supportive services throughout the week and can be monitored medically depending on the facility. Typically, they live in an assigned room either alone or with a roommate, eat meals with other individuals , and participate in groups, individual counseling, and various types of therapeutic activities throughout the day.
Typically, a stay at an inpatient rehab facility will be thirty days or longer. Length of stay depends on the facility, severity of substance use, clinical recommendations, insurance, and financial resources. Each inpatient facility will have different accommodations depending on their location and specialty. While some will have shared rooms and 12-step meetings on the premises, others may have private rooms, alongside a luxury setting.
In addition, many inpatient rehab facilities offer a continuum of care, meaning that once someone has finished inpatient rehab, they step down to less structured levels of care as needed based on clinical recommendations.
Benefits of Inpatient Rehab
Those who enter an inpatient rehab facility get structure, treatment and supervision from professionals. External temptations to use or drink are reduced, and support is constantly available to help learn new coping skills and apply them. A supportive environment free from distractions can also reduce stressors that may have contributed to substance use in the first place. In addition, individuals are typically housed with others who are facing the same challenges. Finding commonality with others can help create connection, community, and provide a sense of hope for recovery. Additionally, people geta reprieve from the stress of daily life. Rather than focussing on issues at work, home, with family and friends or financial strains, inpatient rehab is meant to offer time and space for people to focus solely on their recovery.
Who is Inpatient Drug Rehab For?
Just as addiction doesn’t discriminate, inpatient drug rehab is available to any who who may need it. There are specialized treatment programs available for those who fall under specific demographics including programs specifically designed for the following:
What Happens During Inpatient Rehab?
During inpatient rehab, individuals will undergo a series of assessments by medical staff and licensed clinicians to determine the best course of treatment. Each day is usually filled with group and individual therapy, medication management if needed, and various activities and speciality therapies throughout the day. This will look different at different facilities. A holistic inpatient rehab may fill their schedule with yoga, acupuncture, and equine therapy, whereas a more traditional inpatient rehab will have 12-step meetings throughout the week. Rehabs should offer a variety of treatment modalities and include evidence based practices.
How to Find The Best Inpatient Rehab
It can be overwhelming trying to find an inpatient rehab. It’s important to consider the various options available and ask questions to find the one that best fits your specific needs. Addiction is complex, and treatment shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. Every facility is different, and the best inpatient rehab for one person may not be the best fit for another. It’s important to do your research and ask questions.
Here are a number of useful questions you can ask when looking for an inpatient rehab:
What Addictions Do You Treat?
Many facilities will treat a range of addictions, however there are those that specialize in treating specifically alcohol, other substances, or other addictions like gambling. It’s important to get a clear idea of what, specifically, the facility treats.
Do You Treat Co-Occurring Disorders?
Recovering from substance use is a challenge, and often people are dealing not only with substance use but also mental health issues, like anxiety, depression, bi-polar, among many others. This is called a co-occurring disorder. Addressing substance use without addressing mental health can lead to relapse. It’s important for the facility to be able to treat both issues simultaneously.
Do You Offer Medication Assisted Treatment onsite?
All in-patient rehabs should offer Medication Assisted Treatment or MAT services for people to start while they are in treatment. For opioid use disorder this includes Suboxone. For alcohol use disorder, this might include Naltrexone or Vivitrol. Even if someone does not want MAT, having it available is evidence based practice, and thus best practice.
Do You Use Evidence Based Practices?
A good rehab will offer a variety of evidence based treatments. If you specifically want or do not want 12-step based treatment, you should ask about this before starting to make sure a rehab offers what you are looking for. Evidence based practices include CBT, DBT, REBT, mindfulness, attachment based therapy, motivational interviewing and MAT, among many others.
What Kind of Aftercare Programs Do You Offer?
Relapse is a risk for everyone working to recover from a substance use disorder. After short term intensive treatment like rehab, it is essential to have ongoing treatment. Many inpatient rehab facilities will have aftercare (meaning step-down treatment like IOP or individual therapy). They may also offer alumni programs with continued therapy, groups, and events to promote recovery and prevent relapse. If a rehab does not offer aftercare internally, they should be able to help plan and set up therapy with other providers for after rehab.
Are You Licensed and Accredited?
A qualified drug rehab should be licensed to meet the state’s requirements. In addition, a facility may also be accredited through third party agencies to ensure the appropriateness and safety of care and standards. Some of the most common accreditation agencies include The Joint Commission (JCAHO), The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and the Council on Accreditation (COA), among others.
What Makes Your Facility Different?
With thousands of inpatient rehabs all over the country, it can be difficult to pick one that will best fit your needs. One way to differentiate facilities is to ask how their program differs from others. Do they offer a number of different specialized therapies? Does the facility reside in a luxury and spacious setting? Does their philosophy align with your beliefs? Understanding what makes the facility unique offers a clear picture of the type of help you will receive.
How Much Does The Facility Cost and What Are Payment Options?
There are many affordable inpatient rehab options, however, there are also others that cost thousands of dollars and may not be a realistic option for each individual. The best rehab does not always come with the highest price tag. It’s important to ask about cost upfront including what type of insurance the facility accepts. Many inpatient rehabs offer a free insurance verification check to see what costs of rehab insurance will cover.
Find Inpatient Rehab Near You
No matter where you’re located, Sober Nation has a directory of comprehensive inpatient rehabs throughout the country that can help you overcome the debilitating effects of addiction and live a life free of substances. By state or zip code, our treatment locator can help you find a facility that is near you and best fits your needs to combat addiction and get sober.
