Residential treatment for drug addiction: MUST HAVES

Residential treatment for drug addiction should include medically assisted, inpatient detox as well as clear rules. More on what to seek in residential treatment for drug addiction here.

4
minute read

Looking for residential drug addiction treatment?

Good residential treatment for addiction can be tough to find.  And if you know that treating addiction at home would not be wise (unhealthy environment, relapse potential, etc.) … if might be a daunting task.  In fact, choosing a rehab is a very personal experience and it can be frightening at times. Most people are unsure of what to look for and the right questions to ask when they are calling or visiting a residential treatment center.

You might start by asking friends, family or your doctors for a recommendation for local residential treatment centers for drug addiction. This can be a good way to get some idea of the treatments available in your area. Unfortunately, asking for a reference for residential treatment for drug addiction is only a first step.  You need to be sure that the care you receive is up to standard.  And that you’re not being taken advantage of.

Residential treatment for drug addiction: what to look for

To help make this process easier, here are the most important things to look for in residential treatment for drug addiction broken down into 5 key areas.

1. In-house detox program

The first and most important thing any good residential treatment center for drug addiction will have is a very well-coordinated and thorough detox program. Most drug addicts will have to go through some form of detox. This can range from mild discomfort to life threatening side effects and it is important that the residential drug addiction treatment program you choose is well equipped. Some good things to look for are:

  • 24 hour RMN nursing
  • access to a psychologist
  • Regular check-ups from a general practitioner (GP)

24 hour RMN nursing – The nursing is important for obvious medical reasons, but RMN, or registered mental health nursing, is often overlooked. It is important to have nurses who have dealt with mental health issues and detox before as they will be most prepared to handle anything that comes up.

Access to a psychologist – A psychologist is also important to have on standby during residential detox to help patients deal with any mental health issues they may be facing. Some of these may be caused by detox but often there is an underlying medical condition that caused the substance abuse problem in the first place.

Regular check-ups from a doctor – Regular access to a medical doctor is also essential for a variety of reasons. While nursing can monitor a patient’s detox and make some medical decisions, it is important to have a doctor on hand to ensure that everything is as it should be.

2. A private room

The second thing to look for in a good residential treatment program is a private room. While this may sound a bit trivial, having your own room during residential drug treatment can be a godsend. Detox and addiction treatment can be uncomfortable, frightening and generally unpleasant and having your own room means you have a sanctuary. This means you can simply let your body work through the transition without having to worry about what your room mate is thinking or having to witness their detox as well.

3. Medically assisted detox

Medically assisted detox is the third most important thing to have on hand during your first few days duringresidential treatment for drug addiction. To be clear, not every patient will need medication to go through drug withdrawal and detox. However, a residential treatment center should have the ability and knowledge to provide prescriptions where necessary. More often than not, this simply means giving patients something to calm their nerves and help them relax.

4. Clear boundaries

Structure and rules are another important part of both any residential treatment in general. One of the more common rules is “no visitors”, but every inpatienttreatment center is different. The idea behind these rules is to break an addict out of their old routines and get them back into healthy habits. The idea behind the no visitors rule is that it allows addicts to focus on their recovery with no distractions. It also removes any negative influences from the outside, which is essential as people who seek residential treatment for drug addiction are very vulnerable and likely to relapse.

5. Personal comfort

The final thing to look for in residential treatment for drug addiction is comfort. This is not just nice chairs and soft beds. Someone looking to address drug addiction needs to feel comfortable at the facility they choose. That means trusting the staff, feeling comfortable in the rooms and simply liking the facility. This will not only make recovery easier, it also serves a higher purpose. Once a patient has detoxed, they are not simply “cured”. There is still a great deal of work to be done before a patient has the chance to beat an addiction. This is why many people choose to stay on for further treatment after clinical detox. By picking a place that is comfortable for them, patients can continue their treatment immediately rather than feeling they need to move to a new facility.

EXTRA TIP: Be prepared

As you are thinking about residential treatment for drug addiction, it is helpful to write down a list of questions and visit drug treatment facilities before you admit. This gives you a chance to see the facility for yourself and helps put to rest any fears you might have. By using these 5 criteria, anyone who is trying to beat a drug addiction has a good chance of finding a great detox program.

About the author
Brad Girtz is a blogger working at Life Works Community, a residential treatment centre. He writes content about mental health, addiction and many other conditions treated at Life Works. Brad enjoys sharing news and information about the latest innovations and ideas in the field of addiction and mental health.
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