Drug Interventions Blog

Parents with drug-abusing children often ask themselves, "How long should we wait finding a rehab program?"

The answer is simple. Not long.

If you see signs of drug or alcohol abuse, do not wait. Find out what is going on and do not expect that your son or daughter will not need help to get through the addiction. Assume they will need rehab, and find a good drug rehab program. Have it ready for your son or daughter to go into right away for when things (and they most assuredly will) go bad.

Most assuredly your son or daughter will try to tell you they can do it on their own and that they don’t need help. The chances of this are slim to none.

Remember that drugs and alcohol change a person's personality very rapidly. You can not trust someone who is using drugs or alcohol habitually. Take control of the situation--their life could depend on it. Remember once they agree to get help than make sure they are being escorted into a drug rehab center.

Through my personal experiences I have come to a conclusion about short-term vs long-term drug rehab which I feel must be shared so others do not waste time like I did.

My family spent countless hours and dollars on short-term drug rehab programs for my brother’s heroin addiction. We flew him to Mexico to the most expensive and luxurious 30-day program we could find. We tried the free, government-funded programs. We tried both extremes and everything in between before realizing: he needs more time.

How long does it take to completely change your way of life when you have become dependent on a substance(s) to get you through the day? Ask any addict who attended a 30 day inpatient drug rehab? It’s possible, but not common. Many try, many fail.

We found an individualized program in Oklahoma which he was at for 4-6 months. He successfully completed it and has been sober now for 7 years.

I hope this helps you in your search for an effective drug rehab program.

Loved ones who call and wonder what is next after rehab seem to get worried about the results of treatment. Any effective type of drug rehab should offer an extensive aftercare program. When a person enters into a long term treatment center, usually the stay is around four to six months. This is ample time for a person to be rehabilitated but does not guarantee success which is why aftercare is vital. Some programs offer extensive job training or even better have a training program for all graduates. Many times when a person enters into a drug rehab program they start feeling good and they become more responsible.

Instead of their previous behavior where all they were worried about was finding money for their habit and how to satisfy their addiction to drugs and alcohol, now after being properly rehabilitated them want to help. Honestly, the best drug and alcohol counselor is one who has had an addiction problem themselves and understands what it takes to be successful in recovery. They funny thing about addicted individuals is they don’t want to listen to a person who can not relate or is not real. A doctor, nurse, therapist or counselor who has never taken drugs telling a patient in rehab that they “understand” can really frustrate a patient and cause for distrust issues.

Many drug and alcohol rehab programs that do offer professional medical care but also counselors who not only have great formal education but also have had experiences with abuse with drugs and alcohol makes for one of the most effective counselors in the rehabilitation field. They can be looked at as a role model and person that offer hope in such a bleak outlook for many.

How much does a drug rehab facility cost? This is a common question for many people searching to find an alcohol drug treatment center either for themselves or for a loved one. Most of the inpatient drug treatment facilities are either private pay or offer some type of insurance reimbursement. Don’t get frustrated when you insurance company will only pay for a 21 through a 30 day drug rehab. Sometimes what families do is get insurance to pay for part of the program that work out the rest of the payment. Just remember that any effective drug rehab program is going to cost money. It’s worth it and anything that can save a person from drug or alcohol addiction is like giving a person their life back and a fresh start.

Even most effective medical centers will cost money. Though that is one type of treatment that insurance is very good about paying is for medical treatment but keep in mind that a drug rehab center should always follow. Keep in mind that a medical treatment facility is not enough treatment though. All its doing is to allow an addicted individual come off of certain prescription drugs, opiates and alcohol safely. It is not a long term solution and does not provide any sort of solution to addiction except for medical treatment in the first week of rehabilitation. If a person can only afford a detox and does not have insurance to then pay for treatment than trying an outpatient program would then be the best step. Talking to a counselor or attending meetings or getting a sponsor can help a person through rough spots when trying to overcome drug or alcohol addiction.