There is a wide range of treatment options available to families seeking treatment for addicted loved ones. The good news is that this means that everyone can find a program that will suit their specific issues and more effectively assist them in finding stability in recovery. The difficult news is that families must sift through a number of options and combinations of options in order to find the best possible approach for their addicted loved one.
What will best serve your family in treatment?
There are a number of different options to consider, including:
- Residential or outpatient
- Medical detox only, therapy-based only, or combination programs that offer detox and therapeutic treatment
- Religious or non-religious in philosophy
- Traditional, alternative, or a combination of traditional and alternative therapies
- Short-term or long-term
That National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recommends that families opt for the most comprehensive program possible. Because it can be difficult to know exactly what will be benefitial and/or a priority in recovery after initial stabilization in detox, having access to a number of different evidence-based resources provides the best chance for recovery.
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NIDA recommends choosing a program that offers any or all of the following services:
- Intake processing and evaluation and assessment
- Personalized treatment plan
- Around-the-clock monitoring to avoid relapse
- Medical detox services
- Medication, if necessary
- Behavioral therapy and counseling
- Ongoing clinical and case management to update the treatment plan as needed
- Peer support groups
- Mental health treatment, if needed
- Holistic treatment services
- Aftercare services
Additionally, the following services should be made available or the rehabilitation program should be able to connect the patient with appropriate referrals for the following services, if needed:
- Childcare services
- Legal assistance
- Financial services
- Vocational assistance
- Educational help
- Room and board
- Transportation
- Family support
Here at Black Bear Lodge, we offer everything that your loved one needs to safely heal from drug and alcohol dependence. Contact us at the phone number listed above today to learn more about the specific treatment options that can benefit your loved one’s recovery.
Accreditation
Though there are thousands of programs across the country and around the world to choose from, it is imperative that patients opt only for a treatment program that has all the proper accreditations and licenses required to legally treat patients for alcohol and drug addiction. These licenses ensure that the standards are in place for staff members, the programs, and the facilities, which helps to protect the patient and make sure that they are being safely and effectively cared for.
Unfortunately, not every program is properly licensed and accredited yet many patients and their families unknowingly support them through enrollment and inadvertently put their health and safety at risk. If you are unsure as to whether or not a particular treatment program has the proper state-required accreditation and licensure, ask them about it.
Treatment Centers: Stats and Facts
- In the United States, there are more than 14,500 programs that specialize in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction through the provision of case management, behavioral therapy, counseling and other services.
- There are also a number of US independent professionals (e.g., doctors, therapists, nurses, counselors, etc.) who include the treatment of certain addiction issues within their scope of practice.
- In 2006, there were 277 treatment programs in the state of Georgia.
- Of these 277 treatment programs, 84 were private nonprofit programs, 76 were private for-profit programs, and 78 were owned by the government.
- Additionally, 222 of the 277 Georgia treatment programs offered outpatient care, 76 offered some type of residential treatment and 32 programs offered opiate addiction treatment.
- Also, another 240 doctors and 30 treatment programs in Georgia offered buprenorphine treatment to address the physical addiction to opiates in 2006.
Addiction Treatment Center Requirements
Every state across the country has a State Alcohol Authority (SAA) and a Single State Authority
(SSA) for drug abuse that manages the businesses that intend to offer treatment services to patients.
Potential applicants must fill out an extensive application and provide proof of all licenses and accreditations as required by that state for the specific services that they will offer.
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), treatment center standards generally address:
- Governance
- Fiscal management
- Personnel
- Statistical reporting
- Client rights
- Client case records and quality of care reviews
- Environmental sanitation, safety, and fire prevention
Standards in each of these areas are defined by each individual state and required of all potential treatment centers when they open their doors. Additionally, an independent review process will confirm that each treatment program maintains these standards for as long as they keep their doors open.
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Treatment centers in Georgia must:
- Request and complete an application packet
- Provide all requested documentation
- Pass an on-site inspection
When found to be in compliance, the proposed treatment center will receive a license. It is important to note that accreditation through national accrediting organizations will not be accepted in lieu of accreditation by the state of Georgia. If the treatment program would like to supply specific services (e.g., medication for opiate treatment, residential treatment, outpatient care, etc.), the program will need to show that they have the facilities, staff members, and ability to provide acceptable care on an ongoing basis to a specified number of patients.
It is also important to note that not all programs that provide services to people in recovery are required to be licensed in any way. For example, licenses are not needed by those that:
- Provide narcotic treatment and are governed by the State Methadone Authority
- Are hospitals and do not provide services exclusively for patients overcoming drug and alcohol abuse and addiction
- Provide emergency receiving, evaluation, and/or treatment (ERET)
- Are licensed individuals who do not purport to provide a comprehensive drug addiction treatment program
- Offer support services (e.g., transportation, residence, etc.)
New Health Care Reforms
New health care laws for the United States under the Affordable Care Act are designed, in part, to ensure that patients who require treatment for addiction to alcohol or drugs are able to easily access and afford the treatment services that will help them heal. In fact, treatment for addiction is listed as one of the 10 essential services that all insurance policies must provide.
However, it is important to note that there is little in terms of direction on how that coverage should be offered and what services specifically should be covered. For example, though the law states that treatment for addiction should be no more difficult to obtain than treatment for any other medical issue, there is no clarity on which services should be easily accessed. Some insurance companies require all patients to first undergo detox only or enroll in an outpatient treatment program before they will approve coverage for residential treatment services. Others require that there be documentation that demonstrates that it is medically necessary to enroll in residential treatment. In most cases, an inability to avoid relapse while living at home during treatment does not constitute medical necessity for residential care.
Additionally, another concern is that there may be a rush on treatment services due to the new law. According to the Associated Press, the number of prospective patients enrolling in drug rehabs across the country could double as a result of the new legislation. An estimated four million people will become eligible for insurance coverage for addiction treatment under the new law. The exact number will depend on whether or not each state expands their Medicare program.
Tom McLellan is CEO of the nonprofit Treatment Research Institute. He told the AP: “There is no illness currently being treated that will be more affected by the Affordable Care Act than addiction. That’s because we have a system of treatment that was built for a time when they didn’t understand that addiction was an illness.”
Treatment at Black Bear Lodge
Black Bear Lodge is fully accredited and has all licenses as required by the state of Georgia to provide comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment. We offer a range of treatment services that allow each patient to experience a uniquely personalized treatment plan from the intake evaluation all the way through to aftercare planning and discharge.
An estimated 23 million people over the age of 12 in the United States met the criteria for drug and alcohol abuse disorders including addiction in 2007. Unfortunately, more than 20 million of these Americans did not receive the addiction treatment they needed to overcome the symptoms of the disorder and learn how to live balanced lives in recovery.
If your loved one is living with an active substance abuse disorder, you can help him to start a new life in recovery when you contact us at Black Bear Lodge. Learn more about our unique programs and how they can assist your addicted family member in overcoming the disease of addiction today. Contact us at 855-808-6212 today.