Airliner flying overheadMany people look for addiction treatment centers close to home, but traveling for treatment is often a good idea. Here’s why:

  • Treatment that is far from home gives patients a chance to start over in a completely new environment. While one’s hometown is comfortable, home is also the place where an addiction or mental health condition went unchecked or untreated. A new location can usher in the development of a healthier support network, new perspectives, hope, and change.
  • Friends and family are there to love and support us when we’re in need, but an individual who has been suffering from substance use or a mental health condition needs to find his or her own identity in a recovery lifestyle. A person who struggles with addictive behavior needs time and space to develop responsibility for his or her own behavior. Being away from family and friends can provide space for this critical growth period.
  • Traveling for treatment can also help patients heal from dysfunctional family dynamics. People who have loved ones who also use substances or don’t support recovery may struggle when surrounded by negative influences. Family programs can reincorporate the family at the appropriate time so that everyone can experience healing and support. Traveling for treatment makes it harder for family and friend issues to complicate early recovery, and the patient is encouraged to create a new, healthy identity in an environment of accountability.
  • It’s harder to leave the rehab program or seek drugs or alcohol when treatment is far from home. Treatment is a highly important process, and it requires transition, time, participation, and room for growth. Individuals will want to revert back to their old lifestyles. If patients are in or near their hometown, they can simply leave treatment and go home. But when they are many miles from home, the physical and emotional distance can inspire them to stay and continue the work of recovery. This is vital. Being far from home can encourage a commitment to finish the process that patients need to get better.

Black Bear Lodge is an ideal place for patients to travel for treatment and find the new space, perspectives and empowerment to rediscover wellness.

“One of the most profound things I’ve learned is that recovery isn’t just about not drinking and drugging,” says Kim of Heroes in Recovery. “I don’t blackout anymore, hurt anyone or get arrested, and by continuing to ‘work it,’ I now have a life that I love! I have health. I have purpose. I have passion. I have a wonderful family life. I have true friends. I’m active in my community. I have a job that I love, and ‘the promises’ are prevalent in my life today. I know a new freedom, a new happiness, I comprehend the word serenity and know peace, and my whole attitude and outlook upon life has changed for the better. If you’re contemplating this ‘recovery thing,’ please give yourself a break! If it worked for me, I know it can work for you too.”

We are located in a serene natural landscape that provides a unique chance for peace and new life to take hold. Taking time away to recover from the disease of addiction and from untreated mental health issues can make all the difference, and we encourage you to take the opportunity to find yourself at Black Bear Lodge. Come see us and discover what we mean when we talk about renewal and transformation—our desire is to see you find lifelong healing from substance abuse and mental health conditions.

We can arrange all your travel and ensure that you get to Black Bear Lodge in a timely, worry-free manner. Our admissions coordinators are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to discuss options with you and book your transportation.

Remaining in Treatment

One of the most important decisions our patients make on a day-to-day basis is the decision to remain in treatment.  Staying in treatment is one of the most influential factors in achieving long-term positive outcomes such as long term recovery, symptom remission, and improved of quality of life.1

In a recent analysis of data collected from FRN residential facilities, it was determined that patients who attended treatment outside of their home state were significantly less likely to leave treatment early.  In fact, patients who attended treatment out of state were 60% less likely to leave treatment against clinical advice. Attending treatment out of state is one way that patients can improve their chances of remaining in treatment and getting the most out of the residential treatment experience.

Ultimately, in this journey toward wholeness and healing, every mile matters. And the miles that take you away from home will, in time, lead you back — stronger and sober and ready to take back your life.

1 National Institute on Drug Abuse. Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition). Dec 2012. Web. Retrieved 15 Oct 2017.