Qualities of the Best Heroin Rehab Programs
As stated by the NIDA, “A variety of effective treatments are available for heroin addiction, including both behavioral and pharmacological (medications).” In most rehab facilities, both of these types of treatments are available to heroin addicted patients. But what are the qualities of the best heroin rehab programs? For many heroin addicts, there are several aspects of a heroin rehab program that make it especially beneficial.
Inexpensive and/or Cost Effective
Heroin addiction is, in most cases, incredibly costly, and often, addicts will spend up to $200 every day just trying to maintain their habits (CESAR). The financial situations for these individuals are often extremely poor as they may have used money they meant to use for food, rent, or other important aspects of life on the drug. Many heroin addicts also lose their jobs and just continue to fall more deeply into debt.
In this case, inexpensive or otherwise low-cost care is essential to a recovering heroin addict, and those facilities which provide it are often very beneficial. According to SAMHSA, “some facilities offer substance abuse treatment at no charge or a sliding fee scale based on income and other factors.” This quality can often allow individuals who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to experience heroin rehab to be able to go and, often, have a more successful recovery because of it.
The best rehab programs use evidence-based treatment and offer an individualized approach.
There are many less expensive or even free facilities, both inpatient and outpatient-based, that you can find in online directories where your heroin addiction can be treated. Many of these facilities provide the same level of treatment and care that you would find at a private rehab facility.
Comorbidity Treatment
According to the NIDA, “The term ‘comorbidity’ describes two or more disorders or illnesses occurring in the same person.” It may not seem common at first, but there is a strong connection between mental illness and drug addiction. Many individuals who become addicted to heroin experience another type of mental disorder. The reverse is also true: people who struggle with mental disorders and do not receive treatment for them are often more vulnerable to drug abuse and addiction.
One of the best qualities a rehab facility can have is the option of comorbidity treatment for patients. When a person starts a therapy regimen for heroin addiction, they might discover that they suffer from severe depression as well. There are addiction rehab facilities and programs that will treat this condition as well in order for the addict to have a stronger, more well-rounded recovery and to guard against relapse in the future.
Some individuals as well experience physical issues as a result of heroin abuse and addiction. These can include:
- Clogged blood vessels
- Collapsed veins
- Liver disease
- Abscesses
- Contraction HIV or hepatitis
- Infection of the heart lining and/or valves
In some rehab programs, these physical issues will be taken care of as well. Usually, these types of treatments are mostly available in inpatient rehab programs which might make one necessary if you suffer from an extreme physical or mental disorder in addition to your addiction.
A Caring and Compassionate Staff
If you are looking for a heroin rehab program where you will want to stay longer in order to get the full extent of your treatment and the strongest possible recovery, look no further than the doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, counselors, and caregivers who work there. If you feel comfortable in a place, you will be more likely to stay or to continue to return (depending on the type of treatment facility you are attending). A caring staff will make you feel more comfortable and more eager to stay on and finish your treatment.
The NIDA states, “Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical.” If a patient leaves treatment early, it is much less likely that they will experience a full or solid recovery. They are also more likely to relapse. However, those patients who like the doctors and nurses who care for them will stay because they feel comfortable and trust these healthcare professionals to supply them with the best treatment possible.
Finding a heroin addiction program with an excellent staff of individuals who make you feel secure, relaxed, and cared for, even if it is one individual like in a support group, is key. And, in many cases, other patients become a part of your treatment so people who are easy to get along with may add to the quality of your heroin rehab program.
The Most Necessary Quality
The absolute most necessary quality of the best heroin rehab program is difficult to pin down, as it’s different for everyone. According to the NIDA, “No single treatment is appropriate for everyone” which means that you should consider the qualities that are most important to you when choosing the best possible rehab program (NIDA 3).
For many a free or low-cost facility is an important quality of the best heroin rehab program, but others may be able (and willing) to pay for a more expensive facility that has additional comforts, extra privacy, and more treatment options than less expensive facilities do. And for those individuals who need treatment that supports co-occurring mental disorders, there are those who do not need this aspect and do not want to pay extra for it.
The best way to be sure is to make a list for yourself of the best qualities that you expect to a heroin rehab facility to have. What is important to you? What do you need in order to ensure that you can focus on your treatment and that you will stay engaged until it is finished? These qualities are actually the best for any heroin rehab program you choose because different individuals have different needs, and that is okay.
When choosing your facility, consider the needs of most heroin addicts and how these might apply to you. Then consider just your needs and choose a program based on them. The best way for you to recover is through specialized treatment that allows you to become better and stronger every day, your way.
