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2022 Guide To Finding The Best Georgia Drug Rehab

Finding the best Georgia drug rehab to support you or your loved one can be a very daunting task. This actionable guide includes 3 steps for selecting the right rehab for your particular needs.

    Research These Things

    There are several key indicators that a drug rehab is capable of providing the level of care someone needs. Making sure a provider is properly licensed and that their staff is professionally trained and certified should always be the first step in screening potential providers.

    ACCREDITATIONS

    While a Georgia Department of Public Health license is required for a program to substance abuse, there are several indicators to be aware of that show which ones above and beyond for their clients. These could include accreditations or certifications from non-government accrediting bodies. There are several well-renowned accreditation bodies that operate in the US and internationally. Some of these include:

    Both The Joint Commission and CARF are older and well-established non-profit accreditation and certification organizations. NAATP is newer, only being founded as a non-profit in early 2020. All three of these organizations accredit and certify brick and mortar treatment center locations, ensuring that they provide a high level of care to their clients. LegitScript is somewhat different, as they are an actual business and not a non-profit. They make sure that the services offered on a provider’s website match what that provider is licensed to provide and that their website is not misleading to potential clients. Holding a certification from any one of these organizations is a good sign, and certification from several of these organizations is even better.

    STAFF CREDENTIALS

    Even though a facility might be licensed, this does not necessarily mean that every clinician and employee hold the proper credentials. It is recommended to ask for credentials when considering a center to ensure that you or your loved one is in safe hands. If any resistance is met when asking about credentials, this could be a sign that something is amiss. Ask questions and be persistent.

    REVIEWS

    Another very helpful way to get a better picture of a rehab center is to see what other people thought of their time there. Reviews can be extremely helpful toward getting an overall feel for the compassion and quality of care provided at a given rehab center. Recovery from addiction often requires more than just credentials and accreditations; it requires trained professionals who also care. Finding a group of people who care about their clients and believe in what they do can go a very long way towards supporting someone in their recovery, and helping them to overcome their addiction.

    RED FLAGS

    Unfortunately, there are immoral entities within the rehabilitation landscape. It isn’t unheard of for a “rehab” to operate in the gray area between sober living, which requires no licenses or certifications, and an actual legit treatment provider. There have been documented cases of this happening in Georgia, and placing trust in an unlicensed and morally questionable center can have dire consequences.

    Ask These Questions

    Once you’ve determined that a drug rehab has all of the appropriate licenses, has sufficiently credentialed staff, and has good reviews, it’s time to ask them some of the following questions:

    What If I’ve Been Charged With a Crime?

    During the course of active addiction, many of our current and past clients have gotten arrested and faced criminal charges. We accept clients with pending criminal cases. While drug rehab can go a long way in helping reduce the severity of potential sentences, we strongly advise our clients to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney. One such attorney that helped a past client get out of serious legal trouble is Cobb County-based criminal defense attorney Rick Christian. Additional suggestions can be provided by our staff upon request.

    Do You Accept Insured or Self-Pay Clients?

    Payment is obviously a major consideration, as insurance may cover some or all of the costs of rehab. If you have insurance, it is important to check with your insurance provider to make absolutely sure a facility is covered by your insurance. If you do not have insurance, that doesn’t necessarily mean that a particular rehab center is off-limits. Many provide either full or partial scholarships for people who are self-pay but are having a hard time coming up with the money. Make sure to ask about potential scholarships so that you can find out if you qualify.

    Can I Take a Tour?

    It’s a good idea to physically go to the center and take a tour if possible. Pictures and descriptions are all well and good, but getting a visceral sense of the rehab centers space and atmosphere can go a long way toward putting someone’s mind at ease about entering rehab. It can also be informative to see how they respond to a request to tour the facility; if they are against giving a tour, then proceed with caution.

    What Aftercare Programs Do You Offer?

    Asking about an aftercare program can be very illuminating about the commitment they have to the sobriety of their clients. Many programs will offer aftercare as a follow-up to treatment, and some are even free of charge. This is a transitional adjunct program that is usually voluntary but helps someone ease back into their life without feeling like they were just “cut loose” after they completed treatment.

    What Holistic Therapies Do You Offer?

    Another important question is what types of therapies or practices they offer in addition to the standard medical and psychiatric care. These additional holistic therapies can include practices such as yoga, mindfulness meditation, therapeutic fitness, or art therapy. The more tools someone has to strengthen and further their recovery, the better chance they will have at achieving long-term recovery.

    What Amenities Do You Have?

    Downtime can be dangerous during treatment, and making sure that there will be plenty to do is very important. Some drug rehab centers are in fairly rural areas, such as in the Blue Ridge mountains, and can provide ample hiking, climbing, or swimming opportunities. Other centers may offer outings, movie nights, a pool, or even a spa. Each one will be different, but make sure to ask about the entertainment options at a potential rehab center.

    Determine The Level of Care You Need

    While all programs have the same goal, the path that they take to get there can vary. The best Georgia drug rehabs offer one or more of these levels of care: detox, inpatient, outpatient (IOP PHP), and sober living. Typically more than one of these treatment types will be necessary to maximize the chances of recovering from addiction.

    In 2015, over 25,000 people sought help in the state of Georgia. This represents a massive 55.8% increase since 2005. Of the clients treated for substance abuse, 43.3% had co-occurring disorders. More than 50% of the people who sought help cited alcohol as their primary substance of abuse.

    Medically Supervised Detox

    Medically monitored detox centers are vital for individuals who struggle with a physical addiction to drugs or alcohol. Severe addiction has the potential to lead to serious health complications – and even death.

    There are 2 primary types of facilities: sub-acute and acute.  Sub-acute centers are for those with non-life-threatening symptoms, while acute centers are designed for those experiencing serious and potentially deadly symptoms, such as seizures, hallucinations, and dehydration.

    Inpatient Rehab

    Inpatient drug rehab centers provide treatment services within a structured environment where you live, away from the rest of the world. These programs last 30 days, though they may run as long as 90+ days depending on the individual client’s needs.

    Inpatient is often necessary for those who have a significant addiction to drugs that is more long-term in nature or where there is not a safe, stable, and sober living environment. Individuals with a dual diagnosis mental health condition may also require inpatient treatment.

    Outpatient

    Outpatient is a more flexible form of rehab that breaks down into two primary levels of care. The first is PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) which usually lasts around 30 hours per week and is the most immersive type of outpatient rehab. The other option is IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) which usually lasts are 10 hours a week and can accommodate almost anyone’s schedule.

    This type of drug rehab is more flexible as it allows you to live at home and continue to work, take care of your family, and any other needs you might have. However for it to be successful the client has to have a high degree of accountability and be solid enough in their recoveries.

    Sober Living Homes

    Sober living homes are a key component in transitioning to outpatient. They offer safe, structured environments that offer the support many recovering addicts desperately need in early sobriety.

    While not treatment in and of itself, sober livings are often the perfect complement to IOP or PHP levels of care. It is recommended for clients who don’t have sober, safe living environments and for those who need an extra degree of accountability during early sobriety.

    There is no right choice, and everyone will have their own unique needs and circumstances that may dictate one method is preferable over another. Talk to a potential treatment center and review the costs, time commitment, and set of needs to find out which mode may be best.

    Additional Resources

    When someone is seeking a rehab center, there are usually going through a rough time. Below are some helpful resources for a variety of issues:

    • SAMHSA
    • National Institute on Drug Abuse
    • Georgia Overdose Prevention Project
    • Stop A Suicide Today
    • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
    • Safe Horizon
    • Project Safe
    • Georgia Crisis & Access Line
    • Georgia Peer2Peer Warmline
    • Georgia CARES Warm Line
    • Crisis Text Line

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