Costa Mesa, California; 14, November 2015: Leading womens-only rehab center New Directions for Women has premiered a new page helping those with a chemical dependency make the difficult choices involved in going into rehab. The resource is designed to help reduce the rate of relapse associated with patients choosing the wrong kind of rehab program for their needs, and instead ensure patients pick the right rehab program the first time.
http://www.newdirectionsforwomen.org/addiction-treatment-centers-some-tips-on-making-the-choice/
"One in ten alcohol or drug rehab patients have been through rehab more than five times," New Directions said in a statement. "That's a far larger number than it ought to be, and we want to do our part to ensure patients end up in a rehab facility which will help them kick their habit the first time around."
The problem that many patients face is that there are dozens of rehab programs in the local area alone, with just as many choices when it comes to rehab approach, length of stay, and the all-important aftercare program. Combined with the stress involved in making any choice at all to enter an addiction recovery program, the options can seem overwhelming. To help alleviate this issue, New Directions suggests would-be patients keep the following questions in mind when evaluating a rehab:
- How does the program measure rehab success?
Even if it seems academic, the fact is that nearly every program has a different criteria for success -- so it's crucial to ensure the patient's desired outcome matches that of the program. For some programs, simply completing the program, taking a prescribed medication, or attending meetings is considered a "success." Better rehab programs define success as staying clean and sober after the patient returns home. Some programs will even factor in relationships and employment when they report the number of successful graduates of their program.
Once the would-be patient knows how the program defines "success," they are then in a position to interpret the program's quoted success rate and compare various facilities and approaches.
- How long will the program take?
Some rehabs can be as short as 28 days -- though New Directions recommends a minimum 90 days. The reason for a longer program is that for most patients, shorter stays aren't enough to achieve established, long-term sobriety. Why? Addictions tend to produce both mental and physical damage, so it takes longer for people to get completely sober.
- Are "substitute drugs" involved?
Some programs will give a patient "substitute drugs" or painkillers if they are in the process of recovering from a heroin, painkiller, or opiate addiction. Some programs (known as "harm reduction") are not even meant to produce full sobriety -- they're just meant to minimize the harm which results from illegal use. New Directions always seeks to help patients become completely free of addiction, never to replace one addiction with a different one.
- How will the program help eliminate any cravings for addictive substances?
Initial stages of a rehab are usually characterized by severe drug cravings. Most programs will have a few different ways to help suppress cravings and different types of support meetings or counseling to help fight cravings psychologically. Detox is generally the first step, but solid nutrition and various different methods can help prevent carvings in the long run. Detox is usually never enough on its own.
About New Directions for Women:
New Directions has an almost 40 year history as a treatment facility for women with drug, alcohol, and other forms of addiction or dependency. It is a non-profit facility which takes a holistic approach, looking to treat addiction on not just the physical and psychological levels but also the emotional and spiritual.
For Media Contact:
Tania Bhattacharyya
(866) 346-8431
[email protected]
http://www.newdirectionsforwomen.org