There is no clear formula for determining when drug rehab is necessary. Because all addicts are unique, the urgency of the situation can vary significantly depending on the circumstances. The following are some points to consider when deciding if it’s time for you or someone you know to enter rehab.

The cost of a rehab facility can vary greatly. Because this factor is one of the most common reasons for not seeking treatment, it’s important to know that there are many options for paying for rehab (Read Will My Insurance Pay for Rehab?). There are some government-funded programs (for example, for veterans or pregnant women) that are free; some charities also offer low-cost or free programs. On the other extreme, executive rehab facilities can cost $100,000 a month or more. How much a program costs will depend on the following factors:

1. Are you accredited?

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and the Joint Commission on Accredited Health Organizations (JCAHO) have established standards for staffing, record keeping, success rates, and other factors. Accredited rehab facilities have met these standards of care.

2. Do you have immediate openings?

Recovery is a lifelong process. Although rehab will equip an addict with the necessary mechanisms and behaviors for maintaining sobriety – including instilling a sense of personal accountability for one’s decisions – recovery does not end when a person is discharged from a drug or alcohol rehab facility. Most people in the medical community agree that addiction is a chronic condition that is treatable but not curable; this means that someone who has been addicted to a substance will likely never be able to use that substance casually or recreationally without falling back into the addiction.

If you have made the decision to seek treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction, you will have to weigh the pros and cons of the many different options for the rehab facilities that are available to you (Read 10 Questions for a Rehab Facility). Once you choose inpatient treatment – or staying in a facility full-time instead of coming for care and returning home in the evenings – you will need to decide whether to admit yourself or your loved one to a rehab facility in your area or to travel, in some cases long distances, to a different rehab facility.

What are the pros and cons of local vs. out-of-state rehab facilities?

Local

The exact treatment plan will depend on the substance that is being abused and the severity of the addiction. Treatment centers may also have different policies about what type of patients they will take (e.g., some will only take patients who are requesting help). Despite these differences, rehabs often incorporate similar aspects, some of which are discussed below.

• Detox: Not all rehab facilities offer detox services, so this is an important question to ask. However, if you have chosen a facility that does, the patient will first go through medically monitored detox from the substance that has caused the addiction.

The differences between alcohol rehab and drug rehab are subtle. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous both use similar 12-step plans as part of the recovery program. Likewise, alcohol and drug rehab facilities usually offer similar treatment plans that include therapy, medical treatment, activities, and sobriety “training” (Read What Happens at a Rehab Facility). Where do the differences lie?

It is often difficult for an addict (or anyone, for that matter) to admit – first that they have a problem, and, second, that they are unable to fix it by themselves. Family and friends can feel frustrated by what seems like illogical reasons for not seeking treatment or by the stubbornness of an addict who insists that nothing is wrong despite many financial, emotional, interpersonal relationship, career, and social problems suggesting the complete opposite.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimated that, in 1992, the total cost of alcohol and drug abuse to society was $245.7 billion; this includes the cost of law enforcement, health care, and lost work-related productivity.  Clearly, substance abuse is a significant national problem with a large economic footprint, which is why the government has funded research on prevention and treatment.  

The short answer is maybe.  When you call your insurance company, make sure to ask the following questions:

• Do you cover any portion of treatment for substance abuse?  If so, what will the co-payment be? 

• What is the total limit of treatment that you will cover? (Note: The recent passing of the Mental Health Parity Act requires that insurance companies that offer mental health coverage treat mental and physical health the same, which translates into similar limits and co-payments for both physical and mental health treatment, including rehab).