For a family grappling with a teenager's drug addiction, the services of a qualified rehab facility can mean the difference between chaos and calm. Below are a few tips you can use to locate a life-altering rehab facility in your area.
Check their licensing.
While their motives are sincere, no doubt, there are facilities around the country that lack the accreditation needed to ensure that teens are receiving quality treatment. While there is no national governing body for rehab centers, most states have their own accreditation boards, and it’s important to check this out before making any final decisions. In addition to facility accreditation, you should also make sure any potential centers are run by licensed psychologists or other mental health professionals.
Investigate their success rate.
Most rehab centers will provide at least some statistical information about their success rates. Ideally, these should be provided by a third-party agency to ensure objectivity. If you find a center that cannot provide this information or is reluctant to do so, this should be a red flag, and you should consider looking elsewhere.
Look for teen-specific programs.
Many rehab facilities are unable to accommodate minors or don’t have treatment programs geared specifically towards them. There are unique circumstances facing teen drug users, so it’s important to find a center that can cater to these special needs. Most teen-specific programs will be advertised as such, but it never hurts to ask for additional information about their work with teens as well.
Consider the location.
Generally, most rehab centers will recommend that patients have limited contact with friends and family during treatment—especially during the early stages. However, visits are not usually completely forbidden, which means travel considerations should at least partially be taken into account. This is not to say that location should be the most important factor, but if you know you don’t have the means to travel long distances for a visit, you may want to consider something that’s closer to home.
