Finding an addiction treatment center that best meets your needs can sometimes be a challenge. Insurance coverage or available financial resources often play a role in the decision. Location is often a factor as well for a variety of reasons. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether or not to travel for addiction treatment:
Where Is the Best Help Available for Your Needs?
There are treatment centers in most regions of the U.S. However, certain facilities specialize in specific needs. Perhaps you’re a dual-diagnosis patient. Maybe you struggle with an eating disorder in addition to substance abuse. You may be a primary psych patient with substance abuse as a secondary diagnosis. Depending on what your insurance and budget allow for, it’s very possible you may find the ideal program isn’t a 30-minute drive from home. Most addiction treatment programs are happy to assist you in coordinating travel.
Where Will You Find the Greatest Value?
Length of stay is an important consideration. Insurance coverage varies, as do financial resources. It’s important to know where you’re going to get the best value. Innovation in addiction treatment models in recent years has led to longer treatment stays and greater flexibility. The costs to deliver quality care vary from state-to-state. Often times you will find that the most comprehensive care may be available a few states away or even across the country.
Recovery is About Change
Most people entering treatment for addiction are looking for a complete change in lifestyle. It’s often said that people, places, and things must all be considered in the pursuit to get well. The conventional wisdom in the treatment field is that a change of venue is helpful and even therapeutic. This is especially worth considering with a patient who has some reluctance. Someone who may be at risk of leaving against medical advice when they have a tough day in therapy can be dissuaded if they can’t just call a friend to pick them up.
What Are Your Plans After Treatment?
This is an especially important thing to consider if a patient does not plan to return home immediately. Depending on those ‘people, places, and things’ mentioned earlier, it is often recommended that a patient lives out of the area for a year or more, until they can build a solid foundation for recovery. Different communities in the United States have emerged as ‘recovery friendly’. These places tend to have a much higher than usual concentration of resources for recovering people. 12-step meetings, therapists who specialize in addiction care, quality outpatient programs. Top-notch sober living homes in safe neighborhoods. Even businesses that are more understanding of people in early recovery and open to providing them with gainful employment.
The decision to enter treatment for addiction isn’t one that most people take lightly. Many people may only get one shot at getting it right. This is why it is vital to be as well informed as possible when you choose. It is equally important to keep an open mind to travel for care. While it may seem like a minor inconvenience up front, traveling for addiction treatment and what comes beyond is often the right decision.