Questions for an addiction treatment admissions team are best planned ahead of time, so you or a loved one can find the best treatment there is for recovery. Asking the right questions when choosing a treatment center ensures you’ll get the best fit for your needs. Read on for tips and ideas about the questions for an addiction treatment admissions team.
Tips to Get the Answers You Need
- Write down all your questions for an addiction treatment admissions team on a list.
- Leave space between each question, so you can write down answers under the questions.
- If you don’t understand an answer to one of your questions, stop and ask them to clarify their information until you fully understand it.
- Don’t feel intimidated. Providing answers to these questions for an addiction treatment admissions team is what the staff is there for, so ask away.
- Jot down the following basic questions for the admissions team.
Top 5 Questions for an Addiction Treatment Admissions Team
1. What licensing does the treatment program have?
State licensing regarding accreditation will vary, since states differ in their licensing requirements. Generally, each state licenses facilities that exceed the minimum levels of service quality and that are in compliance with the state’s program standards.
2. What type of evidence-based treatments does the program use?
Asking about evidence-based approaches to addiction treatment is one of the important questions for an addiction treatment admissions team, because it tells you if they use effective therapies.
Evidence-based behavioral approaches in therapy engage individuals in substance use disorder treatment, modify attitudes and behaviors related to substance abuse and improve life skills, so clients can handle the stressors and triggers that could lead to relapse. Behavioral therapies that have been proven effective in treating substance use disorders include:1
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychoeducation
3. Does the program personalize treatment to the needs of each client?
There is no “one size fits all” treatment. Just as each person is unique, the treatment plan for each individual should be as well.2 The best programs tailor treatment for each individual’s overall needs, not just their substance use problems.
Factors that the treatment center should take into account include the individual’s age, gender, ethnic background and cultural history. The severity of addiction and any previous treatment experiences can also have an effect on the recommended treatment approach.
4. Does the program treat dual diagnosis?
People with substance use disorders often have other mental health disorders. All of these conditions should be assessed by the treatment team. When these conditions co-occur in a person, known as a dual diagnosis, the treatment plan should address all conditions.
5. What type of help is available for the family?
Addiction is a disease that affects not only the individual but also the family. A family is a system of interrelated parts, and what affects one part of this tightly knit system affects all parts. Therefore, family therapy is an important part of effective addiction treatment.
Coordinating treatment settings, programs and services to a person’s particular issues and needs is important to their success in building solid recovery foundations and transitioning back into a productive sober life.