Choosing a substance abuse treatment for your teenager or young adult is a lot like choosing a college. You have to consider whether they’d be better off close to home or with a little distance from the people and situations they’re used to. Would they really be somewhere warm and sunny, or are they a fan of the cold? You’ll most likely have to factor cost into the equation (or see what exactly your insurance will pay for, in the case of addiction treatment). You’ll want to know exactly what programs are offered, and what their specialties are. (For example, do they have people who specialize in dealing with teens? Or with mental disorders or any other special considerations?) It can be a daunting task, but there are some questions you can ask that will help you make the right choice.
The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids has a workbook available online that will guide you through the process of choosing a facility. It’s over 30 pages long, but here are some samples of the things they recommend you ask.
Questions about assessment
Does the program use a published assessment tool?
What are the Levels of Care available?
Will my child be re-assessed to monitor progress?
How soon could treatment begin?
Questions about mental health and medical care
Will my child be assessed for co-occurring mental health problems?
Does the program treat mental health problems?
Is the staff knowledgeable about Medication-Assisted Treatment?
Can the staff manage all of my child’s medications?
Questions about comprehensive integrated treatment
Does the program offer comprehensive integrated treatment?
Does the program offer services for sexual health and infectious diseases, trauma, other addictive behaviors, or educational or vocational help?
Questions about staff qualifications
What is the staff-to-patient ratio?
What are the staff members trained in? (For example, adolescent development, case management, family therapy, and co-occurring disorders.)
What sort of degrees or certifications do the staff members have?
Are there medical doctors on staff?
Is there anyone available for emergency medical or psychiatric care?
Payment questions
What is the cost of the program?
Is insurance accepted?
Are Medicare and/or Medicaid accepted?
Do they offer financial aid, a sliding fee scale, or a payment plan?
Questions about family involvement
Is family therapy offered?
What sort of information about and input on treatment is provided to parents?
Are there any services available for parents and siblings of the patient?
These are just a few of the questions you might want to ask. You can print out the workbook or make your own list, but have a sheet for each program you intend to call. Once you’ve spoken to a representative and recorded their answers, you can go back and compare all the various pros and cons and determine which facility is best.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504 to get started.
