How to Find Affordable Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Southern CA that Treats the Cause & Works to Prevent Relaps

By Lisette Fraser 

Choosing an affordable drug and alcohol rehab center in Southern CA can be a daunting task for those not knowing the right questions to ask. The consequences of an uninformed decision can include wasted time due to ineffective treatment, a lost precious opening for recovery, or a negative experience that closes any further window of opportunity for one to become well.

The benefit of making an informed decision can result in the highest prospect of recovery for both self and loved ones, resulting in freedom from addiction that could otherwise end a life. Knowing the right questions to ask will help you get the answers you need to make an informed decision.

1. Does your program treat the underlying causes of addiction, and if so, how is this accomplished?Many treatment centers address the immediate symptoms of alcoholism through 12-step teachings and an introduction to the philosophy of Alcoholics Anonymous. This is very important and should be a component of all facilities’ curriculum. However, a key factor in staying clean and sober is an understanding approach that treats the cause of the addiction and the forces that keep this in play. These range from underlying issues such as anxiety disorders to unresolved childhood traumas, and many other undiagnosed conditions that cause a person to self-medicate through alcohol or substances. The best treatment centers will have a clinical staff consisting of Licensed Clinical Social Workers [LCSW], Marriage and Family Therapists [MFT], and Doctors of Psychology [Psy.D] to therapeutically address the core issues of this complicated disease. A program that offers 80% therapy and 20% 12-step introduction is considered a comprehensive treatment protocol.

2. Does your facility offer education in relapse prevention and do the clients get a chance to practice this before returning to their original environment?Rehab that works to prevent relapse involves much more than a short term stay in a facility. Short term sobriety is often achieved in a 28 day treatment program because the client has been removed from his/her immediate triggers and placed in an environment conducive to recovery. A quality facility will be located on a serene property that facilitates the healing process; often a quiet,  secluded ranch can enhance the recovery experience by allowing one’s thoughts to focus on recovery, creating the necessary space for processing  new information. Free from every-day stressors, the client can learn new coping skills for getting and staying sober. However, if one is not able to practice these new skills within a controlled and supportive environment, the relapse rate can be high. The best treatment programs are those offering longer lengths of stay with step-down options for putting these new tools into play, and are considered more comprehensive than 28 day facilities. During additional phases of treatment, clients gain access to their triggers and practice navigating them while utilizing their new tools.

3. What type of family component does your program offer?Addiction is a family disease and if the family does not receive help during the identified patient’s treatment, the likelihood of long-term recovery is low. Many programs in affordable drug and alcohol rehab centers have a family component that consists of weekly family therapy sessions, but this is not considered enough support for the family member. A high quality treatment program will offer individual family sessions weekly, in addition to something called multi-family groups. Multi-family groups consist of all family members or loved ones of those currently in treatment attending special groups along with all the clients themselves. This lends a distinctive opportunity for family members to gain support from others  who are experiencing life with an addict or alcoholic, while serving to uncover the unique perspective of both the loved one and the client. In this way, new communication styles are formed, leading to a greater overall success rate.

4. Do you have free lifetime aftercare for clients who have graduated from your program?Addiction is a long term disease requiring long term attention. Ultimately, rehab that works to prevent relapse is much more affordable than several stops and starts using short term programs.  Studies have shown those who consistently participate in aftercare have a greater chance of achieving lasting success in staying clean and sober. While 12-step meetings through Alcoholics Anonymous are crucial in maintaining sobriety, being able to reconnect with the drug and alcohol rehab center in Southern Ca that delivered the initial therapeutic skills is a pivotal form of comprehensive care. Returning to weekly, free alumni groups either in person or via an online support system will maximize one’s recovery network and minimize the overall cost of the program. Importance should be placed on this factor when choosing a treatment program, as this will extract the best facilities.

For more information on the benefits of affordable drug and alcohol treatment in a ranch style rehab center in Southern California, go to www.laventanaed.com or call 800.560.8518.