Addiction and alcoholism are serious conditions that require extensive professional treatment. If you leave a substance use disorder untreated, you face a serious risk of developing drug-related health conditions, suffering from fatal overdoses, and more. With that being said, you should carefully choose the drug rehab program you attend to ensure that the treatment you receive is effective, evidence-based, and sensitive to your needs.
Unfortunately, every addiction treatment program provides legitimate, high-quality care. Because substance abuse is on the rise, some people see owning a treatment center as a good business investment, meaning some rehab centers are only in it for the money.
Thankfully, there are ways to tell when a drug rehab program is a scam rather than a safe haven for people looking to recover. Knowing how to avoid rehab scams and choose a trustworthy addiction treatment program will ensure that you or your loved one receives the care you need and deserve.
How to Spot a Drug Rehab Scam
When you choose to enter a drug and alcohol rehab center, you expect to receive the best care possible. After all, addiction is a life-or-death situation and requires extensive services and treatments to recover. Unfortunately, some rehab programs are only in it for the money, which means they are running a scam.
Knowing how to spot a rehab scam can prevent you from wasting valuable time and money that you could be using on a reputable addiction treatment program. Signs of a drug rehab scam include:
Patient Brokering
Patient brokers are people who are paid to refer patients to drug and alcohol rehab centers in exchange for a benefit, bonus, rebate, or kickback. These people’s main concern is getting you into a program and receiving the money they are working for. In other words, they do not care if the rehab they are sending you to is reputable or fits your specific needs.
If an addiction treatment center uses patient brokering to receive clients, they are most likely running a scam. While it can be difficult to determine whether you are speaking to a patient broker, usually they will call you from an 800 number rather than the number listed on the treatment facility’s website or business listings.
Paid Directory Listings
Rehab directories can be extremely helpful, as they provide you with tons of options to choose from. However, oftentimes they are working with patient brokers and other treatment centers to poach potential clients from one rehab to the next. Legitimate rehab directories will use the addiction treatment program’s actual phone number on the listing, rather than an 800 number.
Promises that are Too Good to Be True
If a drug and alcohol rehab center makes promises that you will be sober in 30 days, they are most likely scamming you. There is no rehab center that has a 100% success rate, as addiction is a chronic and progressive disease that often takes a long time to fully heal from.
Even the highest-rated drug rehab centers will have patients who relapse because that is the nature of the disease for some people. However, the most trustworthy drug rehab centers will be transparent about their treatment services, hire qualified staff members, and continue providing patients with services even after they complete the program.
Little Information on Treatment
Reliable addiction treatment centers are transparent about the services they offer and how the program works. Usually, information about the program will be easily accessible on their website and they will set up a free consultation over the phone to continue discussing how the program works and what they offer. However, if an addiction treatment center is not upfront about the services they provide, that is a good indication that its practices aren’t up to standard.
Choosing a Trustworthy Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center in the Boston Area
Now that you understand how to spot a drug rehab scam, you must learn how to choose a trustworthy program. This part is a little bit easier than avoiding scams, as reputable programs are not trying to deceive you and can provide ample information about their facility.
The best drug and alcohol rehab centers will provide the following services:
- Medical detox or referrals to an affiliated detox program
- An in-depth assessment upon arrival to determine your needs
- Individualized treatment planning
- Options for dual diagnosis treatment
- Evidence-based behavioral therapies and counseling groups
- Access to addiction support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous
- Holistic treatments like yoga, meditation, and even massage
- Relapse prevention planning (aftercare services)
- Referrals to sober living programs to ease your transition into independent living
One of the most important aspects of quality treatment is individualized treatment planning. Typically, you can find out if a rehab offers this by looking on their website under “services we offer” or “about our program”. Attending a drug rehab that offers individualized treatment planning will ensure that you receive personalized treatment that targets the issues you need to work on and highlights your current strengths.
Other qualities to look for in a trustworthy rehab center include:
- State licensing
- Third-party accreditation
- Licensed and certified staff members
- Positive online reviews
- Transparent billing policies
Lastly, you should always consult with a representative of the program before committing to them. Most drug and alcohol rehab centers offer a free phone consultation or even a tour of the facility so you can make sure that the program is the right fit for you.
Find a Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center in the Boston Area Today
Woburn Wellness Addiction Treatment providers are licensed, clinical treatment professionals committed to compassionate, cutting-edge, evidence-based practice shared in a vibrant exchange between client and clinician. At Woburn Wellness Addiction Treatment, no one is a passive recipient of our expertise. Our clinical team highly values the experiences of loved ones as well, incorporating family sessions as part of the individual’s treatment.
For more information on how we can help, contact Woburn Wellness today.
For Confidential Help Call (781) 484-0195
