Do Drug Addiction Centers Know What They’re Doing?

This is always a good question to ask when seeking treatment for any problem, including drug addiction. If you or a loved one has finally made the choice to seek treatment, then they have just made one of the most important decisions of their lives. Now comes the more difficult part, are all addiction centers the real deal?

First, let’s look at how treatment centers got started. Addiction treatment actually started with the treatment of alcoholism in the mid-eighteenth century among First Nations.  It was not long after, that Benjamin Rush defined alcoholism as a disease that required treatment.

The beginning of the first, true addiction centers, however, didn’t begin until the early nineteenth century.  It was the early twentieth century that actually saw a shift from alcoholism to a more pronounced dependence on drugs in society. This was in part because some alcoholics were being treated for their addiction with cocaine! This shift eventually resulted in many people with drug addiction being committed to asylums, which were eventually closed for unethical practices.

Luckily, it was during the latter part of the last century, that drug addiction treatment began to evolve into what they are today. As late as the sixties, a person with a drug addiction could have been thrown into a cell. Thankfully, modern times means modern treatment and, with centers like the Betty Ford Clinic, opened in 1982, a person can now be afforded proper, compassionate care.

The question here is not should a person seeking treatment receive good care, but will they receive proper care? A great deal of the answer lies in the country you reside in and the country you’re seeking treatment from for the answer. Many countries like Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom have regulations and legislation put in place to ensure that a person can’t simply set up shop and call themselves a rehab clinic. They do have to be licensed, but if you’re living in the United States, realize that laws differ from state to state. Are they too lax? Are they strict? These laws are usually indicators of what kind of clinic you’re going to get, and it’s best to pay attention to this and do your research.

Some clinics turn out to be less than what they are supposed to be, like one in Colorado. For your online search to find the perfect treatment center for you, be aware of certain forms of advertising.  A reputable company had to remove ads recently which promised help to vulnerable addicts seeking treatment but instead sent them to expensive private clinics. Why? They got a handsome fee for doing so.

If you’re looking into getting treatment from other countries then ask yourself about the motivations for why you’re making that choice. If it’s to get away to a tropical destination to get better, then all the more power to you! If, however, your decision is mainly motivated by price, then you might want to take a closer look at the treatment center you’re considering.

Different countries have different rules, and it’s important to consider what the laws, regulations, and licensing requirements are in each one before you make a decision. This may seem like more trouble and more work than it’s worth, but it would be a big disappointment for you or your loved one to make a commitment to an institution for a month, six months, or even a year only to discover that what was promised and what you receive are two different things.

So, do drug addiction treatment centers know what they’re doing? For the most part, the answer is yes. Most centers are the genuine article and want to help you. Most centers are governed by legislation to prevent them from doing harm. Just do your homework first, and assure yourself of a good experience.