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Myths About Drug and Alcohol Rehab

Perhaps one of the biggest myths about drug and alcohol rehab is that treatment does not work.

Thinking this could be one of the reasons that finding the right drug and alcohol rehab might seem so difficult. Another common myth is that addiction is developed by choice. This could not be further from the truth. An addiction is considered to be a long term/ lifelong condition that takes continuous effort, control, strength, and determination. Addiction can be treated just as other long term/lifelong conditions such as diabetes, allergies, asthma, and chronic high blood pressure.

Do You Need Treatment?

In the early days of using a substance, you may have had a choice. For example, you could choose when you wanted to drink. Overtime, both drugs and alcohol change the neural-connection in the brain. Once this has happened, your body will rely on the substance to function. In other words, you lose the ability to choose whether or not you want to drink or use.

Even if you do decide enough is enough, withdrawal symptoms will occur. Most people who choose to quit on their own will return to using as soon as they experience these very unpleasant symptoms. If you notice the following symptoms, you should consider going to a rehab Thailand has to offer, such as Siam Rehab, it might just be the right drug and alcohol rehab for you:

  • You continue to use drugs or alcohol even after you have suffered consequences regarding your health, career, relationships, schooling, or other areas of life.
  • You go through a withdrawal whenever you try to quit or cannot access the substance.
  • You need more of the drug or alcohol to get the same feeling as when you initially started using.

Finding the Right Drug and Alcohol Rehab

No two rehabs are the same. Your programme of choice may be based upon:

  • The type of drug you are addicted to
  • Your age and gender
  • Your history of health
  • Whether you have any mental health issues
  • The cost of rehab
  • Your insurance coverage
  • The location of the rehab
  • Your home location

It is advisable to do some research before choosing any random treatment centre. Compare their services and know what you are looking for.

Where You Should Get Treatment

The first steps towards effective addiction treatment is to acknowledge that you have a problem and need help. Afterwhich, it is important you understand that treatment is not an overnight thing, it takes time. Short term treatments, such as a one week hospital stay, rarely work. The right drug and alcohol rehab treatment will take place over a minimum of one month. The services should be broad and include counselling, group therapy, relaxation therapies, exercise, and more. Here are a few resources that may guide you in the right direction:

  • Your primary care physician
  • Your employee assistance programmes
  • Your countries’ national drug helpline
3 motivational signs in a garden depicting the right drug and alcohol rehab
A caring place – photo by Dan Meyers

Right now you might feel as if there is no hope. Please remember you are trying to fight a condition that is strong and overwhelming. You don’t have to go at it alone, and you shouldn’t. Treatment is effective, but it is a process that will include challenges and obstacles that you must be ready to overcome. Help is available and finding the right rehab can enable you to begin your recovery. Call Siam Rehab to learn more about our leading rehab Thailand provides to an international base of clientele.

Finding the Right Drug and Alcohol Rehab

Get an Evaluation By a Primary Care Doctor – Before you decide that an inpatient rehab in Thailand is right for you or a loved one, it may be a good idea to get an evaluation from your primary care doctor or a psychiatrist. Take a moment to explore all of your options. For example, not everyone needs to go to an inpatient treatment centre. Sometimes an outpatient facility or counselling and 12 step meetings will be a good fit.

Do Research About the Facility You Are Considering – At least 50 percent of people with an addiction also have another clinical condition such as depression, high stress, anxiety, PTSD, body dysmorphic disorder, and so forth. You should make sure that the rehab you are considering has the necessary resources, such as staff, to address dual diagnosis disorders.

Confirm Whether the Rehab Uses Medication – If you or a loved one has an addiction to opiates, there is a good chance that medication will be incorporated into your detox to ease the painful withdrawal symptoms. That being said, there are facilities that do not offer this for one reason or another. If you are wanting to have a detox with medication, such as naltrexone, methadone, or a relaxant, you should ask the rehab in Thailand whether or not this is an option.

Look for a Rehab that Has Been Around for at Least 5 Years – Although new rehabs may offer good services, it is better to choose a rehab in Thailand that has been around for at least 5 years. There are stories of rehabs opening for opportunistic purposes, and end up failing within the first few years because of unethical practices. Rehabs that have been open for a longer period of time tend to remain open because they offer quality, trusted services that work.

Don’t Equate Luxury with Quality – An inpatient rehab stay generally ranges from a few thousand dollars for 28 days to tens of thousands of dollars per month. These high cost luxury rehabs might sound appealing; however, looks don’t always measure up to the quality you might expect. In Australia, the UK and the U.S., there are multiple reports of high end centres failing to offer basic counselling, being understaffed, or enticing patients through false advertising.

Avoid a Rehab that Guarantees Success – Although it might be appealing to read that a rehab offers guaranteed success, this should never be said as it is a lie. It is impossible to guarantee success for an addict. Rather it is up to the addict to follow the treatment plan that is given to them at the centre and after he or she leaves. The rehab acts as a guide, teacher, and support module, but only the patient can take the right action to make their life better.

The Number and Quality of Staff – While you are looking for the right drug and alcohol rehab, you will want to compare the facilities’ staff. These professionals will have an integral role in your treatment, and it is important you can build a certain level of trust with them. Many people with an addiction have trust issues; therefore, developing trust begins at the very beginning of treatment. The right drug and alcohol rehab will offer a team of knowledgeable staff. The patient to staff ratio should be one that ensures patients are never left out because there is not enough staff. Finally, the staff should be qualified, certified, educated, and experienced.

At Siam Rehab, we have one of the best staff to patient ratios out of all the facilities in Thailand. We are also proud of our knowledgeable team that includes a psychiatrist, psychologist, addiction counsellors, and more.

Continuum of Care – The continuum of care refers to the level of treatment that is offered to every client. Staff at the rehab will determine where the continuum should begin based upon ongoing evaluations and assessments. The initial continuum typically begins with a medically supervised detox and continues all the way through aftercare and the patients’ life. An example of what continuum of care includes is as follows:

  • The detox or partial hospitalisation
  • Residential inpatient treatment
  • Outpatient treatment or services
  • Aftercare

Although a detox is often necessary, it cannot alone provide sufficient healing. The right drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand, or elsewhere, will offer services that include detoxification, inpatient treatment, aftercare, and other ongoing service. A good rehab helps clients find resources near their home, such as a counsellor, medical provider, 12 step meeting, and more.

If you’d like to take a look at what contributes to addiction treatment success rates, read this article by American Addiction Centers.

Siam Rehab: A Leading Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Thailand

If you are looking for the right drug and alcohol rehab for yourself or a loved one, and would like to know more about our comprehensive care, please call Siam Rehab now or head over to our contact page to leave a message.

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