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According to new research, 21 million Americans suffer from addiction. If you are one of those people, then you may want to find a residential treatment center.

However, there are many residential treatment centers in the country, so you might find it difficult to decide which one is the best option. 

Thankfully, we're here to help you make the right decision. Keep reading to discover more about how to find the best residential treatment center. 

1. Consider Medical Evaluation

First, you should get a medical evaluation to determine what services and treatments you really need. This will help you narrow down what type of facility you should look at. 

Some people may not need residential treatment. You might just need therapy and an outpatient facility to get the right amount of support. 

However, some people are uncomfortable talking about this with their primary care physician. If you're leaning more towards a certain type of facility, you can ask them for an evaluation as well. Sometimes they can also provide psychological assessments and give you a treatment plan. 

A psychological assessment could lead to multiple diagnoses. For example, you could be struggling with addiction and anxiety, and depression. However, once you know what you're dealing with, you can be best informed to find the right treatment center for you.

2. Consider Types of Rehab Programs

There are many different types of rehab programs, so you'll need to figure out which one fits your diagnosis best. There are about four main types of rehab programs:

Inpatient or Residential Treatment

If you have inpatient treatment, you'll live at the rehab facility for a few weeks. Some people may even stay there for a few months.

These types of facilities are great for people who need highly structured care or need intensive care. 

Inpatient treatment is best for people who have had an unstable recovery timeline, can't manage withdrawal symptoms, need behavioral therapies or a 12-step program, or have unstable living requirements. It's also for people who have severe addictions and need to be monitored. 

Outpatient Treatment

People can normally go home after they get regular treatments from this type of facility. 

Usually, only the people who have mild or moderate addictions and no other complications can do outpatient treatment. Again, your doctor should be able to tell you which option is better for you. 

There are pros and cons to outpatient and inpatient treatment, but it'll largely depend on your situation. Sometimes inpatient treatment can have a higher success rate, but many people aren't able to afford it and disrupt their lives in order to check into the facility. 

Partial Hospitalization Programs

If you feel like you need a program that's somewhere in the middle, you can get a partial hospitalization program. These are less intensive than inpatient rehab.

However, they're more intensive than outpatient treatment. 

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Medication-assisted treatment is when you need medication to help you get through your addiction. They will give you medication that will help you prevent relapse, handle withdrawal symptoms, and reduce cravings.

3. Check Licensing

Once you've identified what type of facility you want to check into, make sure that you check the licensing from the facility as well. They should have the proper licensing so that they protect themselves but also their patients.

If a facility is operating without the right licenses, it could be fined because they are violating certain laws. Some facilities might have had their licenses but then lose them. 

You should visit the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Providers Association website to make sure that the facility you're considering is actively licensed. You'll also be able to see if they have any complaints. If you can't find any information there, also check with your state to ensure that they're licensed with the state. 

4. Consider Distance

If you're considering rehab, then you'll want to consider how far away you want the facility to be. This factor is more important if you're considering an outpatient facility. 

When you find a treatment center that is closer to your home, it will be easier for you to get to. However, if you have loved ones or family that want to visit, it'll be easier for them to visit as well.

Some people want to get away from their home and family and will look for a rehab center farther away. Either way, this will help you narrow down your list of places to start considering. 

The location should also be in a place that doesn't have any triggers for your addiction, otherwise, it will be a struggle to manage that. 

5. Ask a Professional

Before you go to an inpatient facility, talk to a professional about their opinion of the facility. You can talk with a social worker, psychiatrist, or certified doctor. 

You should explore all of your options, and they will be able to help you by recommending some of the best places. 

6. Read Reviews

Read reviews on the place that you're considering. While businesses might list reviews on their website, make sure that you look on Google for different, independent reviews. 

When you read reviews, make sure that they are mostly positive. It's normal to have some bad reviews, but they should be well-balanced. Also, pay attention to repetitive reviews.

If people are all saying the same thing, then it's likely that they're being honest and accurate. You should also read reviews that are recent so that you have a better idea of how the facility is operating now. 

7. Know What to Research

Knowing what to research will also help you make the best decision. You'll be able to find a lot of information online, but you can also call the facility and ask for more information. 

You should ask for things like what their specialization is. Do they treat just a specific type of substance use or do they allow for all kinds of treatments?

If they treat what you need, do they have the right availability that you'll need? Can they start treatment soon, or will you have to wait a few months? Are they able to treat you even on holidays, weekends, and nights?

You also want to see what type of support they offer if you have multiple conditions. If you have a dual diagnosis, are they going to be able to help you manage both of them?

Ask about the facility treatment's expectations as well. For example, do they allow family visits? Will you be able to use your phone and have your personal belongings?

Some people need a more strict regiment, but some patients want more freedom, so it depends on what you need. 

You also want a treatment center that will help you manage your relapse and recovery. Also, ask what happens when you are done with your treatment. Do they provide any aftercare to ensure that you can continue your recovery process? 

8. Look for Long-Term Treatments

You may also want to consider an inpatient facility that can offer long-term treatment. In general, this can be an effective way to help manage substance abuse and addiction. 

Long-term treatment will help you move forward with recovery. It will give you more time to make progress and feel successful after you come out of the program. 

Sometimes having long-term treatment can also reduce the chances of relapse. You'll have more time to actually practice the lessons and techniques that the treatment center helps teach you.

9. Visit the Center

When you start narrowing it down to three centers, then you should tour there and visit them. This can help reassure you that you're choosing the right facility. 

You should ask for a guided tour through the areas where you'll be spending a lot of your time. Make note of the different activities that they offer and meet with the staff there to get an idea of how friendly and helpful they are. 

Some treatment centers don't offer tours at the facility, but you could try and do a virtual tour as well. 

10. Understand Insurance Coverage

Lastly, you'll need to consider your health insurance. Most private health insurances offer treatment for behavioral health care plans. Most facilities will offer financial assistance or accept some of those insurances so that patients can still receive treatment. 

However, each facility's cost will vary depending on the amenities they offer and the facility. If you want an accurate quote, you can always call the treatment center and talk with them about your insurance coverage. If you can't afford it, they may be able to help you find the right option. 

You may also be able to finance it with private financing, loans, fundraising, or the affordable care act. Some of the facilities will also accept Medicaid and Medicare. Some of the treatment centers also receive government funding, and they can offer programs at no cost for people who are in need.

11. Look for Therapy Treatment

It'll be helpful to have a facility that offers therapy treatment so that you can have the best chance of dealing with your addiction. You should try and find an inpatient facility that also offers cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

This is a popular type of therapy that will help you manage your thinking patterns. These thinking patterns are the drivers for behavior, so you'll learn how your thinking is driving your addiction. 

By focusing on your thoughts, you can then understand how to change them to help manage your addiction. It can also help you make more appropriate decisions. 

12. Ask the Right Questions

When you're considering a treatment facility, you need to make sure that you ask the right questions so you can make the best decision. For example, here are some questions that can help you make the most informed decision.

Do You Offer Personalized Programs? 

You'll want to be sure that the treatment offered will actually be right for you and hopefully be successful. You can choose a tailored and personalized treatment based on individual factors.

For example, your gender, age, background, ethnicity, severity, type of addiction, and what other efforts you've tried have worked or not worked. When you give all of this information to the facility treatment, they should come up with a personalized treatment plan.

Remember that what worked for one person may not always work for you.

Will the Treatment Duration Be Enough?

As we mentioned above, long-term treatments are normally the most effective. While everyone is different, you should consider treatment that lasts at least three months.

Sometimes you may even need to be in rehab longer to ensure that you can effectively manage your addiction. 

Do You Do 12-Step Programs?

Twelve-step programs are very common, and they can be very helpful for people with addictions. These programs are very common in groups like alcoholics anonymous, but you can also find them in many treatment centers.

They've proven to be very effective, so you may want to consider finding a treatment center that can offer that kind of program. 

Is the Program Flexible?

The program should be able to change according to the needs that your client has. As you go through treatment, your addiction will change, and the treatment center should be able to adapt to whatever your needs are. 

This is important to consider so that when your needs do change, they can address them rather than having to find a new facility for treatment. 

Discover More Tips for Finding a Residential Treatment Center

These are only a few tips for finding a residential treatment center, but there are many other factors to consider. 

We know that choosing a rehab facility is very important to you, which is why we're here to help.

Check out our website to see what services we offer that can help you manage your addiction.