What You Should Know About Drug Rehab Success Rates

Any person who wants to take the first step in recovery may probably wonder if drug rehabilitation would be effective for them. What are the facts behind drug rehab success rates? This article gives insight about what you should know before making a decision.

If you are contemplating going to a drug rehab center, you have probably done your research about the different studies on drug rehab success rates. And even if you didn’t you may feel uncertain if the program of your choice will be effective for you.  It is important to understand that rehab success rates are difficult to gauge for many factors, however, you can look into other factors of rehab that have more tangible measurements.

Why Drug Rehab Success Rates are Hard to Gauge

There are some things to consider on why it is so difficult to determine the success rate of a rehab center. The following are reasons why this is true.

• Lying – Many people who use drugs tend to lie about their usage. To avoid being judged, ridiculed or punished.
• Desire – The desire someone has to stay sober is the main factor determining if rehab was a success. A person could go to a rehab and receive the best treatment, but if they do not have the desire to stay sober they won’t.
• Confidentiality – A person could stay sober after treatment but never let anyone know that he or she went. A lot of people want to remain confidential about their rehab visits and drug use.
• Credibility – Some centers could boast a high success rate but this is not always the case. They could have high patient satisfaction scores but that does not mean the rehab was a success.
• Relapse – Some people who relapse could gauge their rehab visit as a failure, even though they were able to get sober after relapsing.

Drug Rehab Success Rates

Realistically speaking, drug rehab success rates start with having a controlled, sustained environment and mindset, but aftercare depends on the individual and his community. Here are some of the drug rehab success rates about program completion and sobriety after a number of years. It is difficult to gauge success rates of rehab centers because of many factors.

• Inpatient treatment and individualized treatment out of all the patients admitted, 73% complete the program and have a drug rehab success rate of 21% as patients remain sober after 5 years.
• Detoxification may cost you $2000 for most centers. Out of all who avail the program, 33% complete the treatment while 17% stay sober within a 5-year time frame.
• Residential programs costs $3000 on average. It has the highest percentage of program completion totaling to 50% of all who take this option. There is a drug rehab success rate of 21% with those who finished remaining sober within 5 years.
• Outpatient treatments are the most affordable costing $1000 on average. Just a little less than half (43%) complete the program and 18% remain sober within a 5-year period.

People who come across these percentages may be skeptical about the effectiveness of drug rehab. However, the information on drug rehab success rates doesn’t always reflect the small and moderate improvements that patients make. Drug rehab success isn’t initially always about total abstinence on the first try. Many people can experience a relapse, but this doesn’t mean that the drug rehab program isn’t effective. A relapse can be a temporary situation that people can get out of once proper aftercare is done. Here are some of the signs that a drug rehab program is effective:

Signs of an Effective Drug Rehab Program

• The individual takes less drugs, or none at all. The drug rehab success rates above do not take into account people who have dramatically reduced their drug intake. A sign that a person is progressing in recovery is when they take smaller dosages of the substance or shorter periods of relapse.
• The individual experiences more employment opportunities. Another indicator of an effective drug rehab program are patients experiencing productivity in their jobs, or getting more opportunities in their career/business life.
• The individual experiences better education. If a patient decides to go to school, continue school, or has improved grades, this can be a sign of an effective program.
• The individual may have restored relationships. One of the best signs of an effective drug treatment is when the patient is able to repair relationships with family, friends, romantic partners, coworkers and other loved ones.
• The individual may feel more healthy. Another evidence of a good drug rehab program is when the patient has fewer hospital visits, and experience and overall sense of well-being physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
• The individual can experience an improved legal status. If a patient is formerly involved in crimes or other unlawful behavior, this should be lessened or eliminated by an effective program.
• The individual and family members may feel more safe and secured. Being involved in drugs may cause problems in safety and security for the user and their loved ones. A sign of an effective treatment is when patients and their loved ones feel a lesser risk for accidents, conflicts and damage.

What Rehabs Offer Than Can Improve Your Chance at Success

Not all rehab centers are created equal. As a person who wants to maximize resources to get the best type of treatment, here are some things you should look for when searching for an effective drug rehab program.

• Counselors and health care providers that are licensed
• Doctors who have been certified by American Board of Addiction Medicine
• Individualized treatment programs which are fit for the patient’s status and context
• Effectiveness of the program to pinpoint underlying causes such as mental health problems, relationship problems, or other societal concerns
• Complete access to medication and other forms of treatment if needed
• Emphasis on combining multiple disciplines and treatment programs if necessary

Seek Treatment–Start Now!

The most important thing to remember when considering a drug rehab program isn’t just simply the drug rehab success rates, but also if the kind of treatment is right for you. Statistics reveal that people who complete the program and follow their aftercare protocol have a higher chance of being successfully sober. As a person who desires recovery, it is important to be realistic, but at the same time being hopeful with all the positive outcomes of treatment. Taking one step is better than taking none at all and the number 1 determining factor of a rehab success is the patient’s desire to get sober.