Are Free Rehab Centers Effective?

You can find effective treatment centers that are low cost, or even free.

During difficult economic times people often find themselves trying to find an effective drug or alcohol treatment center but simply cannot afford it. If you or a loved one has an alcohol or drug problem and wish to receive help there are several options that cost little or nothing at all. Many private residential facilities are very expensive and require excellent credit or insurance to be accepted. There are also many facilities that offer free or low cost treatment or treatment based on a sliding scale depending on the person’s income and other factors. Most states offer outpatient and inpatient alcohol and drug treatment facilities that are completely tax supported and cost nothing for the patient. These programs can range from short-term detox centers, long-term residential treatment facilities to individual outpatient counseling at local clinics.

Because these programs are utilized mostly by people who are already in the “system” through agencies such as the Department of Family and Children Services, the county health department or the criminal justice system, state-sponsored programs can have a very long waiting list.

These programs are generally the first to experience cutbacks during times of economic stress because they are supported entirely by tax dollars.

Are Free Rehab Centers Effective?

There are many drug treatments centers that offer both inpatient and outpatient care. All drug treatment centers must follow very strict federal rules and regulations. Whether a fancy drug treatment center that spares no expense or a free drug treatment center that is completely supported by tax dollars. Some focus on a spiritual approach to recovery while others are more medically based. Free rehab centers use the same techniques as private, expensive facilities such as a twelve step recovery program.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse Twelve-step facilitation therapy is an active engagement strategy designed to increase the likelihood of a substance abuser becoming affiliated with and actively involved in 12-step self-help groups, thereby promoting abstinence based on three key ideas: (1) acceptance, which includes the realization that drug addiction is a chronic, progressive disease that the individual has no control over, that life has become unmanageable because of drugs, that willpower alone is insufficient to overcome the problem, and that abstinence is the only alternative; (2) surrender, which involves giving oneself over to a higher power, accepting the fellowship and support structure of other recovering addicted individuals, and following the recovery activities laid out by the 12-step program; and (3) active involvement in 12-step meetings and related activities. The treatment appears promising for helping drug abusers sustain recovery.

SAMHSA data show that private nonprofit organizations operated the majority of facilities offering “all free” care and “partial free” facilities (73.8 and 68.1 percent, respectively). Among facilities offering “no free” care, approximately equal percentages were operated by private for-profit (46.9 percent) and private nonprofit (46.4 percent) organizations.

Facilities offering “all free” care (51.6 percent) were more likely than those in the “partial free” (30.5 percent) or “no free” (20.6 percent) groups to offer nonhospital residential care.