What Makes a Rehab High-Quality?

If you’re currently going through the process of choosing a rehab for you or a loved one, you’re probably overwhelmed. There are so many rehabs out there in New Mexico, and it’s hard to tell which ones can offer the best treatment possible. It may seem obvious to just pick a rehab with good reviews online, but there’s a lot more to consider when making such a huge decision for you or a loved one.

For example, maybe you or a loved one have tried many other rehabs in the past with a 12-Step focus, and you’re looking for alternatives. Or maybe you’re looking for rehab with a family focus because you want to be involved with your loved one’s recovery journey. These are just a few examples of what to consider while you’re doing your research, but we’ll include a comprehensive list below of the most important qualities you need to look out for.

  • Accredited Staff and Program

Perhaps one of the most important things to look for is the quality of the staff. The staff of a treatment facility are the people who you or a loved one will be interacting with the most during treatment, and you want to make sure they’re licensed and highly trained. One of the major reasons that top-rated rehabs are so successful is that they have the best staff.

It’s also important to know if these staff members are there full or part-time. Many centers will only have psychiatrists visit with patients 15 minutes a week as they have expensive salaries. The best programs have them full-time on staff and regularly working with patients. If the workers are mostly part-time, it does not allow for complete access to their attention.

These staff members also must be licensed so they have the power to prescribe and dispense medication which could be a vital part of the treatment process when dealing with mental health issues.

Many centers only use CADCs or other lower-level counselors with maybe a 2-year certificate. They are not licensed to practice mental health. You need at least a master’s and many hours of clinical experience so it’s crucial that a dual diagnosis center has an LMFT, LCSW, psychiatrist, etc. on staff.

Many addiction treatment facilities undergo a process of accreditation in addition to meeting state licensure requirements. Accredited facilities have undergone rigorous evaluation by a respected third-party organization. Official approval from the Joint Commission Accreditation for Addiction Treatment (JCAHO), or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehab Facilities (CARF), is generally a good sign that the treatment facility is operating according to high standards.

  • A Focus on Underlying Issues

For most who suffer from addiction, the addiction is the result of other underlying issues, especially mental health. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, as many as 40% of people struggling with addiction also have a mental health disorder (and this is only counting those that have been properly diagnosed). If underlying issues are not addressed during treatment, they will continue to be a problem in recovery.

Those with untreated underlying issues are much more likely to relapse, as the reason behind their addiction is still causing them problems. One thing that all great centers have in common when treating co-occurring disorders is the fact that they have a primary focus on overall mental health, not just the addiction. Most of these rehabs offer treatment that includes cognitive-behavioral therapy, EMDR, trauma-informed care, and family therapy. All of these treatment options can make the chance of long-term recovery much greater.

Mental health is something that needs constant work and attention. Quality centers will teach you how you can keep your mind healthy through daily exercises like meditation, therapy techniques, and mindfulness.

  • Individualized Treatment Is A Necessity

Everyone has a different history and different ways for dealing with addiction. Everyone who goes to rehab has their own unique diagnosis that is different to everyone else. Any program that doesn’t acknowledge this will have limited effectiveness

Effective addiction treatment is individualized per the needs of the patient. Quality treatment addresses multiple facets of one’s addiction, including any medical, psychological, or social issues. Effective treatment is also tailored to the individual’s age, ethnicity, gender, and culture. A customized treatment program will offer a combination of services to match the patient’s unique needs. For example, a patient with co-occurring disorders (an addiction and other mental health issues) may require a very specific therapeutic approach that may not be right for another patient.

The facility you choose should do a thorough evaluation of your condition and create an individualized plan that recognizes and takes into account your personal stressors and supports, as well as what did or did not work for you in previous recovery attempts.

  • Aftercare Planning for Long-Term Sobriety

People looking for treatment get so focused on their time in rehab that they forget to ask about any aftercare that is available. The recovery process extends beyond the first 30, 60, or 30-45 days of treatment. Longer engagement in treatment including aftercare has many proven benefits, such as fewer relapses and better social functioning. In fact, over 71 percent of people who engaged in aftercare for nine months or longer were sober at one year, compared to just 48 percent who participated for six months and 37 percent who participated for three months.

Great centers will have a strong aftercare program in place especially when dealing with dual diagnosis cases. Mental health issues take time to treat and more assistance will be needed than the 28-day stay at the facility. Determining the quality and success of aftercare programs at a rehab can be one of the most important factors to consider when searching for long-term recovery for you or a loved one.

Resources In New Mexico

To make this research process a little easier for you, below we have provided a list of resources to help you or a loved one, specifically in New Mexico. These resources displayed here have consistently shown themselves to be committed toward educating, guiding and ultimately helping the public in many ways.

Government/Educational Resources: 

University Resources:

Specific Gender, Religion, Sexual Orientation, etc. Resources:

Support Groups:

New Mexico Hotlines:

  • Crisis Line: 1-855-662-7474
  • Nurses Advice New Mexico: 1-877-725-2552
  • Agora Crisis Center- 24-hour addiction hotline: 1-866-435-7166
  • Mental Health and Substance Abuse State Authority hotline for New Mexico: (888) 920-6333

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