Addiction is a serious problem in the United States, with 10% of adults suffering from a drug use disorder at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, the National Institutes of Health reports that 75% of the people struggling with addiction never receive the treatment they need.[1]
While addiction treatment is extremely important, not every rehab program is created equally. There are some facilities that do not provide adequate treatment because they prioritize money over their client’s interests. Not only that, but Florida’s rehab industry in particular has been riddled with drug rehab scams, untrustworthy programs, and questionable practices such as body brokering.
Going to rehab and getting help for your addiction can save your life, so it’s important to choose a rehab center wisely. Here is how you can avoid drug rehab scams and choose a trustworthy addiction treatment center in South Florida.
How to Identify Florida Rehab Scams
Deciding to enter addiction treatment is one of the most important choices of your life so you should be extremely selective when it comes to choosing a specific rehab program. Addiction is a serious condition that could lead to life-threatening conditions and death, which means that the treatment you receive should be professional, intensive, and evidence-based.
Sadly, substance abuse treatment is still a business, and anyone can open a rehab facility. you will have to learn how to determine which facilities are in it for the money, and which ones are there to save lives.
The easiest way to spot a Florida drug rehab scam is to look for specific qualities, including:
Patient Brokering
Patient brokering (also known as body brokering) occurs when a treatment program pays someone to refer patients to their facility. While patient brokering is illegal in Florida, there are still drug and alcohol rehab centers using this tactic to fill their beds and make extra money. When a rehab center is using patient brokering, you cannot trust that they are in the business for the right reason.
Oftentimes, rehabs that engage in patient brokering focus on collecting substantial fees for certain treatments without providing any follow-up assistance. They are using their patients for financial gain without providing them with the support they truly need.
If you come across someone offering you free services in exchange for you attending their treatment program, they are not doing this out of the goodness of their heart. It is a common tactic used by patient brokers to get as many new client admissions as possible, and your best interest may not be their priority.
Grandiose Promises
Another thing to watch out for is unrealistic promises or assurances. If an addiction treatment boasts about a 100% success rate, they are most likely attempting to scam you. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 40-60% of people suffering from addiction relapse.[2] Addiction is a relapsing disease and a 100% success rate is impossible. Claims such as these prove that the facility is willing to do anything to procure new admissions.
Little Information About Treatment Techniques
Reputable drug and alcohol rehab centers in South Florida use evidence-based approaches to addiction treatment. Evidence-based treatment involves services that are proven effective in treating addiction, utilize the expertise of the facilitator, and are tailored to the needs of the patient.
Examples of evidence-based addiction treatment include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- The Matrix Model
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
When you are choosing an addiction treatment center you should pick one that can answer your questions about the treatments they use and how they work.
Paid Directory Listings
Lastly, a surefire way to tell if a rehab program is a scam in Florida is whether they are using paid directory listings. While these directories can be helpful for people who are having a hard time finding an addiction treatment center to attend, oftentimes the facilities using these websites are engaging in patient brokering.
The best way to find a reputable rehab program is to ask your doctor for a referral, speak with a friend who has been to treatment before or get a list of addiction treatment programs from your insurance company. Once you have done this, you can narrow down your options by contacting the programs and asking questions about their treatment modalities to determine whether the facility is right for you.
Determining Whether an Addiction Treatment Program is Reputable
Simply knowing how to spot a Florida rehab scam is not enough, you also need to know how to identify a quality drug and alcohol treatment program. Thankfully, this process is a little bit easier, as reputable and trustworthy programs are not attempting to hide anything from you.
When choosing an addiction treatment center, look for the following qualities and services:
- Florida licensing and certified staff members
- Accreditation
- Transparent billing policies
- Positive reviews online, rather than only on their website
- In-depth initial assessments to create individualized treatment plans
- Medical detox and medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- Options for dual diagnosis treatment (mental health services)
- The use of evidence-based behavioral therapy
- Holistic treatment like yoga, exercise, meditation, and even art therapy
- Aftercare services or relapse prevention planning
- Referrals to sober living programs to ease your transition into independent living
If a drug and alcohol rehab center has all of the above mentioned qualities, it can provide you with everything you need to achieve long-term sobriety. Additionally, asking to tour the facility can help you weed out rehab programs that are just not the right fit for you, as this would allow you to get a feel for the environment of the program.
Find a Trusted Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center in South Florida Today
If you or a loved one suffers from addiction, attending professional drug and alcohol rehab will allow you to regain control of your life. With that being said, finding a reputable program is just as important as deciding to enter rehab. Thankfully, addiction recovery centers like Mandala Healing Center use a combination of individualized treatment planning, evidence-based behavioral therapy, and aftercare services to provide you with a solid foundation for recovery.
To learn more about why our program is one of the most trusted addiction treatment centers in South Florida, contact Mandala Healing Center today.
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