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Medically Reviewed

Red Flags to Watch for When Choosing a Florida Rehab Center

- 8 sections

Medically Verified: January 5, 2025

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease that affects millions of people in the United States each year. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 48.7 million Americans suffered from a substance use disorder in 2022.[1]

When you have an addiction, it can negatively impact every area of your life. From financial issues and relationship problems to health concerns and mental health struggles like mood swings or depression, substance abuse can completely overtake your day-to-day life and prevent you from experiencing happiness. It can also lead to life-threatening problems like overdoses or long-term health conditions.

If you’ve realized that you need to stop abusing drugs or alcohol to save your life, you are probably wondering how to choose the right rehab center. While there are many trustworthy treatment facilities in Florida, some are not operating for the right reasons. Thankfully, there are red flags you can look out for to determine whether an addiction treatment program is worth your time and money.

Examples of red flags among rehab centers include unclear treatment approaches, one-size-fits-all treatment plans, not outlining how much counseling is offered, creating restrictive or unhelpful rules, and offering incentives to get you to attend their program.

In this article, you will learn:

  • What are some of the red flags that indicate a treatment center is bad?
  • What qualities should you look for in a Florida rehab program?
  • Why is accreditation important?

What are the Red Flags of a Bad Rehab?

Drug and alcohol rehab saves lives. The purpose of addiction treatment centers is to prevent you from experiencing the life-threatening effects and long-term dangers of addiction, so they need to operate under a certain level of expertise and care. Unfortunately, some recovery centers are not up to standard, so you must do some research before committing to a facility.

Some of the rehab red flags you should look out for include:

Unclear Treatment Approaches

If you cannot find information on the program’s treatment approach, it is best to steer clear. While it is perfectly fine for drug and alcohol rehab centers to use multiple treatment approaches, a representative should be willing to outline how their program works. Knowing what treatment approaches are used in a program allows you to determine if the rehab center will suit your needs.

Using a One-Size-Fits-All Treatment Plan

Some addiction treatment programs use a one-size-fits-all treatment plan. This means that everyone who enters the program will receive the same services and treatment. While you might think this sounds fair, it is unhelpful in the grand scheme of things.

Everyone who suffers from addiction is different and has gone through their own sets of struggles. Because of this, treatment should be individualized and based on your needs and goals for long-term recovery.

No Communication on the Amount of Counseling

When you are investigating a rehab program, you should ask to see a copy of the daily schedule. Doing so allows you to see how you’ll be spending your days inside of the treatment program. You can also find out how much time you will get to spend in counseling and therapy sessions throughout the recovery process.

Counseling will take place in both individual and group formats. You want to make sure that you will be given ample time in both types of counseling to overcome your addiction and address underlying mental health issues that may have contributed to your substance abuse.

Restrictive and Unhelpful Rules

Some rehab facilities believe in harsh rules that take away a great deal of your freedom. They do this because they believe punishment will solve addiction issues. Unfortunately, this can make it harder for you to achieve recovery.

For example, if a rehab program restricts access to food and beverages or does not allow for privacy or solitary time to unwind, you should not choose that facility. Instead, choose a program that sees you as a person and treats you with kindness and compassion.

Offering Incentives

Lastly, you want to avoid rehab programs that offer incentives. Some addiction treatment facilities offer incentives to broker patients as a way to make them more money, instead of caring about helping the individuals recover.

Examples of incentives to steer clear from include:

  • Offering to find you health insurance or waive deductibles
  • Offering to pay for flights or hotels for your loved one to travel to the rehab
  • Offering to cover the cost of free recovery housing

Mandala Healing Center accepts the following insurance providers

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What to Look for in a Rehab in Florida

If you are looking for a trustworthy rehab to attend in Florida, there are some qualities to look out for. Now that you know the red flags, it is going to be easier to identify a reputable program.

Some of the things you should look for in a Florida rehab include:

  • Individualized treatment planning and in-depth assessments
  • Specialized services like medical detox, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), or dual diagnosis treatment
  • A variety of levels of care and multiple options for program length
  • Evidence-based treatment and therapies
  • Accreditation from an organization like the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)

While it might seem impressive for a rehab to boast high success rates, you should avoid these treatment programs. It is almost impossible to calculate the success rates of former patients and relapse rates tend to be high, so anyone promoting that their rehab is highly successful is probably overcompensating. Instead, choose a program that says they prioritize helping clients achieve and maintain long-term sobriety.

Get Connected to a Top-Rated Drug and Alcohol Rehab Program in FL

If you or a loved one suffers from addiction, it’s time to seek professional help. At the Mandala Healing Center, we offer an individualized and evidence-based approach to substance abuse recovery. In other words, our program will provide you with the tools and support you need to achieve long-term recovery from addiction.

Contact us today for more information on our highly-rated drug and alcohol rehab center in Florida.

References:

  1. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): HHS, SAMHSA Release 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health Data