Rehabilitation Pros and Cons

What Is Rehab?

The word ‘rehab’ is often used interchangeably with “treatment,” “addiction treatment,” and “addiction recovery center.” Rehab is used to describe a supervised program designed to help treat individuals who are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. These days, it is a broad term, as there are a multitude of different approaches, treatment modalities, and amenities that rehabs offer.

For instance, rehabs may be inpatient or outpatient, or full-time or part-time. Some rehabs are founded on a religious approach, while others are secular or center around the 12 steps. Some rehabs are deemed “luxury rehabs”— often costing tens of thousands of dollars per week, while offering gourmet meals, private suites, and top-notch amenities—while others can offer significantly lower cost, shared spaces, and simple amenities.

Some rehabs offer different tracks, such as dual diagnosis, mental health, or eating disorder tracks alongside substance use programs. The good news is, with so many options, there is a rehab out there for everyone. To get started, if you are seeking rehab for yourself or a loved one, it is important to be aware of the pros and cons of rehabilitation so you can make the most informed decision.

Rehabilitation Pros

There are many benefits to attending a rehabilitation program for drug or alcohol addiction. These days, rehab programs are more accessible and widely available than ever before, and with so many different specialties, locations, and program styles, no matter what type of rehab an individual is seeking, they will likely be able to find a good fit. Rehab programs are available as inpatient, outpatient, partial-hospitalization programs, extended care, and more.

Overall, one of the greatest benefits of attending rehab—which, in this case, speaks to inpatient rehab—is the opportunity to step away from the stressors and triggers of everyday life and focus fully on one’s recovery while receiving treatment. This can be incredibly beneficial as it takes away the option to easily relapse while in treatment, because clients remain in a secure environment free from drugs and alcohol. Particularly for individuals receiving treatment for the first time, setting a solid foundation of recovery in an environment free of the possibility and temptation to use can make all the difference in those early and sometimes difficult initial weeks of sobriety.

Other pros of rehabilitation include:

Built-in recovery community and peer support

An individual will have the opportunity to be surrounded by people who can relate to their experience.

A range of individual and group therapies

Most rehabs include a number of psychotherapy sessions and group sessions in their programming. Specific therapeutic treatments will vary.

Structure and supervision

Rehab programs provide daily and weekly schedules that encourage consistency and structure, which is beneficial to recovery. Inpatient rehab also often provide 24/7 supervision, so clients have access to round-the-clock care and support.

Goal-setting and developing new, healthy habits

With the guidance and motivation of a support team as well as peer support, a person can begin to discover and work toward new, achievable goals. Goal-setting is often a topic of discussion in aftercare planning and relapse prevention, as well. The provided structure of rehab gives opportunity to develop new routines and habits to support these goals.

Ongoing support

Many rehab programs provide alumni or aftercare support in the form of a regularly scheduled, continuous support group or similar offering.

Rehabilitation Cons

The most challenging aspect for individuals considering rehabilitation, aside from resistance to quitting using their substance of choice, is likely the financial burden of rehab programs. In a national survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in 2013, a staggering 93% of individuals who felt they needed substance abuse treatment did not ultimately receive treatment.

A significant percentage of those individuals reported not receiving treatment because they did not know where to begin, did not have health insurance, or their health insurance did not cover substance abuse treatment. For people who cannot attend rehab, there are 12 step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, and other similar programs in most cities and countries, with an enormous network of experience and support—all free of charge.

Depending on the level of care a person needs, rehab can be quite expensive, particularly inpatient programs. Luckily, there are other options for treatment that are less expensive, such as Intensive Outpatient (IOP). Many rehabs also offer scholarships and payment plans to make their programs more accessible, and they have staff that can work with an individual’s circumstances to help them find the best route for them.

Do I Need Rehabilitation?

If you are struggling with addiction, rehab can provide the structure and support often needed for an individual to begin the road to recovery. Helpful questions to consider when wondering if you are addicted to drugs or alcohol and need rehab include:

Have I ever been dishonest about my substance use?
Have I felt shame or guilt about my substance use?
Have I tried to quit using drugs or alcohol before and been unsuccessful?
Do I rely on drugs or alcohol in times of stress or hardship?
Is my substance use impacting my relationships, career, or health?

Answering ‘yes’ to any of these questions can be an indicator of substance abuse. If you are considering seeking addiction treatment for yourself or a loved one but have questions or concerns, call us today. We at Oasis Recovery are experienced in substance abuse and addiction and are here to help.

Rehabilitation At Oasis Recovery Center

At Oasis Recovery, we specialize in substance abuse recovery and rehabilitation. If you or someone you love is seeking rehabilitation, we encourage you to reach out to the professionals at Oasis Recovery to learn more about our personalized treatment programs and mental health services. Recovery is always possible. Our experts work with you to design a treatment plan that fits your needs. Common treatment programs include: