Location of Drug Rehab May Help Recovery

Once someone addicted to drugs has made the decision to enter drug rehab, she then must decide where to go. Drug rehabs have proliferated across the United States and overseas, making it very likely that there is a drug rehab right in the person’s own back yard. However, should a person attend a drug rehab too close to home? There are pros and cons for each option that need to be carefully considered before a decision is made.

Drug Rehab Near Home

When someone attends a drug rehab facility that is close to home, there will likely be a steady stream of loved ones ready and willing to provide support during the recovery process. If one attends drug rehab far from home, work or financial commitments may prevent these individuals from participating in important counseling sessions or family events. Since many drug rehabs introduce patients to the local Alcoholics Anonymous scene, choosing a rehab in the home area can also help develop a strong network of sponsors and recovery mentors; such essential assistance may be impossible when attending a drug rehab out of the area.

Further, local drug rehabs can be less costly than certain “destination” rehabs, for instance those by the sea or in the mountains. For people who need to attend drug rehab part-time due to work, school or family commitments, an out-of-area facility would likely be a poor choice unless they have the resources to commute back and forth. If a stay in drug rehab will have to be funded in any way by health insurance, policy rules may require use of a facility in the immediate coverage area.

Drug Rehab Away from Home

On the other hand, the benefits of an out-of-area facility should not be discounted. People who find themselves needing to attend a formal drug rehab program likely require a physical and mental rest from whatever it is in their lives that is either causing them to abuse drugs or preventing them from being able to stop on their own. Family members (such as parents or spouses) and friends can actually be contributing to the problem to such a degree that lasting recovery will only be attained if direct access between the parties is reduced.

Another key factor in determining whether to pick a rehab far from home is the potential for encountering “triggers” that may cause a person in recovery to slip back into bad habits. For example, a certain group of friends or an individual who used drugs with the patient may not be supportive of the ensuing recovery and actually try to entice the person to use again. In other instances, people in recovery may lack the willpower needed to avoid approaching a known and trusted dealer for a “fix”. Some people in rehab may feel vulnerable knowing that one of their friends could show up to visit with a “stash” in their purse or back pocket. The last thing you want to do is relapse while in rehab.

Although the purpose of any drug rehab program is long-term recovery from drug use, being in a new and exciting place may aid in keeping the patient’s attention off withdrawal symptoms or problematic thinking. Many drug rehabs organize field trips and outings to popular spots such as beaches, museums, and stores. These diversions are often essential in the recovery process and are more likely to hold one’s attention if the environments and situations are new and untried.

Although admitting to the problem is an essential part of any lasting drug addiction recovery program, the presence of a drug problem is often an intensely personal and private matter. For politicians, celebrities or individuals who are well known locally (doctors, lawyers, philanthropists), heading out of town for drug rehab may be the only way to avoid disclosure of personal information and unwanted media attention.