Out Of State Addiction Treatment
When you’re considering your options for getting help with addiction, a substance use disorder, or a dual diagnosis that includes substance abuse, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by the number of options; there are over 14,000 licensed rehab centers in the United States alone. A rising percentage of people are seeking treatment out of their home states, for a variety of reasons. If you’re interested in making a fresh start and think you might benefit from a change of scenery, out-of-state treatment may be helpful for you.
Can I Go to Addiction Treatment Out of State?
The short answer is: usually, yes. Most people seek treatment because they’ve accepted that they have a problem with addiction, and they want to fix that problem. It’s a personal choice, and wherever you choose to handle it is based entirely upon what you think will allow you to make the most effective and lasting changes possible.
A few specific factors may require you to get treatment in your state, or within a certain area. Court-ordered rehabilitation almost always requires in-state treatment. If your treatment is funded by a federal, state, or local grant, or you’re attending a state-funded facility, you’ll likely have to stay in-state. Otherwise, it’s up to you.
How Can I Find the Best Out of State Addiction Treatment?
If you’re interested in finding an out-of-state treatment center, you must keep in mind your unique needs. You may or may not be able to visit the center in advance of your check-in, which is why doing thorough research beforehand is a must. Make sure there are ample pictures on the center’s website, for example, giving you a glimpse at daily life and accommodations for your stay.
Of course, the most important characteristics of a high-quality treatment center revolve around their ability to help you. No matter how nice the view out the window, if they can’t help you free from addiction, you haven’t gotten what you need. Find out about their overall success rate for first-time patients for the specific issue you’re seeking to treat. Make sure they are equipped to address your individual condition: if you’re struggling with a dual diagnosis, for example, you want to find a location that can care for you on both fronts. Be as thorough and up-front as possible when discussing your problems to ensure that they understand what you need.
What Questions Should I Ask?
The more informed you are of a prospective treatment location, the better-equipped you are to make a decision. Here are some of the questions you may consider asking an intake coordinator or representative:
How Does Getting Treatment Out of State Work?
In terms of the actual process of inpatient, outpatient, and rehab programs, getting treatment out of state largely works the same as getting treatment in-state. The main benefits of traveling for treatment take place in the way it affects your personal approach to recovery. Going out-of-state forces you to take on a fresh mindset of commitment to your cause. You can more clearly cement your transition to a healthier lifestyle by immersing yourself in an environment of healing, accepting that you’re going to stay there until you’re ready to reemerge as a changed version of yourself. It also makes it much harder for you to get discouraged, give up, and go home.
Going out-of-state for treatment also puts crucial distance in between you and any negative influences or relationships you might have back home, and at the same time can help to preserve your privacy.
Like anything else, going out-of-state for treatment is not without its disadvantages. Traveling can make it more difficult for your loved ones to visit you in recovery or have any active role in your treatment. Once you complete the program, it can be much less effective for the staff to try to keep in touch with you and provide you with aftercare programs, leaving more of that responsibility on your shoulders right off the bat. There are a wide variety of factors to consider. The best thing you can do for yourself is to contact a trusted professional resource who can provide insight into your situation and guide you accordingly.
When you’re ready to seek treatment for addiction, problems with substance abuse, or a dual diagnosis including a substance use disorder, going out-of-state may provide you with an elevated experience. Traveling for treatment poses its own set of challenges and comes with unique benefits. Between reinforcing your commitment to sobriety and wellness by taking the journey out of state, distancing yourself from negative or unhelpful influences and relationships back home, and immersing yourself in the fresh environment of your treatment center, it could be that a change of scenery is just what your recovery needs. Each person’s circumstances surrounding addiction and recovery are unique, so make sure you reach out to professional resources to evaluate your needs and decide accordingly. At Create Recovery in Los Angeles, we can provide individualized care at every stage of recovery, from identifying your goals to addressing every facet of your treatment at the source. Call 310.439.4668 to learn more.
