Location
Our Seattle Location
Northpoint Seattle’s outpatient treatment program is located in beautiful Seattle, Washington, and we work to help the surrounding communities.
- Seattle
2111 N Northgate Way Suite 101,
Seattle, WA 98133, United States
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How to Find the Best Washington State Rehabilitation Programs
Choosing a drug and alcohol rehab facility in WA State can be a confusing and difficult process. This goes for addicts or alcoholics as well as their loved ones. It can be hard to know what qualities to look for in order to determine the best option. In addition, when this is your first time getting help, you may not know where to even begin.
It is so hard to cope with alcoholism and drug addiction. Finding a solution can seem impossible, while you’re desperate to quit using in any way that you can. If you have been searching for a rehabilitation center in Washington State, we can provide you with the information you need to find the best one.
Drug and Alcohol Rehab Laws and Regulations in WA State
First and foremost, anyone who wishes to open an addiction treatment facility must become licensed in order to do so. If a person or company is found operating without a license, there are stiff penalties that must be paid. This includes the possibility of jail time and hefty fines.
According to the Washington State Legislature, the license must be obtained from the department of health. The company must pay a licensing fee before they can open their doors to the public.
In addition, the department of health is able to pay visits to any drug and alcohol rehab program at any time. This is for the purpose of examining the facility to make sure everything is up to par and according to the latest regulations.
Other Requirements for Addiction Treatment Programs
Residential treatment programs have a long list of regulations that must be followed. They, too, must be licensed and certified. They have to undergo frequent inspections by the health department and have to maintain complete transparency about their programs.
These types of drug and alcohol rehabs must:
- Have a plan for infection control
- Maintain a quality improvement program
- Comply with on-site surveys
- Have an emergency disaster plan
- Maintain full HIPAA compliance
Beware of Rehab Scams
Unfortunately, when you are searching for the best addiction treatment programs in Washington, you’re likely to come across some scams. Although it can be difficult to tell them from the real thing.
Drug and alcohol treatment is a $35 billion industry, according to an article on the Rolling Stone website. But it is an industry that has a dark side that has only come to light in recent years.
The article features comedian John Oliver, who takes an interesting look inside rehab scams. He cites a system of relapse that many call the “Florida Shuffle.” This means that various treatment programs will continually milk a patient’s health insurance until he or she passes away from drug use. Situations like this have happened all over the country.
There are drug treatment programs with helpful people, and there are those who are only looking to make money. It is very important to know how to tell the difference.
Body brokers are individuals who get monetary awards for luring people into drug and alcohol treatment programs. These people do not see addicts and alcoholics as patients. Rather, they see them as a payday.
As we mentioned earlier, Florida has become a hub for drug and alcohol treatment. In the midst of our nation’s opioid epidemic, rehabs began springing up all over the place. Many were legitimate, but there were some that were anything but.
Body brokers spend their time recruiting people who have good health insurance policies. That will allow them to bill the insurance for everything from urine drug screens to detox medications. They rake in the payments while the patient continues to suffer. Many patients do not get any type of care whatsoever.
This is how it works – a corrupt drug treatment center might offer $500-$5,000 every week to the people who send them clients with insurance. While the government has been cracking down on this practice, it still runs rampant all over the country – even in Washington State.
There are two different ways that brokers prey on potential patients to make money from. The first is from in-person meetings. These individuals have been known to frequent outpatient treatment programs or even AA or NA meetings. Once they are there, they will talk with people and offer valuable gifts in exchange for them agreeing to treatment.
In one case, a broker recruited a young man at a detox facility. He was able to persuade him and a few other people to go to a different detox in California. He even offered them cash to party all night with any types of drugs they could get their hands on.
These types of meeting may be getting fewer and farther between. But that does not stop people from attempting to lure people online.
The Internet is riddled with body brokering opportunities, and those who aren’t aware of this practice can easily miss them. A simple Google search is likely to turn up hundreds of results for “Drug Rehab in Washington State.” But how can you be sure you’re not being lured into a scam?
There are a few things you should look for on the website, and they include:
- Generic language that never fully identifies what type of treatment is offered.
- No listing of staff members on the website.
- Quick admittance into a program without taking any real information about the patient.
- No physical address listed.
- No pictures of the facility on the site.
These websites are often put up just to get people on the phone with brokers. Any offers to pay for travel or to waive co-pays should be ignored and possibly even reported to authorities.
You can tell if a drug or alcohol treatment program is legitimate by the answers you receive to the questions you ask. For instance, you should always ask them:
- What is your staff-to-patient ratio? They should be able to tell you without hesitation. Also, the lower the ratio is the better.
- Are your therapists certified chemical dependency counselors? They should be, and the person you talk to should be able to tell you their names.
- Does the program have a medical director? Of course, they should, and they should be willing to give you their name as well.
- Does the program treat co-occurring disorders? It has become widely known that mental health issues like anxiety and depression frequently lead to addiction. These and other conditions should be treated.
- What types of support are offered following treatment? You want to hear them tell you that they will offer you a referral to the appropriate type of care.
Should You Choose a Private Rehab or a WA State Treatment Facility?
In Washington State, you have the option of choosing a private program or a state program. There are benefits to each, depending on your needs and individual circumstances.
If you choose to go to a state facility, you may find that it won’t cost you anything out of pocket. Even if you do not have health insurance, they still may be able to help you. Many will assist you with applying for insurance as well, or there may be grants available that will cover your treatment in full.
The problem with state-run programs is that they often don’t cater to the individual needs of each patient. The patient population tends to be high, and the staff to patient ratio is also high.
A private program is often a better choice for most people. Many participate with several health insurance plans, and they maintain a low staff to patient ratio. That means patients get more attention from staff members while they are there.
A private program also has the ability to carefully craft treatment plans for each individual person they serve. This ensures that everyone’s needs are getting appropriately met at all times.
Types of Addiction Treatment Programs
In Washington, there are several types of treatment available to people who need it. The type of care you receive will depend on the addiction you have, as well as a few other factors.
Detoxification
For a lot of people, detoxing is the first step they take in the recovery process. They may be using drugs that are dangerous to quit cold turkey, and they need treatment for their withdrawal symptoms.
In many cases, people will go through a period of medical detox. They can be given medications to help with their symptoms as they deal with their withdrawal symptoms. Usually, holistic treatments are also used while people detox. This might involve a new, regular exercise program and/or dietary changes.
Detoxing is important, and it can help people avoid the complications that can accompany stopping the use of drugs or alcohol.
Inpatient Rehab
An inpatient rehab is a personalized program that offers a very high level of care for addicts and alcoholics. People stay at the facility while they receive the help they need. While they’re there, they work with a therapist and attend group therapy sessions.
Many people begin with inpatient treatment because they desperately need it. While it isn’t required for everyone, it is an excellent way to recover.
Outpatient rehab is usually thought of as being most appropriate for people who have completed inpatient or another, higher level of care program. It generally only includes working with a therapist, although some may offer groups as well.
For many people, intensive outpatient programs, or IOPs, are the answer they’re looking for. This type of rehab allows people to continue to live at home while they get treatment. Many are held during the evening hours, giving people a chance to work or attend school during the day.
There are those for whom an outpatient program, or even an inpatient one are not appropriate. These individuals may have dangerous home lives, or they may have relapsed many times. For them, residential treatment or sober living is often the best option.
These programs allow people to stay for several months at a time if they need to. Some might offer in-house treatment, but many ask the residents to obtain their own outpatient counseling or attend a local IOP.
Partial hospitalization or day treatment is very similar to IOPs, but this type of rehab is offered during the daytime. People receive specific treatment plans that indicate how many hours they need each day. This can vary widely.
Qualities to Search for in a Drug or Alcohol Rehabilitation Facility
If you have been pulled over for a DUI, you probably have a lot of questions about what the law states in Washington. It is important for you to get the answers you need, and we would like to help you with that.
If you are looking for a Washington State alcohol or drug rehab, there are a few qualities you should be looking for. They include:
- Accreditation through The Joint Commission.
- Qualified staff members who can help you.
- A higher than average recovery rate.
- The ability to speak with former clients to get their opinions on the help they received.
- The ability to receive treatment for a co-occurring disorder if you have one.
Where to Find the Best Rehab in Washington State
If you are looking for the best rehab in WA State, we would like to invite you to start with Northpoint Seattle.
Searching for drug and alcohol treatment can be exhausting; not to mention scary when you have no idea what you should be looking for. The last thing you want to do is end up making a mistake. You want the absolute best treatment you can find, and we can assist you with getting it.
Do you have more questions about rehab and what to look for before you make your decision? Please contact us.
Talk to a Rehab Specialist
Our admissions coordinators are here to help you get started with treatment the right way. They'll verify your health insurance, help set up travel arrangements, and make sure your transition into treatment is smooth and hassle-free.
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