Websites for treatment centers can look remarkably alike. The differences that matter, such as who is actually on staff, which patients a program can safely treat, and what the fee really covers, usually only come out when you ask directly. These are the questions we suggest every family ask, and get answered in writing.
Licensing and accreditation
- What licenses does the program hold, from which authority, and are they current?
- Is the program accredited (for example by The Joint Commission or CARF in the U.S.)?
- In Mexico: how does the program comply with the official standard NOM-028-SSA2-2009, and which health permits does it hold?
Clinical staffing
- Who is on staff: physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, licensed therapists? How many, and how often do they see each client?
- Is medical staff available 24 hours a day?
- Who leads clinical care, and what are their credentials?
The right level of care
- Has a qualified clinician assessed what level of care your loved one needs?
- Can the program provide medical detox, or does it require detox elsewhere first?
- If your loved one has a mental health condition, is the program genuinely equipped for co-occurring disorders? (See our guide to evaluating dual-diagnosis programs.)
Treatment approach
- Which therapies does the program use, and are they evidence-based?
- Are medications for addiction treatment available when clinically appropriate?
- How is the family involved?
- How is length of stay decided: by a fixed schedule or by clinical progress?
Costs and payment
- What is the total cost, and what exactly does it include? Are there extra charges for medications, psychiatric visits, lab work or activities?
- Does the program accept your insurance, and will it provide a written verification of benefits?
- What is the refund policy if treatment ends early?
Admission, consent and discharge
- What are the admission and exclusion criteria?
- How does the program handle consent, and what happens if a client wants to leave?
- What does discharge planning and aftercare look like?
Red flags
- Promises of guaranteed recovery or success rates that sound too good to be true
- Pressure to decide or pay immediately
- Free travel, housing or other perks offered in exchange for insurance information
- Reluctance to share licenses, staff credentials or costs in writing
- No medical staff at a program that offers detox
- Claims that a family can simply authorize an adult’s treatment against their will
How we can help
Our Personalized Treatment Navigation service does this research with you: we compare suitable programs on capabilities, costs, limitations and admission requirements, and we tell you which questions still need to be confirmed directly with each facility.
This article is general information for families. It is not medical, legal or clinical advice, and it isn’t a substitute for an assessment by a qualified professional.