Local Versus Out-of-State Drug Rehabilitation Programs

Simply put, there are a great many factors that must be taken into consideration when selecting the best drug rehabilitation center for you or your loved one.  Unfortunately, we have found that many underestimate the full impact of the treatment facility’s location when faced with this critical and often overwhelming decision.

The choice to seek a facility near your home, effectively remaining closer to friends and family, also means the drug user remains close to their addiction stimulus.  Therefore, it is a priority to attend an out-of-state drug rehabilitation center in order to truly change the addict’s environment, and allow them the distance to identify their personal triggers to substance abuse, without risk of relapse. It is critical to ensure you are seeking the best possible treatment available. You want to select the program that will help you or your loved one achieve lasting sobriety.

Nevertheless, it is recognized that occasionally a client will insist that a treatment center closer to home is a better choice or a more convenient option.

out of state drug rehab mountain

Escape External Triggers During Recovery

Poor relationships with friends and family are often cited as one of the biggest triggers to substance abuse. Possibly due to this, numerous patients questioned that were attending treatment at a facility within their home state reported feeling that the treatment was “counterproductive.” It was not reported to be related to the quality of the treatment itself, but rather to the patients’ proximity to their site of active drug use. The location itself served as a stimulus.

Of course, eventually the patient will leave the facility, and if they are too close to home or similar…they will likely either run into someone they know or have anxiety anticipating this, possibly positively or negatively. Either way it is distracting from the purpose of rehabilitation. The best thing when a long-term drug user decides to seek therapy is to select a facility as far as necessary away from their previous sites of drug use, in order to ensure they are able to focus 100% on their recovery. This necessary distance may be different for every patient, but will almost always require the person to seek treatment at an out-of-state facility, or a location that is not within “driving distance.”

Increase Your Family’s Privacy During This Time

Seeking drug rehabilitation treatment is an extremely personal manner for most people.  Many people who seek treatment for addiction are quiet members of our community. The patient or their immediate family may be the most generous volunteers in our parent-teacher organizations, or kindest pastors in our churches. Many are nurses, doctors, veterans and other upstanding members of our community with essential or potentially vulnerable careers.

There are many reasons to be open and honest about your experience with drug rehabilitation. There are also many reasons to keep those experiences private and personal to yourself and those you authorize to discuss your records, only. This is one hundred percent an individual decision – YOU can choose to discuss your situation or to keep silent. When a patient feels that their privacy is being protected, it’s one less thing for them to worry about.

Patients beginning detoxification are making a huge first step, but they need support in order to remain committed to rehabilitation. Research has proven that when a client isn’t concerned with outside issues they have a better chance at success with achieving long term sobriety.

There is no easy way to leave treatment.

Unless drug rehabilitation is court-ordered, a client’s (or patient’s) stay is voluntary. If they choose to leave, they are legally allowed. One of the possible reasons for selecting an out of state rehabilitation facility might be that it could discourage the patient from making this decision as it would be more difficult to travel home. Small hindrances or delays like this might cause the patient to pause long enough to relax and recommit to recovery.

That said, it is a lot of effort, and it is difficult and sometimes very uncomfortable to fight addiction. It is why it is not uncommon for patients to decide they want to leave drug treatment. Some clients feel they are too far outside of their comfort zone when entering a facility with strangers. All of these are reasons to ask a lot of questions before enrolling, to ensure the client is comfortable.

There are no distractions at an out of state drug rehab.

Those entering drug rehabilitation should simply focus on only themselves for the time while they are in recovery. There are always outside factors, but the addict must identify the core motivation behind their substance abuse. We also recognize that it is typical (though not necessarily all-encompassing) human nature to want your loved ones close, but they also tend to be the most effective distractions, even when meaning well.

Essentially, frequent family visits and discussion of outside events causes the client not to focus on their recovery, why they are in drug rehabilitation, and what changes they want to begin making. When attending an out of state drug rehabilitation program,  clients generally are not distracted by “what’s going on at home” and instead have plenty of energy to invest in their recovery.

out of state drug rehab man

Choosing to attend an in-state drug rehabilitation center

Just like there are many reasons people travel out of state for drug rehabilitation treatment, there are also compelling reasons someone may choose to seek treatment close to home. Here are a couple of the more-common reasons why you may want to consider an in-state treatment facility to meet your specific needs.

  • Insurance. Occasionally, certain categories of insurance offer limited options, depending upon your contract with the insurance company. When choosing between paying for nearly all of the drug rehabilitation out-of-pocket, or choosing a different facility that the insurance company will cover the cost of, the choice is pretty simple for most people. HOWEVER, it is quite common for people to assume their insurance company will only cover in-state treatment – this is not always the case. It only takes a short phone call to find out more!
  • Integrating with your loved ones. Technology has brought us far – but if you have small children or a loved one who is ill, video-chatting is nothing like getting to see your family members in person. These are specific situations, and do not apply to most people, but on some rare occasions one may need to be closer to your family as in cases of possible emergency.
  • It is usually a great idea to incorporate your family and loved ones into your recovery later on down the road. It is not recommended in the beginning, as the client should focus on their needs and their own body during this time. However, as recovery progresses, family and loved ones are an important part of learning to integrate back into society while maintaining sobriety.

Which one should you choose?

There are benefits to both in-state and out-of-state drug rehabilitation, though as stated, it is generally recommended to go to an out-of-state option whenever feasible. Given that each individual and family dynamic is going to vary, it is quite impossible to suggest which option will work for you until you talk to a professional about your situation.