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May 14, 2014

Sober Life Mouthwash Website 

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The Big Book

The 12 and 12

24 Hours a Day

Jim and Jason, we’ve been asked by many of our listeners, “How do we select a Treatment Program?”  So I thought I’d ask you guys who have experience in the field some questions our listeners would like to Ask about Treatment Programs

Questions like…

how long?

how much?

what guarantee?

Have you heard these questions before Jim?

Alright then...So Jim, How long?

What about it Jason, how much?

Ok guys, what’s the guarantee?

1. Let’s start at the beginning.  The first step in any Treatment is an assessment.

How do you know if you need treatment?

First of all what is an assessment and why is it important?

Do Treatment Facilities have different levels of care? What is important?

What are the Levels of Care available?  What is critical?

How are clients evaluated during the treatment process, do clients get re-assessed?

What is eligibility criteria? 

What about dual diagnosis?  How do facilities deal with co-occurring mental health problems?

Does the program treat mental health problems?

What about the use of Medication-Assisted Treatment?

What about a client on meds, can facilities manage medications?

2  What about COMPREHENSIVE INTEGRATED TREATMENT 

What is it?

What types?

What questions should be asked about Medical Care -

What about Sexual Health services, what might be available?

Trauma Services 

Educational/Vocational Assistance 

Other Services

What about the recovering community?

4. STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING 

staff-to-patient ratio?

What is the general nature of the staff?

Do treatment centers have doctors?

How about nurses?

What about the techs?

5. PAYING FOR TREATMENT 

Payment Questions

What is the cost of the program? - 

Is insurance accepted? - 

financial aid? - 

payment plan or sliding scale? - 

6. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Is the program 12 step based?

What about evidence based treatment?

What about group therapy?

Individual treatment?

Is the program licensed by the state? Can some operate without a license?

What is the accreditation status of the program? 

7. QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

Friends and family, this is commonright?  What is it?

Why is it important?

Al Anon?

11. CONTINUING CARE AND RECOVERY SUPPORTS 

Does the treatment taper off so youth gradually leave the safety of the program?

Does the program design a continuing care plan that specifies what youth should do after they are discharged — such as get involved with positive free time activities?

Does the program provide referrals to community services that offer things for your child to do that don’t involve drug or alcohol use?

Any other things the program does to help the ongoing recovery process? 

Once the program ends, does the staff conduct a few check-ups to see how things are going?

12. PROGRAM EVALUATION

Have you had your program evaluated?

What types of data have you collected and analyzed?

What are the outcomes of the evaluation?