Are legally mandated Ohio drug treatment programs effective? Yes, these Ohio programs are effective. In fact, in most cases, you are free to choose your own drug rehab as long as it’s approved by the court and as long as you can pay for it. Insurance may cover the cost of treatment. Some Ohio drug rehabs do offer treatment on a sliding scale. Some may be free, but these same places may have limited bed space at any given time.
Legally-Mandated Drug Treatment
Legally-mandated drug treatment means that a court has given you a choice between drug treatment and further prosecution of a legal offense. It’s a way to avoid jail time and get help for your substance abuse problem. The court understands that your substance abuse is the driver of your illegal behavior. They would rather treat the problem than punish you. However, if you fail to attend drug rehab or leave the facility early, you will still face your original charges and their legal penalty.
There is a great deal of controversy about this. Many people think that forcing someone to get treatment by threatening them with jail time if they don’t attend doesn’t solve the problem. Most people would choose drug rehab over jail if they had to, but they won’t necessarily be serious about recovery. They just don’t want to go to jail. Drug rehab programs work best for someone who is motivated. However, there is some evidence that a substance abuser will still benefit from forced rehab. They may become involved and interested in the program once they are in it, even if they wouldn’t have chosen to attend on their own.
Involuntary Drug Treatment in Ohio
Some states only allow for forced involuntary treatment if it involves a mental condition that poses a threat to the individual or to others. In Ohio, however, court-ordered rehab can mean forced substance abuse treatment. It’s not a choice for the individual to make. Under certain circumstances in Ohio, family members can petition the court for an order which will compel the substance abuser to attend a substance abuse treatment program. This kind of court order is a last resort measure sought by desperate family members who really are trying to help, but the individual involved may not see it that way.
Some evidence suggests that involuntary drug treatment may work for some people because legal pressure can be an effective tool against continued drug abuse. Some statistics suggest that people under a court mandate of some type stay in treatment longer and may have the same chance for continuing sobriety than someone who began their treatment by choice.
Finding a Good Ohio Drug Treatment Program
Not all substance abuse facilities offer the same effective, quality treatment. Here are some questions to ask before you choose one:
Do you use evidence-based therapy?
This includes such therapies as EMDR, CBT and DBT. Evidence-based means that it has been proven to work.
- What is your accreditation?
- Are your staff members fully licensed?
- What is your staff to resident ratio?
- Do you offer holistic therapy such as art, music, dance and writing?
- Do you offer medical detox?
Make sure the facility is accredited by an authoritative entity like CARF or the Joint Commission. If they say they are state-accredited, that doesn’t necessarily mean much. All legal substance abuse facilities must be accredited by their state. It’s not an automatic assurance of high standards.
Any staff member performing actual treatment should be fully licensed by the state in which they practice. State licensing for health care professionals is stringent and definitely an assurance of competence.
The facility should have a reasonable number of staff members relative to residents. The exact figure may vary, but make sure it sounds reasonable.
Holistic therapy isn’t necessarily required, but it’s becoming popular and proving to be a helpful adjunct to standard substance abuse treatment.
If you need detox, ask if the facility provides it. If not, you will need to find a detox center first. Make sure you understand the difference between medical and social detox or other detox methods. Only medical detox will include medications for comfort during detox and medical supervision for added safety. The need for medical detox is a complex issue best assessed by an addiction medicine professional.
All of this information can be confusing. For help, just call us at 833-497-3812. A drug treatment counselor will be happy to help you find a great drug rehab in Ohio.