Finding Recovery Programs and Support Groups

If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, it can be hard to quit alone. The support that you get from a recovery program or a support group may be just what you need to move forward with your life. Because there are thousands of treatment facilities and support groups in the United States, finding the right program for your needs can seem difficult, though it doesn’t have to.

By carefully considering just a few factors, you can easily narrow your search down to a handful of choices. If you need help throughout this process, we would love to lend you our expertise. You can contact American Addiction Centers (AAC) for free at . There are also free alcohol abuse and drug addiction hotline numbers you can call.

When you contact us we will help you find the best rehab program for your needs.

Effective Types of Treatment

When looking for a treatment program, remember that there is no single answer to recovery. You are a unique individual, and your addiction may be tied to a lot of unique factors. The most effective type of treatment for you is the one that takes your personal needs into account and meet them in innovative ways.

“When looking for a treatment program, remember that there is no single answer to recovery.” According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), the most effective treatment programs combine medicine and therapy. Effective programs use medication to help wean you off of drugs or alcohol, and then they treat you using therapy and other tools until you reach sobriety. Throughout these rehab programs, you will learn how to live your life without drugs and alcohol. Once you have completed one of these programs, you may want to join a support group to help you maintain your life without drugs or alcohol.

Types of Rehab Programs

When you start looking for a rehabilitation program, you may be surprised at all of the options that are available. You may just contact a counselor for a few sessions, or you may simply opt to join a support group. Although this approach works for many addicts, people with serious problems often find that they need to take a more comprehensive approach.

Inpatient or residential treatment centers allow you to live at their facility for anywhere from 30 to 90 days or longer. There, you will attend group and individual counseling sessions and learn how to cope with stress and other issues without drugs or alcohol. Residential centers may also offer detox and medical care. They may be best suited for people with longstanding addictions, mental health problems, medical problems, or multiple relapses. The program you choose may be 28 or 30 days, 60 days or 90 days long.

Outpatient rehabs are not live-in programs. You attend treatment on a set schedule—usually a few days a week for a few hours at a time. Outpatient can consist of group or individual therapy. Unlike residential programs, they do not always offer detox or medical care.

After leaving a rehab program, many addicts enter aftercare to continue to receive support and to hone the skills they learned in treatment. Some opt to enter sober living facilities. These homes allow you to live with other sober people, and this option is ideal for individuals who feel like returning home may make their addictions even worse. Other aftercare options include counseling sessions or 12-Step addiction recovery support groups.

Once you decide which type of treatment program you need, your search will become easier.

How to Find a Treatment Center

There are several public resources that you can use in your quest to finding a treatment center. Most states have behavioral health departments or other organizations that may be able to assist you in your search. Additionally, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a tool that allows addicts to search through thousands of drug and alcohol recovery facilities. Unfortunately, its tool only focuses on helping people find treatment centers based on their locations. It does not easily narrow down search results based on other factors.

If you want someone to help you find a treatment center based on the criteria that are important to you, we can help. Our extensive connection with recovery centers throughout the country means that we can easily help our clients find the best treatment center for their needs. Regardless of what you are looking for in a facility, we can help you find it. You simply need to pick up the phone and call.

Finding the Right Therapy for You

As indicated above, there are several different types of therapy that can be useful during your recovery process. When you are searching for a recovery facility, you should pay close attention to the type of therapy that it offers. Finding the right therapy for your needs can greatly increase your chances of having a successful recovery.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), several types of therapy used to treat substance abuse exist. Five of the most popular types are as follows:

• Skills development.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
• Support groups.
• Psycho-educational therapy.
• Therapy that focuses on the interpersonal process.

Each of these types of therapeutic support is slightly different and addresses different parts of addiction. While some types of therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy may focus on anger management, you may need to turn to support groups or therapy focusing on the interpersonal process to help you deal with past trauma. Psycho-educational therapy, on the other hand, can help you address both of these issues at the same time. The type of therapy that you need is dependent on your past experiences, your personal temperament, and even your religion.

Finding a Support Group

Once you have completed your rehabilitation program, you should try to surround yourself with people who can encourage you to stay sober. Many people find that a support group is the best source of encouragement, and finding a recovery group for substance abuse is not that difficult.
According to the Mayo Clinic, you can use any of the following techniques to find a support group:

• Talk to your doctor, counselor or other healthcare provider.
• Check your phone book for a list of local support groups.
• Consult with your religious or secular community groups.
• Speak with local or national groups who are devoted to helping people get past addictions.

Many substance abuse recovery groups use a 12-Step approach. The 12 Steps are a program that members work through with the help of a sponsor, whom they can call for advice or when they feel the need to relapse. People who complete the steps often continue coming to meetings to stay motivated and help others. These programs are usually abstinence-only.

Common recovery support groups for people with drug and alcohol addictions include:

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) (learn more about the Big Book of AA).
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
• Codependents Anonymous.
• Heroin Anonymous.
• Cocaine Anonymous.
• Pills Anonymous.

Once you find a self-help group for alcohol or drug addiction, you don’t have to feel tied to it. If that group doesn’t seem to meet your particular needs, it is okay to look for another group. Sometimes, it takes a few attempts before you find a group that feels right.

We Can Help

If you are ready to find an alcohol or drug rehab and recovery center or support group, we can help you. We are standing by 24/7 to assist you. When you call us at we will help you find the right treatment facility and substance abuse recovery support group for your needs.

When you call, the representative may ask you some questions. Be ready to provide information about:

• Your drug use history or your loved one’s history—drug used, how long, and how much.
• Any medical or mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or PTSD.
• Your insurance.
• Where you live and whether you’d like to attend rehab in your hometown or travel for treatment.

You can also check your insurance benefits online now to determine whether your health insurance provider will cover rehabiliation.

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