Drug Rehab Centers ... Do They Actually Work?

I’m feeling agitated, annoyed and upset. My son has relapsed again (the 3rd time) ... and it’s been suggested we need to get him into a drug rehab program again.

But I think, what’s the point? The previous attempts didn’t work so what’s going to be different now? I’m pretty sure our insurance won’t cover anything this time either, so it’s a massive cost with no guarantee of success.

My feeling right now is that these drug rehabilitation centers are all too eager to take your money, but when it comes to delivering results, they seem to fall horribly short. Look, I know my son has to accept responsibility in this too, but surely there must be alternatives that aren’t as expensive that can also work?

Sorry if it sounds like I’m moaning, but I’m just so frustrated and don’t know where to turn. Times are tough and this is the last thing we can afford right now.

Answer

I totally understand your frustration, but you know overcoming an addiction requires a lot more than your son simply getting through a drug rehab program successfully.

The thing is ... addiction isn’t an illness that will simply be ‘fixed’ by going through a treatment program, like you would expect for many other illnesses. It requires active effort and commitment from your son, post treatment, in the form of working a recovery program to be successful.

And that’s where your son actually wanting this for himself becomes so important. Yes, you may be able to force him to attend an addiction treatment program, but unless he’s actually committed to achieving sobriety himself, he’s just going to go back to old habits once he leaves.

So putting your son through another period in rehab, might not necessarily be the best thing right now in any event. I think it’s more important he finds a recovery program to work at like the 12 steps because that will ultimately help him develop the correct habits and attitude to stay clean.

God Bless.