How to Find and Choose a Treatment Program

Most families choose a program in a hurry, after a scare. That’s when a paid ad or a slick call center can steer you somewhere that isn’t right. A few focused hours of checking protects your loved one and your money. When you’re ready to call programs, bring our 20 questions for the admissions call.

How long does it take to find a good program?

For most families, the steps below take a few focused hours spread over one to three days. That’s our guidance, not a rule. SAMHSA’s rule of thumb is that if a provider can’t see your family member within 48 hours, you should find another one.³ SAMHSA also notes that many treatment options have long waitlists, and that interim care can offer daily medicine and emergency counseling until a spot opens.⁸ So aim for “fast and checked,” not “tonight, no questions asked.”

What are the steps to find a rehab?

Assessment, search, shortlist, verify, call, compare, decide. Skipping a step is how families end up surprised.

Who can tell us what kind of program we need?

A licensed clinician who assesses your loved one, ideally before you call any program. The assessment tells you which level of care to search for, so you’re not guessing between a weekly counselor and a 30-day residential stay. Good places to get one:

• Their primary care doctor, who for alcohol problems can also prescribe approved medications such as naltrexone and acamprosate.⁷
• An addiction medicine physician or addiction psychiatrist.⁷
• A licensed therapist with addiction training, such as a psychologist, licensed clinical social worker or licensed counselor.⁷
• A hospital social worker, if your loved one is already there.
• A licensed treatment program, though it may recommend its own services.

More intensive isn’t automatically better. NIAAA says no single treatment will benefit everyone, and a health care provider can help you weigh the pros and cons of each setting.⁷ Our page on how a professional assessment decides the level of care explains what the assessor looks at.

Where can we find a treatment program?

Start with neutral sources that aren’t selling anything: FindTreatment.gov, the SAMHSA Helpline, your insurance plan, your state agency or a doctor. The Federal Trade Commission warns that top search results are often paid ads, and that some businesses buy ads under the names of real treatment centers but list their own phone numbers.⁶

How do we narrow the list to three programs?

Keep only programs that offer the recommended level of care, can take your loved one soon, and fit their needs. Three is enough to compare and few enough to call in an afternoon. Things to screen for:

• The right level of care at a location you can confirm.
• Medication. SAMHSA’s quality checklist tells families to ask about treatment with FDA-approved medications for alcohol or opioid use.² Methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone are the three approved medications for opioid use disorder.⁸ If your loved one already takes buprenorphine, methadone or naltrexone, confirm the program will continue it. Our guide to medications for opioid and alcohol addiction explains why this matters.
• Mental health care, if your loved one also has depression, anxiety, trauma or another condition. NIAAA suggests asking whether mental health issues are addressed together with alcohol treatment.⁷
• Family involvement, which SAMHSA lists as a sign of quality.²
• Special needs: age, pregnancy, language, disability, medical conditions or a gender-specific setting.
• Timing: a firm start date, not a vague “soon.”

Run each program through this quick screen.

Close to home or farther away?

Closer is usually easier, though it isn’t a rule. In our view, a nearby program makes family sessions and the step down to outpatient care simpler. If a distant program fits a specialty need, check its license in that state, confirm network status, and ask how aftercare works back home. Be wary of any offer of free travel, and first read why someone may be paid to send your loved one far away.

How do we check that a program is legitimate before we call?

Look up the state license and accreditation yourself, then watch for warning signs. SAMHSA’s quality checklist says programs and their health care professionals should be licensed and accredited.² The license should cover the level of care at the address where your loved one will stay. Our step-by-step guide covers checking a state license and accreditation in minutes. Before you call anyone, also skim the signs that a program isn’t legitimate. Every guide on vetting programs is collected in our hub for choosing a program.

What should we ask when we call a rehab?

Ask every program the same questions, in the same order, and write down the answers and the name of the person you spoke with. Differences jump out when the questions match. Put medication first, then who provides care, how the program handles a return to use, family involvement, cost in writing and who books the next appointment after discharge. The full list, with what good answers sound like, is in our questions to ask a treatment center.

Then call the insurance plan yourself. “We take your insurance” can mean the program is in network, or only that it will bill your plan. Our page on confirming coverage with your plan explains what to ask and why a benefits check isn’t a promise to pay.

How do we compare rehab programs and decide?

Put the answers side by side, and choose the program that best matches the assessment, not the nicest website. SAMHSA’s signs of quality are a license, accreditation, medication, proven therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy, family involvement and support for other parts of life, such as housing and job placement.² Price and amenities aren’t on that list. For what each of those looks like in practice, see the therapies and services a strong program offers.

Our printable Rehab Comparison Worksheet lays out every field for three programs: license, medication, psychiatric care, network status, cost in writing, start date and aftercare.

What if our loved one isn’t ready yet?

Build the shortlist now, so you can move the day they say yes. Readiness can come and go quickly. NIAAA notes that a family’s participation can make a big difference, and that many health care providers believe support from family and friends is important in overcoming alcohol problems.⁷ Having two checked options ready, with phone numbers and start dates, turns a “maybe” into an appointment. For ways to keep the conversation open, see what to do when they refuse help.