We have helped many loved ones go through addiction treatment. The biggest challenge is almost always finding a rehab facility. While it seems like going far away is the best option for inpatient drug or alcohol treatment, going to a place close to you is an amazing choice. Here is why:
1. Going far away can be stressful
Residential inpatient treatment at a place that is a plane ride away can be really overwhelming. Yes, going to a remote place allows you to get away from the people and places thought would trigger you (and can also be really beautiful). However, if you’re not used to big changes, being in a new place is a huge change that could be counterproductive. Staying close to home in a familiar place can provide some much-needed stability during your newfound journey where a lot is going to be brand new to you. There are treatment options everywhere and going to rehab far from home isn’t always necessary for recovery.
2. Continued access to your support network
There are plenty of rehab centers in major cities that are still secluded, so you can still reap the benefit of feeling distanced from your old life. Going to a treatment program that is closer to home means your loved ones will be close by. If you temporarily need a break from them, medical detox will provide you with the opportunity to focus on yourself without interruption. Once detox is finished, you will likely find comfort in knowing that loved ones are close by.
The benefit of having access to your support network is even more important after your rehab treatment program is complete, which begins the lifelong task of relapse prevention. This might entail continuing to go to behavioral therapy, joining a 12 Steps group like Alcoholics Anonymous, moving to a sober community, or even starting an outpatient rehab treatment. Being close to home means you can be around loved ones that will hold you accountable and can help out like driving you to meetings or watching your children.
4. Less expensive
No matter what kind of rehab you’re going to, whether it be drug rehab or alcohol rehab, it’s almost always going to be cheaper to go to an addiction treatment center near home. Not necessarily because the treatment center itself will be less expensive, but because of the auxiliary expenses that come with it. Being away from home means paying for travel, losing income from not being able to work, or possibly having to pay for childcare.
5. Too much freedom
Going somewhere far away can make people forget that they’re going to inpatient drug rehab and not on vacation. The freedom of being around new people in a new place can cause substance abuse. There are many distractions when you’re in a new place because you just want to see what makes the place special.
No matter how distracted one might get, they should always remember that choosing to come to inpatient treatment is the right choice. Going to a rehab facility near home is an even better choice because it’s way less stressful. It gives you a subtle change of scenery without making you overwhelmed.
Jeffrey M. Bishop, D.O.
JOHN GAU
CORI BAIZA
AMANDA MARINELLI, DNP, BBA, AG NP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP
MARK GUDIM
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