In what’s essentially a shady insurance scam, numerous fake drug rehab centers have popped up across the country in recent years. These “fake” rehabs have become so prevalent, in fact, that Google placed restrictions on online rehab center ads in mid-2017, as a means of ensuring accountability in an industry that’s sometimes poorly regulated.

Unfortunately, Google’s addiction treatment ad regulations^[1] have hurt ethical drug rehab centers as well as their illegitimate counterparts. Many mental health professionals advocate a different approach – instead of a total ban, Google should implement a vetting process that allows advertising or sponsored links solely by accredited rehab facilities.

Addiction treatment is a multi-billion-dollar business^[2], and that’s a major problem. Drug addicts are an extremely vulnerable chunk of the population, some of whom are so desperate for relief that they’ll try anything – even sobriety. Many unscrupulous companies maraud as drug rehab programs in order to prey on addicts and their families, jeopardizing numerous lives in the process.

So how can you discern a “fake” drug rehab from a legitimate addiction treatment facility?

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Finding Reputable Drug Rehab Centers

Whether you’re looking to make a positive life change on your own or thanks to the nudge of a friend or family member, you’ll find that recovery is akin to a full-time job. Treatment at a quality facility such as Ocean Hills Recovery takes on a multi-faceted, personalized approach to substance abuse therapy.

Most recovering addicts attend a variety of counseling sessions, including group and individual therapy. You’ll also be encouraged to replace the time you once spent locating your fix and getting high with hobbies or similar types of positive activities. You may find music therapy to be beneficial, or you may choose to release endorphins via an exercise or yoga class. These are added benefits of many rehab centers, though they shouldn’t be the only appeal in finding a rehab. A strong program should be the first focus.

Even if you haven’t been formally diagnosed with anything, it can be especially helpful to find a drug rehab that specializes in dual diagnosis. More often than not, a person struggling with addiction will also be dealing with a mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. By locating a rehab that offers dual diagnosis treatment, you can be sure that you will receive treatment not only for your physical addiction, but also the underlying cause of it.

California Substance Abuse Facility Regulations

According to the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), a license is required in any facility that provides 24-hour residential nonmedical services to adults seeking treatment for drug or alcohol misuse or abuse.

Individual cities and/or counties may also have regulations in place that pertain to residential treatment facilities. Permits, business taxes or local fees may be required in your area, but it’s important to note that holding a county or city permit does not necessarily mean that a drug rehab facility is legitimate.

To ensure that a drug rehab center is legitimate and will provide the necessary care and treatment to those seeking recovery from substance abuse, it’s best to look for certification and/or accreditation from a third party. For instance, DHCS certification is given to those rehab facilities that meet minimum quality and state alcohol and/or other drug certification standards.

You can also look for a rehab center that’s endorsed by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). The nonprofit organization boasts a stringent certification process, and the initial accreditation takes between 9 – 12 months. If a facility holds CARF status, you can rest assured that the rehab center is legitimate.

Is a Sober Living House the Same as Drug Rehab?

When conducting your initial search for an ethical rehab facility, you’ve likely come across the term “recovery house.” But what does it mean? Also referred to as sober living houses, these facilities differ greatly from drug rehab – recovery houses often serve as a positive, post-rehab environment for newly sober individuals.

Regrettably, the fake rehab industry has also targeted sober living houses, giving them a bad name. It’s easy to spot a fraudulent sober house, however: In general, a sober living house has a zero-tolerance policy for drug or alcohol use. Further, residents of these houses aren’t given a free ride.

Once accepted into a recovery home, addicts are subject to a number of requirements, from paying rent to seeking and maintaining employment. If you’re looking into a “sober living house” that advertises free rent or allows occasional substance abuse, chances are that it’s a scam.

Instead, finding a sober living home that is affiliated with an accredited addiction treatment program is your best best. This will ensure that you will be entering a safe, drug-free environment that will allow you to transition into a life of recovery.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does drug and alcohol rehab last?

The length of your stay at drug and alcohol rehab will vary for each person attending rehab and from treatment center to treatment center. Most inpatient programs are at least 30 days long; however, some programs may incorporate a shorter inpatient stay with a more extended outpatient stay. The best rehab centers will provide a more custom treatment plan for each person that takes into account the individual’s needs before determining the length of treatment. Ocean Hills Recovery offers a variety of options for addiction treatment. A typical stay at our inpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs last between 30 to 45 days.

Do I need inpatient or outpatient treatment?

Outpatient is an excellent option for people who are unable to take time away from work or their families while receiving addiction treatment. Inpatient treatment is an excellent option for people who can be away from their work or families for at least several weeks for treatment. We recommend that you contact a reliable treatment center, like Ocean Hills Recovery, for a complete assessment before you decide whether inpatient or outpatient treatment for addiction is best for you.

Should I get addiction treatment locally or away?

The answer to whether you should go away or stay local for addiction treatment is very individual. Many people need to get away from their everyday life for them to fully submerge themselves in their addiction recovery process. For these individuals, going to an out of state treatment center is the best option to be able to commit fully and concentrate on their recovery. For others, this is not an option because of work or family obligations.

What do I do if I don’t have insurance for drug rehab?

There are options for drug rehab, even if you don’t have insurance. When you decide to get help, the best thing to do is to find a treatment philosophy that you believe may help and contact them for assistance. Rehab professionals can help you determine if you have insurance coverage for addiction treatment, and what options are best for you. Many drug rehabs accept insurance but also have private pay, or financing options available. Contact our rehab admissions specialist today, and we can help you navigate insurance questions, payment options, and treatment plans.

How to find a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website is a great place to start when you are looking for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. We recommend that you make a list of a few different centers to contact and speak with them to get a feel for their programs, therapies, and staff and find the center that you feel most comfortable with. Have a list of questions that you can ask each center to help you through the process. One of the most important questions to ask is if the rehab holds accreditation by CARF. Having a state license is no longer enough to ensure that a rehab center is reputable. If the rehab holds CARF accreditation, they have had to meet a more strict set of guidelines and procedures.

Do I need detox before addiction treatment?

Many people require detox to help manage withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs. There are several factors that we take into consideration to determine if you will need detox before addiction treatment. Our admissions professionals work with each person to obtain a thorough history of substance use and other medical conditions to help make the appropriate recommendations for care. You must give accurate information so that we can keep you as comfortable as possible if you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms. However, detox is only the first step in addiction recovery. For long-lasting addiction recovery, a person must deal with the underlying issues that lead to substance use in the first place. Contact us today for a confidential assessment.

Reputable Drug Rehab Centers in California