Life in the public eye often leads to unbearable stresses that place you at risk for addiction. From getting very few opportunities to be alone to always having to be personable, your career places high demands upon your energy and time. When you are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, it helps to know that you are not alone. Many public figures have struggled with addiction throughout history, and your desire to get sober only helps you continue to build upon your professional legacy.
While there is no reason to be ashamed about your addiction treatment, you may still need to account for other people not understanding your condition. You may also need to maintain a professional reputation due to the expectations that are in place for your public position. For example, a political role or one that involves having very young fans leaves very little room for any mistakes that could cause someone to question your responsibility. The good news is that you do have options for treatment, and understanding how a private drug rehab protects your personal information helps you relax and focus on getting sober.
Know Your Rights to Privacy
Your privacy while seeking drug addiction treatment is protected by federal and state laws such as the following.
•The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records Act-This law prohibits treatment programs from sharing any information that would identify you as seeking addiction treatment to another party without your consent.
•The Health Insurance and Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA)-This act prohibits any drug or alcohol addiction treatment program that receives federal assistance from disclosing information about any diagnosis or care that you receive without your consent. In cases where your medical information must be disclosed, such as to prove a claim to an insurance provider, only the information needed is allows to be given.
•State laws and Treatment Center Policies-Most states also have similar laws that help to back up what is already in place from the federal government. Individual rehab centers also issue policies that bind their staff members to follow strict confidentiality protocols.
Use Discretion With Who You Tell
Due to the laws and associated penalties that are in place for rehab programs and staff members who fall short, you’ll find that professional treatment providers are your least likely source for leaks. Instead, you need to carefully plan who you want to tell in your inner circle since all it takes is one false friend to suddenly destroy all of your plans for privacy.
Depending upon the length of your stay, you may need to explain your absence to family members, friends and coworkers. Fortunately, you don’t have to lie. Your explanation can be as simple as saying that you need to take a few weeks off for vacation or to treat exhaustion. When you stay in a South Florida drug rehab center, it’s easy to pass it off as a need to simply enjoy a little time near the beach.
Limiting the people that you tell helps you to narrow down the potential sources of a leak if one happens in the future. However, you should also know that you may want to include a few trustworthy people in your plans. Having a spouse involved in your family therapy sessions or just getting a call from a close friend are special events that help you maintain your motivation to work through the program.
Find Out How Your Preferred Drug Rehab Protects Personal Information
A private drug rehab that is accustomed to providing services to public figures also has plans in place to protect your privacy further. For instance, you may need to plan your intake arrival for a time when you are less likely to be noticed such as later in the evening or early in the morning. Some private rehabs also have discreet exteriors and entrances so that anyone who does see you enter thinks that you are simply visiting a different type of business.
Once you are safely inside of a drug treatment center, you can trust that further steps are taken to protect your reputation. For instance, the staff will only refer to you by your first name or a predetermined one that you prefer to be used among the other residents. You can also expect that the other residents in a private facility also want their privacy. As you open up in group sessions, everyone understands the need to keep what is discussed in treatment within the walls of the center.
Your decision to seek treatment is a personal decision, and our counselors always respect patient confidentiality. Give us a call today at 844-639-8371 so that we can implement a plan that lets you feel secure about your private information.