Are Free Drug Treatment Centers Accredited?

If you’re struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol and ready to seek help, there is some good news and bad news worth noting. The good news is that there is no shortage of rehab facilities available to help you turn your life around. The bad news, however, is that not all of these facilities are accredited. And this applies to both public and private rehab facilities alike. Although it may be the furthest thing from your mind, choosing an accredited facility can mean the difference between overcoming addiction and continuing to engage in self-destructive behavior.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN A REHAB FACILITY IS ACCREDITED?

It is important to note that there are two primary accrediting bodies when it comes to drug and alcohol rehab facilities, CARF, also known as Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and Joint Commission. With that, let’s take a closer look at what it means for a rehab facility to be accredited by either of these two organizations:

CARF – Regarded as the largest accrediting organization in North America and Europe, CARF is a non-profit that holds rehab facilities to high standards when it comes to the level of care that they offer to those who are ready to end their relationship with drugs or alcohol. As of the writing of this article, CARF has accredited 25,000 substance abuse programs in more than 3,000 facilities. And these accreditations also include programs that are aimed at individuals struggling with co-occurring disorders.

Joint Commission – Primarily known for accrediting hospitals and medical facilities, the Joint Commission is also an organization that accredits public and private rehab facilities. It is worth noting that the Joint Commission, unlike CARF, provides accreditation to facilities in the United States only. As of the writing of this article, the organization has accredited over 20,000 healthcare programs, many of which provide care to those needing help overcoming addiction. Some of these healthcare programs consist of the following:

  • Mental health treatment facilities
  • Assisted-living facilities
  • Nursing facilities
  • Hospitals
  • Private physician practices

HOW MANY ACCREDITED REHAB FACILITIES ARE THERE IN AMERICA?

According to a 2013 study published by the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services, there are roughly 13,339 rehab facilities in America. Of those, 21.8 percent have been accredited by CARF while 19.2 percent received their accreditation from the Joint Commission. And 56.9 percent of these rehab facilities did not receive accreditation from either organization. Of course, this is not to suggest that unaccredited rehab facilities are ineffective. After all, many of these facilities take great pride in offering top-tier services that have helped countless people overcome addiction. The issue lies in the fact that there are no established parameters for them to follow, meaning that there is likely to be very little consistency. As a result, individuals who seek treatment at these facilities may receive excellent care one day and subpar care the next. When this happens, it can be difficult for individuals to achieve and maintain sobriety.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SEEKING TREATMENT AT AN ACCREDITED REHAB FACILITY?

Along with delivering consistent and predictable care, accredited rehab facilities must remain up to date when it comes to new processes, intervention methods, and advancements in detox pharmacology. To ensure that these rehab facilities remain compliant with the standards put into place by their accrediting organization, they will have to renew their certification every 1 to 3 years. And to maintain their designation as an accredited rehab facility, they will need to demonstrate that they are following the organization’s directives as it relates to best practices and standard of care, which can apply to detox-assistance, addiction counseling, and much more.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHETHER OR NOT A REHAB FACILITY IS ACCREDITED?

Whether you’re looking for a private or public accredited rehab facility, they are generally pretty easy to find. Because the process involved in becoming accredited is both a time-consuming and complicated endeavor, most facilities proudly include this accomplishment in their marketing materials and also on their websites. Furthermore, accrediting bodies, such as CARF and the Joint Commission, will have a list of the facilities and programs that they have accredited, which are broken down by city, state, and whether the facility is public or private.

BOTTOM LINE

All in all, seeking help from an accredited rehab facility is the best way to overcome an addiction to drugs or alcohol. When all is said and done, these facilities provide a level of care that ensures individuals can achieve long-term sobriety as long as they’re committed to changing their lives for the better. Call our counselors at 844-639-8371.

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