When you’re struggling with alcoholism, you may try to quit drinking several times on your own only to end up relapsing very quickly. Eventually, you’ll come to realize that you need the professional help you can only get in an alcohol treatment center, but this is just the first step in a long recovery process. Once you know you need help, you’ll have to determine which treatment facilities in Delaware offer you the best opportunities for a sustained recovery.
Finding the right treatment center is a challenge in itself because the type and quality of service will vary greatly from facility to facility. There are even some disreputable treatment centers that are ineffective in helping addicts begin their recovery. Fortunately, those businesses are few and far between in today’s more regulated environment. Your first goal in considering any alcohol treatment center is to determine if the facility abides by Delaware state regulatory laws. This will ensure you’ll receive the bare minimum level of treatment that’s needed to ensure your recovery.
What is the Bare Minimum Level of Treatment Required in Delaware?
To operate in the state of Delaware, an alcohol treatment center has to maintain a valid license to operate. The state license is required to ensure treatment facilities maintain a basic quality of service rather than simply housing addicts to turn a profit. This means the facility must meet certain standards outlined by the state in regards to maintaining the facility in a good, livable condition. The structure must be well maintained with repairs made in a timely manner. Inspections help ensure the building and amenities meet licensing standards on an annual basis.
Additionally, the quality of treatment is also evaluated to ensure the staff is making a genuine effort to help addicts maintain their recovery. This will involve providing psychotherapy, group counseling, or other types of therapy that have a positive effect on addicts seeking to live a clean life. This may be determined by comparing the level of care to the state standard as well as looking at the rates of relapse for people previously treated at the facility.
Many Facilities Pursue Accreditation
Many Delaware alcohol treatment centers pursue accreditation through third-party organizations that investigate and evaluate the treatment facility. Once the facility passes the stricter requirements for accreditation, they are granted a certificate bearing the organization’s official seal. In order to get accredited, the facility must submit to a thorough vetting of its staff to ensure each employee is qualified for their position. The issuing organization will also look at the treatment center’s operational policies, client care, and safety policies.
Accreditation serves as a backup to the licensing procedure in many ways. For instance, both state licensing boards and third-party accreditation organizations examine the policies a treatment center has in regard to HIPAA privacy standards. They want to ensure the privacy of every client is protect to the highest level possible. Even therapeutic treatments are evaluated for effectiveness, which is done by comparing the therapy to a standard set by the accrediting organization. An alcohol treatment facility must go through this rigorous process before they can use their accredited status in their marketing materials.
Why Does Accreditation Matter?
While accreditation helps a treatment facility appear more legitimate and helps them in their marketing efforts, it does much more for the recovering addicts it treats. Most importantly, accreditation makes it easier for you to receive reimbursement for addiction treatment services from your health insurance provider. Insurance companies are less likely to reimburse you for treatment if the facility hasn’t gone through the rigid screen process required for accreditation.
You’re also in better hands when you receive treatment at an accredited facility. An alcohol treatment center that hasn’t been accredited can use therapies that may not be as safe, which means you could be adversely affected by participating in them. Accredited facilities undergo close scrutiny to ensure the therapeutic services they offer have a low risk of adversely affecting their clients. You will also receive an overall better quality of care, since a third-party accreditation organization’s standards are higher than those required for state licensing. In many cases, accredited facilities go beyond the level of quality required for certification, providing addicts with an even higher value of treatment.
If you’re ready to start living a sober life, contact us at 302-842-2390. We’re available to talk to you seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Our counselors can answer your questions and help you learn more about addiction recovery.
