“There is no standard definition of rehab, so there is no standardized way to measure the success of addiction centers. Many base their success rates on unreliable metrics, such as:”
• Completion of the program
• Sobriety rates immediately after treatment
• Client interviews
• Internal studies
“Despite America’s addiction to rehab, it doesn’t work for many people…because when the person relapses, the program places the blame squarely on the shoulders of the patient, absolving itself of any culpability or weakness.”
“Since many treatment centers do not follow up with their patients, the “100 percent” success rate some cite, only applies to those who complete the length of their stay. Even those who boast a more modest “30 percent success rate,” only draw that figure from the immediate sobriety rates after treatment, not from 6 months or 3 years down the road.”
Scientific America looks at the often-cited problem with formalized treatment programs: so many people who attend them suffer relapses. One prime notorious example: Amy Winehouse “cycled in and out of rehab” for years.
“The 12 step and/ or therapy programs that look askance at pharmaceutical solutions, is not particularly effective…medicines should be in the treatment mix whenever they can be helpful.”
Dr. Bankole Johnson, Prof. of Neuroscience at the U. Of Virginia School of Medicine and author of “Addictive Medicine”…Johnson stressed that medications can often be more effective than psychological therapy on its own….Johnson states it is a myth that “one must hit rock bottom before entering treatment.”
Many cite a 1985 Journal of Studies of Alcohol, in which “drinkers were able to walk away from their behavior on their own volition via a combination of willpower, developing a physical aversion to alcohol after bottoming out, and experiencing some kind of life-changing experience, to support the idea that 12 step or rehab in general, isn’t a must in every case.”
“More recent studies suggest that there may be tiers of addiction, and that “less serious” cases may be able to self or spontaneously recover, while others, deemed more severe, will benefit from treatment.”
“Successful recovery can vary widely from one individual to the next. This is echoed in Johnson’s suggestion that the treatment emphasis should be on the best treatment for the individual and the situation.”
“The therapeutic community claims a 30% success rate, but they only count people who complete the program.” …”Only a small number of programs have any kind of data that definitively state their effectiveness. Facilities…usually do not allow outside researchers to conduct studies or analyze patient completion, follow-up stats, or relapse rates. Since facilities are privately owned, there is no standard guideline to evaluate success; each center has its own philosophy, so much so that the Chief Executive of a nonprofit organization tells the Times, that the model of addiction treatment in America, resembles a washing machine. “The system doesn’t work well,” he says, for this often “chronic, recurring problem.” -americanaddictioncenters.org.
Conclusion: Rehab Centers are a business. As a business, the best item is a repeat customer. Since levels of effectiveness of programs are so neatly hidden; The actual percentage if, at generally 30% success, would be considered a miserable failure. And who knows? The real number might be much lower than that. But failure is good for the rehab business, because they’ll likely get that customer back. Anecdotal stories of success with a program, do not translate into large scale success. The fairytale perception that any person goes into a program, comes out 90 days later squeaky clean, reborn, ready to tackle the world again, is just a lie.
Especially for a person who is not deeply in need of help psychologically, to throw them into this “washing machine” of toxicity, can cause them more harm than good. Constantly surrounded by addicts; people to avoid the most if you want to give yourself a chance to recover. Then there’s First: Frustration over losing 3 months of your life. Second: having to socialize with mostly toxic people. Third: Making friends with these toxic people and meeting up with them after discharge from the program.
Many rehab “patients” are actually dealers looking for new customers once they’re both out. Many people, especially young girls, get “stalked” from people they meet in these rehab centers, trying to deal drugs, get them hooked, sometimes paying with sex.
In patient rehab is more profitable than an outpatient rehab run program. An outpatient program has the advantage of not consuming your entire life, for 3 months. To many, there’s no difference going to a 3 month inpatient program or going to jail. Because, in both, you lose your freedom, your life, the things you do to make yourself happy on an everyday basis; which is taken for granted. In both, resentment festers because of this loss of freedom. It could be as simple as playing with your cat, which can be more psychologically advantageous than spending your whole day in a place you don’t want to be.
This whole inpatient rehab model really needs to be examined, scrutinized, and is definitely not the panacea, that is societies perception of this whole industry. / Done
Rehab and the 12 steps don’t actually address the real problem which is: does the addict really want to succeed? I believe he/she has to hit bottom before that realization manifests itself.