Bad Rehab Experience
 

So, yesterday was supposed to be my first day in outpatient rehab, and it was. Went to the facility, when told to. Waited for a while. The clinical director came down asked 5 maybe 6 questions about my drinking past. She was really pushy about me having a residential stay. I told her that there was no way that was possible, since I run my own business. In her defense, I know she was partly doing her job, but on the flip side, I signed up and fully paid for outpatient (four days prior). At any rate I went to my morning group which was ok, then it was lunch. Was approached by the Program Director to tell me that I should do inpatient.

By way of background, I had gone on a decent bender for a few days and decided I needed rehab. Especially being the new year and all, I decided I would try something new. It was a good bender, but I detoxed at home just fine, nothing crazy.

So, I told the Program Director the same - that I can't be away from my business for that long (28 days) and that even outpatient was going to be a strain - it runs from 9 to 3 four days a week. He tells me that he and one of the therapists will meet with me at the end of the day to discuss.

Long story short, I sit down with he and one of the therapists at the end of the day and they basically tell me that they do not do outpatient unless you have first done inpatient. Well sh%t!! That would have been good to know about 4 days prior!! They told me that some other rehab centers in town will allow you that option and even begin after work hours.

I was very excited to go to outpatient and would have appreciated the decency of an upfront "we don't offer outpatient unless you first do inpatient." Oh well, I'll figure something out.

Wow. Which place was it? You should post the name so that the SR community knows to avoid it. Holy wow. It sounds like the director needs a remedial class in math and planning. This is truly disgusting.

I'm no expert but I think 28 days is pretty standard, and thats pretty common practice for private outpatient services to want you to do their inpatient first.

If you just want OP rehab - try this database:

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator

enter your general location, then hit the select services button...you can refine your results to OP.

D

First of all, they should have been upfront in the beginning. I feel like sometimes facilities will tell people anything sometimes to get them in the door.

Now to play devil's advocate, people will often come up with every excuse in the book on why they can't go to rehab. Work, having a dog, whatever. I did it too. I refused to do inpatient because I thought there was too much going on at work so I did outpatient and relapsed. Finally I realized that if I didn't get my **** together and make my sobriety the number one priority then I wasn't going to last. I LOVED inpatient and am sooooo glad I did it. Gave a full 24/7 recovery environment and better opportunity for building a sober support system. This is just my experience, probably not the same for everyone. Just saying that I can see why they would be pushing for it. They've seen people come and go and have a pretty good idea of how patient's impressions change once they're in the program.

I don't think it's an uncommon practice. I can see both sides. I think some people can do outpatient and succeed, but these directors deal with this daily and routinely see the results of people underestimating this disease. I'll say this, I didn't want to do any type of rehab until it got bad enough. It really is something that needs to be made your number 1 priority.

At any rate, don't let this discourage at a time you are vunerable.

I understand your concerns about your business, and maybe the cost of the inpatient is a factor, but as long as you've struggled to get sober, Ethos, perhaps it's is time to consider that inpatient IS the way to get sober.

Well, I hope they refund your money seeing they won't or cant' provide the svc you thought you were paying for.

This is what I received prior to being admitted as an impatient at the Priory in Preston, Lancashire.

Addiction Treatment Programme

The hospital specialises in addictions treatment for substance and behavioural dependency, such as alcohol, drugs or gambling.

The inpatient Addictions treatment programme includes:-

FREE assessment to discuss the problem in more detail without obligation to continue into treatment
FREE weekly aftercare support for 12 months post completion of the 28 day programme
FREE family support during and post treatment
A detoxification service is available for those not requiring the full 28 day programme.

I completed 7 days NHS (UK National Health Service), free treatment at a private clinic. I was referred by my GP, after a number of failed attempts to stop. As a far as I am aware, they are correct that they dont offer outpatients support unless you have had some inpatients stay, this is because the inpatients stay gives you a week off the substance you are addicted to, then they can work out the best plan for you in terms of meetings and therapy.

I found that this time giving up, has been infinity easier because I have had that experience, from before and feel ready to move on with my life, addiction free.

I agree with the sentiment here, that the standard is to do inpatient first. I am fine with that. I just wish they would have told me first, thats all. They did refund 100% of my $$, which is great. They also gave me the names of a couple of good therapists and I am meeting with one next week.

I just had to vent a bit!

Ethos - good luck with finding a substitute. For what it is worth - thought i'd share my experience as well as a quick thought.

I'm in the US and in the midst of an outpatient program that meets Mon-Thur from 5-9 or 6-9 depending on the night. The program consists of 24 sessions. There is also a daytime program and an inpatient program. I chose the nightly program given my original assessment and personal situation with work and family. I essentially run my own business with a partner and found the night program to be the best fit initially. Family demands also contributed to the decision as well as the initial assessment from the organization that said outpatient seemed to make most sense. I've known a lot of people that successfully did outpatient first rather than starting with inpatient. Every situation is different.

Consistent with earlier comments I think they were misleading and how they went about your situation was completely wrong.

Finally - one must remember that at the end of the day these rehab centers are a business and they rely on filling spots (regardless if for profit or not-for-profit). I say this as I've witnessed from my own experience and others in my group how the organization tries to push the more costly inpatient program whenever possible. I'm not saying it is a bad thing but ultimately these are businesses and right or wrong....there sometimes are underlying motives.

I hope you find a good program and support system. I personally have benefitted a great deal from the outpatient program and highly recommend.

I'm glad you got your money back, and that they are giving you referrals. It's good that you brought this up because I am sure there are many of us that didn't know this. I didn't.

Every issue brought up seems to be pertinent to some one...it's all good.

keep up posted.

I don't have any advice, just rambling thoughts.

First of all, good luck. Secondly....everyone's first day is hard. Nobody wants to be there. Nobody wants to drop everything in their lives to do this. Nobody wants to go to inpatient. We all have a million excuses why we can't do it, many of them reasonable. Finally, most people drop out or find a way to stop going. We often blame it on the counselors or program being "unfair".

Don't get me wrong, I've been in your place. I went to inpatient myself, and did not want to go. And even after I finished inpatient, in fact, I was told that I should really attend "phase 2" and not return to my own apartment in my home city. I pushed hard against it and ended up back home alone...and after 12 days I moved out of the country because I realized they were right. I did not belong back at home and I was struggling and almost drank several times. I needed to change my entire life or go back to the same-old-same old, so I booked a ticket and got out of Dodge. Not everyone can do that, either.

The bottom line is that getting sober requires a huge sacrifice and (for me) meant a complete change of lifestyle, friends, behavior and the way I viewed life. This takes a long time. Most of us don't have that kind of time and want to move on and move away from treatment.

In a perfect world, I think it would be best if everyone went to inpatient and then followed up with outpatient daily for 2 months. But that's just not possible. I totally get where you're coming from. It's a tough spot to be in, and I don't envy you.

Again, good luck.

I had the same thing happen. At least you got your money back, I never got mine, gave up on it at this point (been more than 6 months). Started going to AA and seeing a counselor. Rehab is a personal decision, for me, I view it as if you possibly just can NOT stop your addiction without being in a controled environment, rehab might be a good launch board.