Preparing for drug and alcohol treatment is a big step, and it's important to learn all that you can about the treatment process before you choose the drug and alcohol detox and rehab program that's the best fit for your needs.

You'll want to be sure to choose a facility that uses evidence based treatment to create its treatment plans. When you choose a facility that bases its treatment approach in research, you'll know that the treatment you're receiving is in line with the latest addiction science research. This allows you to rest assured that you're getting the treatment programs that will be most conducive to your long term sobriety.

You'll also want to be sure that you choose an accredited facility. Accrediting organizations vet detox and rehab programs, helping you to know that the program you're considering operates in line with accepted best practices in the mental health and behavior health sector. You can ask the facilities you're considering for their accreditation information, or you can check their website to learn more about their accreditation.

There are several levels of detox and rehab care that you may encounter as you go through the process of addiction treatment, including:

• Drug and alcohol detox: Most people who are beginning addiction treatment need to go through detox before moving forward with rehab. During detox, your treatment team will work closely with you to help control withdrawal symptoms and make sure that you're staying safe as drugs and alcohol leave your body. If you're addicted to alcohol or benzodiazepines, it's especially important that you go through detox prior to beginning your addiction treatment program, as withdrawal from these substances can be fatal. When you arrive at your treatment facility, your intake team will work with you to determine whether you need to go through detox and whether you'll need medication to help you manage your withdrawal symptoms before you begin your addiction treatment program.
• Outpatient treatment: Outpatient treatment allows patients to begin rehab without having to make major changes to their work and home life schedules. Outpatient treatment typically consists of short appointments with counselors that provide you with help in developing the coping strategies you need to stay sober in your daily life. Outpatient treatment may also include medication assisted treatment, depending on the patient.
• Intensive outpatient treatment/partial hospitalization programming: This is the next step up from outpatient programming. During an intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization program, people who are living with substance use disorder spend most of their daytime hours in a treatment facility where they undergo many of the same treatments they would receive in a residential program. Intensive outpatient programming allows patients to immerse themselves in a rehab program while still returning home at the end of the day to sleep. This type of programming can be ideal for people who are able to get time off of work to attend treatment, but aren't able to step away from family responsibilities to attend an inpatient program.
• Residential treatment: Inpatient treatment allows you to access 24/7 care and fully immerse yourself in developing the coping strategies that you'll need to stay strong against triggers in day to day life. Residential treatment offers counseling (both group and individual) as well as other modalities of therapy to provide you with a multi-faceted approach to staying sober. Many people who are living with substance use disorder find that residential treatment offers them a much-needed chance to get away from it all and develop the emotional and mental coping strategies that they need to manage their stressors after they finish treatment. Residential treatment also offers the chance to get to know others who are dealing with similar issues on a personal level, which can often offer new insights into how to approach common problems.
• Aftercare: When you finish your inpatient or outpatient treatment, it's key that you stick to an aftercare program to increase the likelihood that you'll be able to stay sober when the stressors of real life hits. Toward the end of your treatment program, your counselor will work with you to develop an aftercare program that makes sense for your needs. Your aftercare program may consist of attending 12-step meetings, trying family therapy, participating in an exercise program, and more.