Residential Rehab Required Licenses

In the state of Florida, reputable rehab facilities should be licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families, commonly known as DCF.

The persistent nature of addiction means that relapse is often part of the recovery process. The disease continues to evolve and inflict itself on more people with each passing year. In fact, statistics support this, with the National Institute on Drug Abuse reporting 23.1 million people being in need of treatment in 2012.

Thankfully, comprehensive treatment programs can address addiction issues, helping addicts to achieve recovery and lead healthy, balanced lives. It’s important to choose an addiction treatment center that offers evidence-based care. There are plenty of rehab centers that might not offer sound treatment; accreditations and licenses can help you to differentiate between reputable residential treatment centers and others that might not offer the kind of care you want.

What Licensure Means

In the state of Florida, reputable rehab facilities should be licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families, commonly known as DCF. In order to be licensed by DCF, facilities must adhere to specific guidelines, ensuring the safety of the facility and the validity of the treatment methods. Key staff members at the facility must undergo background screenings, and various inspections must be completed.

If a specific facility you’re interested in is not licensed by DCF, you should inquire about it. It might be a sign that they were not able to meet the licensing requirements, and it might not be the right facility for you as a result.

Specifics of Residential Care

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration accounts for about 1.5 million people being admitted to specialty facilities for the treatment of drug or alcohol abuse in a given year. Among them, SAMHSA notes that 102,394 of a total of 1,136,287 were in treatment for substance abuse at residential care centers on March 29, 2002. A decade later, these numbers jumped to 110,843 of 1,248,905 patients.

While residential facilities certainly aren’t the only option for substance abuse rehabilitation, they are the ideal option for certain patients. Those most likely to benefit from residential care include patients referred by the criminal justice system, those who have already been unsuccessful at maintaining sobriety with outpatient treatment, and addicts who can’t escape drugs or alcohol in their home environment due to living with other users.

Furthermore, individuals suffering from mental health disorders often present the need for residential care. While not every mental illness requires round-the-clock care, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or certain personality disorders, those battling more severe disorders, such as schizophrenia, need a heightened level of care.

In the residential care model, someone suffering from comorbid substance abuse and mental health condition can find concurrent treatment for both issues. This simultaneous treatment approach is vital for the patient’s success in rehab. Case in point, treating the alcoholism a person is fighting without treating their underlying bipolar disorder might set them up for failure. The likelihood of the patient completing detox and treatment isn’t high without remedying the effects of their mental health disorder. Even if they do complete rehab, relapse is most likely when they leave treatment without medication or any methods to cope with the symptoms of their disorder. Likewise, that patient is then given the impression that their hard work was not fruitful, rehab isn’t effective, and they very well may be a lost cause. Helpguide reports that 37 percent of alcoholics and 53 percent of drug addicts have at least one serious mental health disorder.

If you’d like more information on a treatment plan that can help you achieve the balanced life you desire, contact us today.