Deciding where to go for treatment is never an easy choice. There are always lots of factors to keep in mind, and one of them is how far from your home you’re going to be. Some people might immediately think, “Of course I want a rehab near me; I want to stay close to home.” Other people, however, might default to thinking, “No way do I want to go to a drug rehab near me; I need to go far away.” Still others might be stuck in the middle, unsure of which one’s best.
We’ve compiled some statements that you can either agree or disagree with. How you respond to each one will help point you in the right direction. Along with each statement, we’ve explained how it relates to choosing a nearby rehab or a far away one.
Do keep in mind that we’re talking about inpatient treatment here. If you’re interested in an outpatient option, then you’re only going to want to look up “rehab near me.” Since you’re not living at the rehab center, it’ll need to be close to home.
With that out of the way, let’s get into it. Here are some statements to help you decide if you should stick with “rehab near me” or if you should branch out.
I need to be at a rehab near me so I can be near family.
If this statement resonates for you, then it is probably a good idea to stay close to home. Your family can be a really valuable resource, and many treatment programs want to get them involved. They’ll have family counseling sessions and resources to teach them about what you’re going through. If your family is committed to seeing you through your treatment, then you might have good results from sifting through your “drug rehab near me” options.
However, not every family is going to offer helpful assistance in your treatment journey. Sometimes, removing yourself from unhealthy relationships is an important step forward. Some people’s families are sources of support, and others are sources of distractions and triggers. Getting away from bad influences can make your recovery go a lot smoother.
Going to a rehab near me would make going home too tempting.
Another factor here is how easy it is to leave the facility. Most of the time, a treatment center can’t force you to stay and complete your treatment if you don’t want to. People who are only a few miles from their homes have a lot more incentive to leave, making traveling far away a better option.
This point also ties in nicely with the previous one. If there’s no one around to pick you up from the rehab center, you’re less likely to leave before you’ve completed your treatment. If you’ve chosen a center that doesn’t fit under the “drug rehab near me” category, you’re more likely to complete your initial treatment because you have nowhere else to be in that unfamiliar area.
My insurance will only cover a rehab near me.
Rehab can be expensive (and we’ll talk a little more about that later on). Navigating insurance can also be tricky. Definitely check to see what your insurance will cover before committing to any programs, and there should be staff at the facilities you’re looking into to help you with that.
Also keep in mind that if you leave before completing your first course of treatment, your insurance might not cover another one. So, if you go to the first place that pops up when you search “rehab near me” and end up leaving against medical advice, you might not have the opportunity to go back without dropping a lot of your own money. Always check to see what your insurance will cover first.
I can only go to a drug rehab near me because I’m legally restricted from traveling.
This one is a little tricky. You’re likely not searching “drug rehab near me” in this circumstance. If you’re facing legal restrictions, then you might be confined to certain nearby facilities. We would never encourage you to break the law, but lots of times, you can get exceptions to seek treatment. Obviously you shouldn’t do anything illegal, so if you ask to travel for rehab and your request is denied, then you should definitely choose one of your nearby options.
At the facilities you’re looking into, there might be a staff member dedicated to coordinating with legal authorities. There will be some paperwork to fill out if you’re in this position, but there will also be people to help you with it and advocate for you. To get started, just ask.
Certain medical conditions make traveling inadvisable, so I need to go to a rehab near me.
This one really shouldn’t be in question, and we probably don’t have to point it out, but we wanted to address every concern we could think of before you search “rehab near me.” It’s very plain: If your doctor says you shouldn’t travel, then you shouldn’t travel, period. Your decision has been made for you. You’ll have to search “rehab near me” and choose one of those options or otherwise find a nearby rehab center. Even if there’s a fantastic facility that you’re really interested in several hundred miles away, choosing a closer treatment center is going to be the better option.
Be aware that people in this situation will be turned away by reputable rehabs. Far away treatment centers should ask you about your medical history, and if you have a condition that means you can’t travel, they should realize that and tell you you’re not a good candidate. That would be a good time to start looking up “drug rehab near me.”
I don’t want to go to a rehab near me because I might know people there.
This can definitely be a legitimate concern. If you’re worried about confidentiality, then traveling far away for your treatment might be the best choice, and you should skip searching “drug rehab near me.” It’s not that drug treatment centers breach your privacy, it’s just that you’re more likely to know someone there if you’re at a facility in the community you live in. You’re less likely to ever see a familiar face during your treatment if you travel far away. For some people, that’s a big positive.
We all know those people who seem to know everyone. They’re active in a lot of organizations and are just generally invested in the community. Those types of people might prefer to skip looking up “drug rehab near me” and opt for a far away treatment center instead. Seeking drug treatment shouldn’t be embarrassing or shameful, but some people prefer to keep it as private as possible. Traveling for your treatment is a good option to keep it to yourself.
The best treatment possible is not at a rehab near me.
A statement like this might not be true about your specific circumstances, but it could also be an important thing to realize about your situation. You may very well have fantastic treatment options in your city. However, the fact of the matter is, there are areas all over that don’t have great rehab facilities. You don’t want to settle for subpar treatment just because you haven’t looked any deeper than “drug rehab near me.”
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, and different centers are going to cater to different people. You’ll want to find one that specializes in the kind of therapies you’re looking for, and they might not even be offered at the first result for “drug rehab near me.” Make sure you’re doing your due diligence when you’re looking into different facilities. If you want more information about what you should be looking for in a treatment center, you can read our blog post about it here.
I’m concerned about what happens after treatment. A rehab near me is going to offer better options for ongoing care.
This is definitely something to think about. Completing an inpatient program is an incredible step, but most people need some kind of ongoing support afterwards. That can come in many different forms — support groups, an outpatient program, a sober living house, etc.
If you complete treatment far away, you’ll have to find a new support network once you get home. It might be more difficult for the professionals at the center you get treatment from to set up an aftercare plan if they’re not located where you’re going to be living. The distance doesn’t make it impossible, but it definitely can make it harder.
For those who would rather start building a long lasting support system while they’re in treatment, looking up “drug rehab near me” is a good place to start.
I can only afford a drug rehab near me.
Inpatient treatment is one of the more expensive forms of treatment, and adding travel on top of that cost might make it prohibitive for you. Plus, as we already mentioned, sometimes your insurance will only cover local treatment options. If this statement is true to your circumstances, then you should definitely stick to the results for “rehab near me” or other ways to find treatment centers in your area.
However, you should also research all of your options. Some treatment centers offer scholarships or financing options. If those types of programs interest you, then you should definitely ask about them when you’re researching different facilities. Most places want to try their hardest to get you the care you need, and that includes helping you pay for it.
I’ve already completed treatment at a drug rehab near me and I want to try something different this time.
Many people go through multiple kinds of drug treatment. If you already tried inpatient care at a local treatment center and that didn’t stick for whatever reason, you might want to try another option. Maybe you fell into one of the pitfalls we’ve outlined about only looking through results for “rehab near me.” Maybe you left early because home was so close by and tempting, or maybe your old bad influences being around you dragged you back to your old habits.
Whatever the reason, it’s natural that you would want to try something different your second time around. Traveling for drug treatment is not going to solve all your problems, but it might solve some of them. Definitely disclose that you’ve already gone through drug treatment to any facilities you’re considering. From there, they can help you find the right program.
Near or Far?
So, that’s our list. Depending on which statements resonated with you, you should now have a better idea on whether you want to look for a “drug rehab near me” or if you want to broaden your search. Whatever you choose, you want to make sure you’re going to get the best quality treatment possible.
You’ll definitely want to check out what types of therapies and treatments the facilities you’re looking into offer, but you’ll also need to consider some other important points. Definitely go over your financial options and make sure you can afford it. Don’t forget to figure in travel costs if you’re looking for something far away. Also consider how your family and friends are going to feature in your treatment. Will they be a good source of support, or will they encourage your worst habits?
And don’t forget about what happens after you complete your inpatient treatment. Make sure you have a good plan for aftercare in place. The treatment center should put that into action, but it might be more difficult for them if you don’t live near the center.
This is all to say that there are definitely added difficulties with traveling for treatment, but it still might be the right choice for you. If you’re thinking, “This all sounds complicated. Maybe I should just stick with a drug rehab near me,” then just be sure to do your research. Far away drug treatment can be highly beneficial for some, but it’s definitely not for everyone. Hopefully, you should now have the tools to make the right decision for you.
