Rehabilitation Centres for Drug Addiction: What to Look For & What to Expect

The decision to attend drug rehab is a brave yet challenging one. Knowing what to look for and expect can help you prepare and find the best rehab centre for your needs.

 

Keep reading if you are…

• Trying to understand whether drug rehab is right for you or a loved one.
• Searching for drug rehab treatment options and want to know what to expect.
• Seeking a confidential, trustworthy and supportive drug rehab in Australia.

 

Whether you’re looking into rehabilitation centres for drugs for yourself or a loved one, you are not alone. Rehab in Australia is a sought-after treatment process for those caught in the cycle of substance misuse and drug addiction.

The Australian Institute of Health and Wellness reports that over 139,000 people sought treatment services for alcohol and other drugs (AOD) in 2020-2021. Treatment services can be delivered in residential and non-residential settings and include detoxification, rehabilitation, counselling and pharmacotherapy – among other things.

Rehab in Australia is delivered through public health agencies and private providers, like The Banyans Health and Wellness. There are many variables to consider when deciding whether this is right for you, and it can be overwhelming.

This article will help you better understand how to choose the right drug rehab for your needs.

 

First Things First: What Is a Rehabilitation Centre For Drugs?

A drug rehabilitation program is a professionally guided treatment plan to help you recover from drug addiction or dependency. Rehabilitation typically occurs across three stages:

1. Drug Detox:

When someone is addicted to any substance, a detoxification (detox) process is often an important first step in their recovery. Detox involves removing all traces of any drugs from the body so that you can be physically and mentally ready to start other therapies to help you overcome and recover from your addiction. Depending on the severity of the addiction, detox can be a slow, gradual process – it isn’t always a part of rehab, but it is often expected.

2. Rehabilitation Therapy:

Rehabilitation therapy offers a controlled environment to help you heal while you regain strength, relearn skills you lost and begin to bring your life back into a healthy balance as you enter the road to recovery.

3. Recovery:

Recovery will look different for everyone, based on their circumstances and needs. Recovery may include ongoing therapeutic intervention, group support, counselling, or other activities that help you stay in control and free of addiction.

 

Although living an addiction-free life is an important outcome, you will only be able to maintain it if your rehab program is holistic. A holistic approach focuses on helping you regain productivity at work, rebuild your close relationships and re-engage with your community alongside therapeutic and medical treatment interventions.

 

What Types of Drug Rehab Are There in Australia?

There are two main ways to undertake a drug rehab program in Australia:

Inpatient or Residential Program: This is where you spend an amount of time on site, staying at the rehabilitation centre. Residential rehabilitation could last between two to eight weeks, potentially longer depending on the individual and their needs.

Outpatient Program: This is where you attend therapeutic interventions regularly at the rehabilitation centre but return to your own home and life activities in between. Outpatient programs last for as long as the individual needs them.

Peter Hayton, the Clinical Director at The Banyans, has worked in several treatment centres. In his article about the benefits of a residential program, Peter advises residential programs are often significantly shorter than other rehab models. This is because they provide “the pace, the power, the support, and the focus” required to create true freedom from addiction.

A one-month program at a residential facility could easily provide the same or a greater number of psychological consultations that would occur in eight months of attending an outpatient program.

The Banyans Health and Wellness is a residential drug rehab facility in northern Southeast Queensland, Australia. Our programs range from two to eight weeks, with up to a year of structured post-residential support.

 

Finding The Best Drug Rehab For You: Questions to Ask

There are many reasons someone might seek rehab in Australia. You don’t need to be caught in a debilitating experience of drug dependency or misuse to realise that rehab can be the best next step to help you manage things before they worsen.

When considering whether drug rehab is right for you, there are a few vital questions to consider:

• What am I hoping to get out of drug rehab?
• What are my expectations for a rehabilitation centre – are they aligned with the reality?
• How does a private rehabilitation centre for drugs cost?
• What are the key differences between public and private rehabilitation centres?
• How do I expect to measure if drug rehab has been successful for me?
• What types of treatment do different rehabilitation centres in Australia offer?

These questions are all great starting points to begin formulating your ideas around what you’re hoping to achieve from attending drug rehab and which one might be the best fit for your needs.

The Banyans offers a private, effective, research-led approach to rehab in Australia. Our specialist teams develop tailored treatment plans that fit your experiences and needs, ensuring you get the most out of your time with us.

While there are other rehabilitation centres across Australia, The Banyans is rated amongst the best. Our team is always available to answer any questions about attending our facilities. In the rest of this article, we’ll provide a better overview of what we offer and how our drug rehab programs can support you.

 

6 Crucial Criteria to Look For in a Drug Rehab Program

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to rehabilitation programs. When researching and looking for rehab in Australia, there are six crucial aspects of treatment that we recommend you look for.

These six aspects will help you ensure that the program is safe, effective and comprehensive:

1. Individual one-on-one therapy. No group therapy.

2. Degree-qualified registered therapists.

3. Addiction Medicine Specialists rather than regular GPs.

4. Addiction-specific, research-based therapies instead of contemporary approaches.

5. Dual Diagnosis Program to enable comprehensive therapy for multiple conditions.

6. Social connection and recreational opportunities

 

1. Individual, One-on-One Private Therapy

There are many situations where sharing experiences and stories as a group can be beneficial and cathartic, but during the initial stages of rehabilitation isn’t one of them. During this crucial phase of beginning the journey to recovery, it’s vital to have the space to be honest and vulnerable on your terms, without the eyes and ears of others.

Peter Hayton, Clinical Director at The Banyans, explains that therapy is often a deeply personal experience. “You must have a good connection with your therapist and feel like you have a safe space to be vulnerable,” he says.

Peter suggests it can be challenging to achieve this level of vulnerability and honesty when sharing with many individuals in a group setting. “Private therapy helps break your barriers down much faster, as you do not need to overcome social anxieties or fear of judgement.”

“In a private therapy session, you have the therapist’s full attention,” Peter describes. This ensures that the session stays on track, and you can dig deep into the issues contributing to your experience of drug addiction.

Individual therapy can also assist while you are just beginning this journey, individual therapy can also reduce trigger points when hearing other people’s experience and prevents you from comparing your journey to recovery with others.

“In the same way that each experience of drug dependency is unique, so is each healing journey,” Peter encourages. “That is why we have no group therapy in your program at The Banyans.”

Questions to ask:

• Does the drug rehab program at your facility provide individual therapy?
• Will I be required to engage in a group therapy experience at any stage in my drug rehab program?

 

2. Degree Qualified, Registered Therapists

In Australia, there are no regulations for private drug rehab centres, so it’s crucial that you do your research and choose a quality accredited rehabilitation facility with degree-qualified, registered treating professionals.

By ensuring that your treating professionals are degree-qualified, you guarantee they have dedicated significant time to learning the most effective, research-based treatment methods.

Accredited therapists are also governed by ethical standards and codes of conduct, so by ensuring the facility you attend has appropriately qualified staff, you also ensure that you’ll be treated with respect, honesty, equality and care.

Questions to ask:

• Are all of your therapists degree-qualified in their treating field?
• Are they registered with the relevant professional association or the Australian Health Professionals Regulation Agency (AHPRA)?
• Does your facility hold any globally recognised quality accreditations?

 

3. Treatment is Delivered by Addiction Medicine Specialists

Some drug rehabs may have general practitioners on hand to support their programs, and while there is nothing wrong with this, programs supported by Addiction Medicine Specialists can offer a significantly greater level of adequate care.

This is especially important if you require a medically assisted drug detox or a relapse prevention implant. The Banyans has two Specialist Addiction Doctors: Dr Christian Rowan and Dr David Hunt.

Questions to ask:

• Do you have Specialist Addiction Doctors supporting the drug rehab program?
• If I require a medically assisted drug detox, will your treating professionals be able to admit me to a private hospital?

 

4. Addiction-Specific, Research-Based Therapeutic Inclusions

Decades of research have gone into developing specific physical, emotional and psychological therapies for treating drug addiction. Any rehabilitation centre for drugs should be supported by and utilise the most recent, up-to-date research-based intervention treatments and therapies.

These types of therapies include:

• Dialectal Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).
• Somatic Therapies, such as Brainspotting Therapy or Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.
• Physical therapies such as personal training and yoga therapy.
• Research-based ancillary therapies such as equine therapy, art therapy or neurologic music therapy.

Questions to ask:

• What addiction-specific therapies do your team specialise in?
• Are these standard inclusions or optional extras?

 

5. Dual Diagnosis Treatment

In many cases, individuals who develop substance use disorders (SUD) are also diagnosed with mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder, and vice versa. One study suggests that over 60% of adolescents in community-based substance use disorder treatment programs meet diagnostic criteria for mental illness.

Some people may engage in drug misuse without being diagnosed with a mental health disorder, which could become more apparent by beginning the rehabilitation and recovery process.

It is essential that a drug rehab program can also provide support and treatment for co-occurring conditions. This ensures that the absence of one problem does not intensify another problem.

“In taking a comprehensive approach to therapy, the collaborative team at The Banyans can provide support and treatment for an individual’s drug addiction, as well as any co-occurring mental health conditions,” Peter confirms. “This means that you will leave a drug rehab program feeling strong and resilient.”

Questions to ask:

• Do you have a multidisciplinary team who can treat co-occurring mental health challenges?
• Is my program personally tailored to my unique experiences and challenges, or will I go through a prescribed program?

 

 

6. Social Connection & Recreational Opportunities

The best drug rehab programs do not focus on abstinence from substance use as the only goal. They also encourage long-lasting change by helping guests understand the benefits of social connection and recreational opportunities.

“Often, we turn to drugs or other addictive substances because they help us feel more positive emotions. Or perhaps, the substance helps us feel much less of a negative emotion – maybe even numb,” advises Peter, referring to this process as self-medicating.

“If we help relieve our negative emotions in other ways, we can stop the cycle before we feel like substances are our best option,” says Peter. “By rediscovering fun, leisurely activities without drugs or alcohol, we can build new, long-lasting patterns for when we return from rehab to everyday life.”

Questions to ask:

• Does your facility arrange therapeutically suitable recreational outings or activities on weekends?
• Will I be accompanied by a staff member on these outings?

 

Drug Detoxing: Know the Risks

Have you ever experienced a headache if you skip your morning coffee? How about intense sugar cravings when you try to cut back? These are two common examples of ‘withdrawal’. Prescription and illicit drugs can cause a similar effect, but drug withdrawal symptoms can be much more serious.

Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of physical drug withdrawal:

 

Physical withdrawal from drug addiction can be fatal if not closely managed by an Addiction Medicine doctor. While it might be tempting to attempt a drug detox on your own, there are many risks you need to be aware of.

Regular or excessive use of prescription and illicit drugs can cause significant changes in your body’s natural functioning. To maintain stability, your body may have adapted to the presence of such substances. The sudden absence of drugs in your bodily systems can cause significant side effects, such as sweating, fatigue, shaking or trembling, an irregular heartbeat, high or low blood pressure or more.

 

Do Rehabs in Australia Provide Drug Detoxing as Standard?

Whether you’ll need a medically supported drug detox will depend entirely on your needs and experiences with substance misuse – not everyone needs medical support while undertaking a detox, but you should be wary of any drug rehab program that does not offer any form of medically supported drug detoxing.

The best drug rehab facilities will provide access to a medically endorsed drug detox if necessary. This may occur onsite or offsite at a private hospital.

At The Banyans, our Addiction Medicine Specialist Doctors can admit you to a private hospital before commencing your residential drug rehab program. This ensures you will be safe and healthy to commence your residential program with us onsite at our luxury facilities.

 

Drug Rehab: Get the Help You Need Sooner, Not Later

The longer you wait to seek help, the more difficult it can be to get back on the road to recovery. Unfortunately, many people may feel like they have their addiction under control and, before long, find their addiction has become insurmountable, damaging relationships, their health and livelihood.

Attending a rehabilitation centre for drugs can be one the healthiest, most resilient things you decide for yourself. The best drug rehab centre will provide you with all the necessary tools and treatment to help you regain a life free from your addiction to prescription or illicit drugs.

 

The Banyans Health and Wellness is one of Australia’s premium residential drug rehab facilities located near Brisbane, Australia. Our residential programs range from two to eight weeks, with up to a year of structured post-residential support.

 

 

CASE STUDY

Doug’s Addiction Recovery with The Banyans

After battling an ice addiction for ten years, Doug, thirty, engaged in a residential addiction rehab program with The Banyans. Three years later, Doug says his life today is incomparable. This is Doug’s story.