Questions to ask a rehab program
A short list for any call, whether it is for you or for someone else.
The short answer
The questions to ask a rehab program cover the care itself, the staff and license, the full cost and what happens afterward. You can ask them yourself or for someone else. A program that wants to help should answer plainly.
About the care
Start with what a day looks like. Ask how many hours are spent in individual counseling, group counseling and other activities. Ask whether a doctor or nurse is on site, and at what hours.
Ask how the program decides on a plan for each person, and how often that plan is reviewed. NIDA’s treatment guide says a plan should be looked at often and changed as a person’s needs change. NIDA is the federal institute that studies drug use.
Ask about medication. If you take medicine for opioid use or for a mental health condition, ask whether you can keep taking it. NIDA also says that when a mental health condition and substance use occur together, treatment should address both. See dual diagnosis.
Ask what happens if a person relapses during treatment. Ask whether someone can be asked to leave, and where they would go if that happened. A clear answer here tells you a lot about how a program works.
About staff, license and money
Ask whether the program holds a current Texas license, and what kind. Then check it yourself. Ask what training the counselors have, who supervises them, and whether staff are there at night and on weekends.
Ask for the full cost in writing, including what your plan will not cover. Ask whether there are extra charges for medication, testing or transportation. If you have insurance, confirm the answers with your plan as well. A program’s estimate is a guess until your plan agrees. See what rehab costs.
About what comes after
Ask what happens the day a person leaves. Is there a written plan? Does the program set up the next appointment? Does it offer support for family members? SAMHSA, the federal agency for substance use and mental health, lists family involvement and ongoing support among its signs of quality.
Answers to be careful with
Slow down if you hear a promise of recovery or a success rate with no explanation. Slow down if a program will not name its license, cannot explain costs, or says you must decide right away. A program can be honest about what it does not know. For example, “Each person is different, and here is how we would find out” is a fair answer.
Four to start with
- Is a doctor or nurse on site?
- Do you hold a Texas license?
- What will this cost me in total?
- What happens after I leave?
Common questions
Can a family member make the call?
Yes. You can ask all of these for someone else. If the person is already in a program, staff may not be able to confirm that without written permission, because of privacy rules.
What if a program will not answer?
Some questions need a medical check first, so “We would need to assess you” can be fair. If a program dodges basic questions on cost or license, call another one.
Is it all right to call more than one program?
Yes. Each program on our Dallas list shows its own number. Comparing answers is a normal part of choosing.
Should I write the answers down?
It helps. Note who you spoke with and the date, especially for cost and insurance. Calls run together when you are tired.
