The alcohol and drug treatment industry is enormous and highly profitable. But it’s very competitive. To lure customers, many rehabs and retreats use falsehoods and deception. When it comes to alcohol rehabs and money, it’s often more about money. Helping people is of minor concern.

There’s little regulation and deception is common. So it’s a case of caveat emptor. That is, buyer beware. Be very beware!

For excellent clues, look at minimum criteria. To do that, visit The Best Alcohol Treatment Program. How to Choose It.

Deception

Companies may devise new names for their programs to mislead customers. Companies may claim high success rates based on meaningless surveys of past clients. (How many people will honestly report that they have failed to achieve sobriety?) Some companies routinely use their own employees for testimonials as former clients. And they do so without disclosing that they are on the company payroll.

Some sales offices present themselves as referral services. But they’re owned by the rehab companies that own them. Others get a financial “kick back” for recommending some companies but not others. That’s great for them, but bad for you.

Alternatives

In reality, few people need a rehab or retreat. Most can benefit from free or very economical programs. They include the free HAMS Harm Reduction network. Or the affordable Life Process Program. It was developed by the pioneering alcohol expert, Dr. Stanton Peele.

Other popular options include these.

• • Moderation Management.
  • Women for Sobriety.
  • Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART Recovery).
  • Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS).

With any of these flexible programs, people can avoid many problems of rehabs. They include these.

• • Needless expense.
  • Inconvenience.
  • Long travel.
  • Disruption to life.
  • Anxiety about living among strangers in a rehab.

Resources: Alcohol Rehabs and Money

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