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!
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.
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
Web Pages
Readings
Anderson, K. How to Change Your Drinking. NY: HAMS, 2010.
Christopher, J. SOS is an Effective Self-Help Program. In: Barbour, S. (Ed.). Alcohol. San Diego: Green, 1998. Pp. 128-134.
________. How to Stay Sober. Buffalo, NY: Prom, 2012.
Crandell, J. Controlled Drinking Can Help Alcoholics Recover. In: Cozic, C., and Swisher, K. (Ed.). Chemical Dependency. San Diego: Green, 1991. Pp. 218-224.
Dorsman, J. How to Quit Drinking without AA. Newark, DE: New Dawn, 1993.
Ellis, A., and Velten, E. When AA Doesn’t Work for You. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade, 1992.
Granfield, R. Coming Clean. NY: New York U. Press, 1999.
Kishline, A. Moderate Drinking. NY: Crown, 1996.
Miller, W., and Munoz, R. Controlling Your Drinking. NY: Guilford, 2005.
Peele, S. 7 Tools to Beat Addiction. NY: Three Rivers, 2004.
______. Recover! Boston: De Capo, 2015.
Robbins, J., & Fisher, D. Stopping Excessive Drinking. In How to Break Habits. NY: Wyden, 1973.
Robertson, I., & Heather, N. So You Want to Cut Down on Your Drinking? Edinburg: HEBS, 1999.
Rotgers, F., et al. Responsible Drinking. Oakland, CA: New Harb, 2002.
Sanchez-Craig, M. How to Quit Drinking or Cut Down. Toronto: ARF, 1993.
Sobell, M., and Sobell, L. Problem Drinkers. Guided Self-Change Treatment. NY: Guilford, 1993.
SOS. Sobriety Handbook, the SOS Way. Oakland: Lifering, 1997.