How do you decide on the right medical detox center near you? This article provides some practical advice to help you choose a reputable drug and alcohol treatment program that can meet your medical needs and give you or the one you love the care they deserve.

How Do I Choose A Good Medical Detox Near Me?

Let’s cut right to the chase. How do you choose a good medical detox that will give you or the person you love high-quality addiction treatment? If you type “medical detox” into Google, you’ll get dozens of pages of results. How do you whittle those down to the right drug detox for you?

The first thing you should do is check the detox program’s credentials and accreditations. At a minimum, you want to confirm they are licensed by the state. But you should also look for Joint Commission Accreditation and recognition by a major addiction treatment organization, like NAATP (National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers) or CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities).

What Does All That Mean and Where Do I Find That Info?

Joint Commission accreditation means that the JC (formerly JCAHO) has confirmed that the detox center meets or exceeds its standards. The Joint Commission is an independent body that evaluates healthcare facilities. 

Membership in NAATP or CARF gives you additional confirmation of a program’s reputation. Another thing that’s nice to see is membership in the Better Business Bureau (BBB). This means that the company is committed to resolving any issues or complaints that a customer may have. 

The best place to find all of that info is usually in the “footer” of the home page. Just scroll down to the bottom of the page. Most rehabs and detox centers in Georgia and the rest of the country will include these at the top or bottom of the page. Look for the “gold seal” of the Joint Commission and other “trust seals” from organizations like NAATP, CARF, and BBB. 

When choosing a good medical detox near you, start by:

• Looking for licensing by the state where the detox operates.
• Check the page for the Joint Commission accreditation “gold seal”.
• Look for membership in an addiction treatment association like NAATP or CARF.
• Membership in the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is also nice to have. 

OK, What’s the Next Step in Choosing a Good Medical Detox?

Once you’ve determined they have the credentials you’re looking for, we’d suggest looking at reviews and testimonials. Most good programs will have a link to testimonials on their Google Business Page. Remember to check the number of reviews. 

A facility with a 4-star rating that only has 18 reviews should not carry the same weight as a detox with a 4-star rating and 100 reviews. Google Reviews shouldn’t be the deciding factor, but they are a good place to look because they are independent of the facility. 

The drug and alcohol rehab can respond, but they can’t censor any reviews. Be wary of any site with “perfect” 5-star scores and obviously steer clear of any detox or rehab with a low score. 

Does That Rehab Actually Provide A Medical Detox There?

This is an important question that most people never even think to ask. Why would you? You would assume any treatment center with a website about medical detox must offer those services at its facility, right? Not necessarily. Most of the time that is true, but many facilities partner without outside providers to deliver the medical detox part of your care.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, the important thing is that you get a good, safe medical detox. However, facilities that don’t offer this in-house will send you to another program which may not be pictured or even named on their website. It’s against the law for a rehab facility to say they have a medical detox facility onsite if they don’t, but some may use vague or misleading language. 

If you do not want to go to a separate facility for your medical detox and then transfer to a different company’s program for the rest of your treatment, make that clear when talking to the rehab — unless you choose a program like Atlanta Detox that’s got detox right in the name. 

Remember:

• Not all drug rehabs offer medical detox themselves, many outsource the detox.
• Make sure you know where you will be going for the medical detox phase of care.
• Avoid any rehab that tries to mislead you or is evasive when you ask questions.

Why Do I Need A Medical Detox In The First Place?

Deciding to embark on a journey of sobriety and choose a medical detox is the first step in drug and alcohol treatment. One of the biggest fears most people have when it comes to quitting drugs or alcohol is withdrawal discomfort. That’s completely understandable. The physical withdrawal symptoms when someone stops taking opioids, benzodiazepines or other drugs can be extremely unpleasant, to put it mildly.

But, they should not be a barrier to anyone wishing to get help. A medical detox aims to treat those symptoms directly and keep the patient as comfortable and safe as possible. When you hear “horror stories” about people getting sick in withdrawal, these are typically depictions of unmedicated withdrawal. They are cautionary tales about what happens if you do not go to a medical detox, or if you attempt to detox yourself at home without proper medical support. 

A medical drug or alcohol detox serves several purposes, including:

• Safely stepping a person down off of drugs/alcohol to avoid medical complications.
• Keeping the person as comfortable as possible so they can rest and recover.
• Helping the patient become healthy and clear-headed for the next stage of care.
• Avoiding the temptation to use or drink in the early stages of recovery.

Exceptional Medical Care at Atlanta Detox Center 

Atlanta Detox Center is one of Georgia’s most trusted drug and alcohol treatment centers. We offer comprehensive care for substance use disorders including medical detox and residential/inpatient treatment. 

If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction and/or a co-occurring mental health disorder like depression or anxiety —- the help you seek is only a phone call away. 

Give us a call at (470) 450-2355 or reach out through our Contact Page and begin the change TODAY.